Every year more than 500,000 reviews are submitted, verified and analysed to compile the Insider’s Select list. Witt İstanbul Suites and Hillside Su in Antalya are the two hotels from Turkey at the 2011 list.

The Insiders’ Select program debuted in 2007. This year, Expedia made the requirements more rigorous; the company required more reviews per property and higher scores per review to make the list. The 2011 winners are the top 500 hotels globally, out of the more than 135,000 properties offered on Expedia sites internationally.  Hotels that made the 2011 list received an average review score of 4.7 and a 98.2% recommendation rate.

Three components are considered when ranking a hotel:

•Customer Reviews: Reviews are the most powerful testament to the quality of a hotel. Travelers submit reviews after completing a stay at a given hotel. Expedia verifies that each review is legitimate. The company has a comprehensive method of ferreting out fake reviews. More than 500,000 hotel reviews were analyzed over the past year.

•Market Manager Input: Expedia employs hundreds of market managers in cities across the globe. These market managers work closely with Expedia’s hotel partners to maximize the value the hotels get from Expedia’s global online travel marketplace [and to maximize the value that hotels offer to Expedia’s consumer base].

•Value Rating: Expedia compares each property’s average daily rates to those of similar properties, to assess the hotel’s relative value. This makes it easy for busy travelers to identify hotels that deliver an excellent experience at a comparatively good value. Hotels that routinely exceed customer expectations – in their customer service, amenities, competitive pricing and more – see that emphasis reflected in their rankings.

Expedia Turkey Market Management Director Marilena Zagana added, “Insider Select scores are primarily determined by our customers. Every year, hundreds of thousands of travelers take the time to share their experiences with Expedia and with one another. The 2011 Insiders’ Select List reflects that collective wisdom. We hope to see more and more hotels from Turkey at the list every year.