Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Description of Business

Description of Business

TripAdvisor is an online travel company, empowering users to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor’s travel research platform aggregates reviews and opinions of members about destinations, accommodations (hotels, bed and breakfasts, specialty lodging and vacation rentals), restaurants and activities throughout the world through our flagship TripAdvisor brand. TripAdvisor-branded websites include tripadvisor.com in the United States and localized versions of the website in 29 countries, including in China under the brand daodao.com. Beyond travel-related content, TripAdvisor websites also include links to the websites of our travel advertisers allowing travelers to directly book their travel arrangements. In addition to the flagship TripAdvisor brand, we manage and operate 20 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, www.whereivebeen.com, and www.kuxun.cn, connected by the common goal of providing comprehensive travel planning resources across the travel sector. We derive substantially all of our revenue from advertising, primarily through click-based advertising and display-based advertising sales. In addition, we earn revenue through a combination of subscription-based offerings from our Business Listings and Vacation Rental products, transaction revenue from selling room nights on our transactional sites, and other revenue including licensing our content to third-parties. We have one reportable segment: TripAdvisor. The segment is determined based on how our chief operating decision maker manages our business, makes operating decisions and evaluates operating performance.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for interim financial reporting and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared under generally accepted accounting principles for complete periods have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The financial statements and related financial disclosures have been presented on a consolidated basis.

Consolidation

Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TripAdvisor, our wholly owned subsidiaries, and entities we control, or in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary of expected cash profits or losses. We record noncontrolling interest in our consolidated financial statements to recognize the minority ownership interest in our consolidated subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interest in the earnings and losses of consolidated subsidiaries represent the share of net income or loss allocated to members or partners in our consolidated entities. Significant intercompany transactions between the TripAdvisor consolidated entities and accounts have been eliminated.

Certain of our subsidiaries that operate in China have variable interests in affiliated entities in China in order to comply with Chinese laws and regulations, which restrict foreign investment in Internet content provision businesses. Although we do not own the capital stock of some of our Chinese affiliates, we consolidate their results as we are the primary beneficiary of the cash losses or profits of these variable interest affiliates and have the power to direct the activities of these affiliates. Although we currently operate at a loss in the Chinese market our variable interest entities are not material for all periods presented.

Accounting Estimates

Accounting Estimates

We use estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Our estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of our consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amount of net income or loss during any period. Our actual financial results could differ significantly from these estimates. The significant estimates underlying our consolidated financial statements include revenue recognition; recoverability of long-lived assets, valuation and impairment of marketable securities, intangible assets and goodwill; income taxes; useful lives of property and equipment; purchase accounting and stock-based compensation.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

We have reclassified certain amounts related to our prior period results to conform to our current period presentation.

Seasonality

Seasonality

Expenditures by travel advertisers tend to be seasonal. Traditionally, our strongest quarter has been the third quarter, which is a key travel research period, with the weakest quarter being the fourth quarter. However, adverse economic conditions or continued growth of our international operations with differing holiday peaks may influence the typical trend of our seasonality in the future.

Deferred Merchant Payables

Deferred Merchant Payables

We receive cash from travelers at the time of booking related to our vacation rental and transaction-based businesses and we record these amounts, net of commissions, on our consolidated balance sheets as deferred merchant payables. We pay after the travelers’ use and subsequent billing from the hotel or vacation rental owners. Therefore, we receive cash from the traveler prior to paying the hotel and vacation rental owners, and this operating cycle represents a working capital source of cash to us. As long as our vacation rental and transaction-based businesses grow, we expect that changes in working capital related to these transactions will positively impact operating cash flows. As of June 30, 2013, our deferred merchant payables balance was $31.3 million and the related transactions generated positive operating cashflow of $15.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2013. A payable balance of $14.5 million was acquired with our business acquisitions during the three months ended June 30, 2013. For additional information on our business acquisitions refer to “Note 6—Acquisitions” below. The deferred merchant payables balance at December 31, 2012 was $1.3 million.

There have been no material changes or other additions to our significant accounting policies since December 31, 2012. For additional information about our critical accounting policies and estimates, refer to “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued new accounting guidance which adds new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance requires that companies present, either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements, the effect of significant amounts reclassified based on its source and is effective for public companies in interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Accordingly, we have adopted these presentation requirements during the first quarter of 2013. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosure.