Research

BLOG: belendoglover.blogspot.com

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PAGE

About the researcher  |  Content limitations

Documenting Travel Evolution: Our Approach

Our Documentation Philosophy

We analyze travel through time (evolution since 1999), experience (personal verification), and industry context (ASEAN hospitality development).

Three Core Research Lenses

1. Longitudinal Observation

"Watching destinations and standards evolve over decades."

What we document:

- How specific destinations have changed since 1999

- Hospitality standard evolution in Southeast Asia

- Traveler expectation shifts across generations

2. Personal Experience Verification

"We only analyze what we've personally experienced or can verify through multiple credible sources."

Our standard:

- Contemporary luxury experiences: personally verified

- Historical comparisons: documented through multiple sources

- Industry trends: verified through industry reports + personal observation

3. ASEAN Hospitality Focus

"Southeast Asia's unique hospitality journey."

Special attention to:

- Cultural influences on service standards

- Regional versus global chain developments

- Local adaptation of international luxury concepts

Research Process for Contemporary Content

Phase 1: Experience Selection

Experiences must meet criteria:

- Representative of broader industry trends

- ASEAN relevance or comparative value

- Alignment with luxury/bespoke travel evolution

- Personal verification possible

Phase 2: Multi-Method Verification

For personal experiences:

- Detailed documentation during experience

- Photographic evidence (where permitted)

- Receipts/confirmations retained

- Immediate notes capture

For industry analysis:

- Multiple industry source verification

- Cross-reference with personal observations

- Historical trend alignment check

- ASEAN context consideration

Phase 3: Contextual Analysis

Four-part framework:

1. Historical: How has this evolved since 1999?

2. Comparative: How does this compare regionally/globally?

3. Experiential: What was the actual experience quality?

4. Trend indicative: What does this suggest about industry direction?

Phase 4: Quality Control

Each piece receives:

- Fact verification (dates, locations, specifics)

- Experience accuracy check (against documentation)

- Context balance review (not over-generalizing)

- Practical utility assessment for readers

Sourcing & Verification Standards

Experience Documentation:

- Personal experiences: Full documentation with dates, locations

- Historical comparisons: Minimum 3 credible sources

- Industry trends: Industry reports + personal observation

Source Hierarchy:

1. Personal verified experiences (highest credibility for contemporary analysis)

2. Official tourism/hospitality publications

3. Credible travel industry reports

4. Historical travel publications

5. This blog's archive (1999-2015)

What We Exclude:

- Second-hand reports without verification

- Press releases without independent confirmation

- Influencer content without experience verification

- Unverifiable claims about exclusivity or quality

Transparency & Ethics

Experience Disclosure:

- Self-funded: Clearly stated for all contemporary experiences

- Historical experiences: Funding source noted where known

- Compensation: None accepted for contemporary content

Content Classification:

- Archive (1999-2015): Personal travel diary, preserved

- Contemporary (2026+): Verified experiences + industry analysis

Update Policy:

- Property/experience changes trigger updates

- Annual review of all contemporary content

- Reader corrections addressed within 7 days

Correction Process:

Notice an error? Email: belen.methodology[at]gmail.com

We verify → correct → acknowledge → thank

Ethical Commitments

We Never:

- Accept complimentary stays for review

- Promise positive coverage for access

- Use affiliate links or receive commission

- Promote properties without personal verification

- Guarantee reader experiences match ours

We Always:

- Pay our own way

- Disclose experience circumstances

- Verify before publishing

- Maintain historical accuracy

- Respect privacy and property policies

Unique Value Proposition

Why our perspective matters:

1. Time depth: 27 years of travel documentation

2. ASEAN focus: Regional specificity matters

3. Evolution tracking: Watching standards change

4. Personal verification: No second-hand reporting

5. Historical continuity: From budget to luxury tracking

This methodology ensures:

1. Credible, verified travel analysis

2. Meaningful historical context

3. ASEAN-relevant insights

4. Reader trust through transparency

Methodology established: February 1, 2026

Based on 27 years of travel documentation practice