We describe how we built a model for user decision making during local search
tasks, specifically hotels. We differentiate between affective and functional needs
and identify the following stages and related information needs: 0: Lay of the
land; 1: Generating options; 2: Scanning for attractors and detractors; 3: Due
diligence. We contrast this framework with existing consumer decision-making
models. We close by describing how this model influenced the development of the
recently launched experiment, Google Hotel Finder