It is quite a common to read online reviews before making a purchase decision. Online reviews have transformed the way individuals make their purchase decisions. Online reviews are more than just a way to collect the information. The present study explained and explored the impact of online reviews on purchase decision among novice travelers for hotel bookings. A structured and un-disguised questionnaire was developed and used to collect the primary data from 427 respondents. Conceptual model was examined by using structural equation modelling. Study delivered detailed insight on various elements used for analysis and revealed that online review score and volume, online review platform, online reviewer expertise, timeliness of review influenced trust of novice travelers. Further, study confirmed mediating role of trust between the online review score and volume, online review platform, online reviewer expertise, timeliness of review and purchase decision for hotel bookings by first time travelers. ©Copyright IJHTS.