February 09, 2006
Scam alert: write a fake review, get a free foot rub
The New York Times takes on the problem of hotels and spas that are screwing up the online "independent" review of their businesses by bribing their customers for bogus reviews or writing fake entries themselves.
They find a Key West hotel offering a 10 percent to discount to anyone publishing a stellar review on TripAdvisor and a New York spa offering free reflexology in exchange for a positive write-up on Citysearch."
Conclusion: While some sites try to weed out fake reviews, "both sides are exploiting a new technology that lacks the safeguards of the traditional travel guidebooks, which are written by professional writers and edited for accuracy."
Not mentioned: The NYT story a month ago that said a few (unnamed) tourist guides were still recommending the Greenpoint Hotel as a nice bargain hotel even thought the Drug Enforcement Administration characterized it as more of a single-room-occupancy crack hotel.
Earlier: Brooklyn's Greenpoint Hotel, great for crackheads
Who can you trust online for hotel advice?
February 9, 2006 12:40 PM in Hotelology
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