We’ve heard a little chatter over the years about guests blackmailing hotels to remove negative reviews. Our hoteliers from across the pond have been apparently experiencing the same problems. From the Telegraph:
Hotels and restaurants are being targeted by “blackmailers” who demand free meals and stays in exchange for not writing bad reviews on the TripAdvisor website, hospitality chiefs have warned.
Guests are warning staff that they will post bad comments on the review website if they are not given better service, meals or upgrades.
Restaurant, hotel and B&B owners in Britain have reported a huge rise in the number of customers using the site as a threat. They say the guests often make a complaint and say they will post a bad review unless given a free bottle of wine, dessert or a bill reduction.
Other “gastronomic blackmailers” even claim that they work for TripAdvisor and will post a series of negative comments unless they get free upgrades.
Hopefully, a solution is on the way. From the article: