Fake TripAdvisor reviewers to be outed

People who post fake hotel reviews on TripAdvisor will be named and shamed by an online reputation management company next month, according to an article in Telegraph Travel.

Kwikchex, which is acting on behalf of more than 800 hotels and restaurants, told the paper it plans to publish a list of thousands of reviewers it suspects of posting fraudulent and defamatory comments.

It says websites such as TripAdvisor will be told to notify their reviewers of the list, once published, and they will be given two weeks to remove the comments or face legal action if they cannot substantiate their claims and show that were guests of the establishments concerned.

TripAdvisor said it will protect reviewers by refusing to release their actual names unless it is ordered to do so by a court of law.

By Linsey McNeill

Monday, October 25, 2010

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What about in-house reviews?

I agree it is positive to try and remove defamatory comments from reviewers. However, are any steps being taken to attempt to weed out positive reviews being posted by hoteliers themselves, or staff at the hotel being encouraged to post positive reviews to boost a properties rankings? Ultimately the use of Tripadvisor or similar review sites is incredibly useful when travelling somewhere you have never been before, but the consumer has a responsibility to take all reviews with a pinch of salt. They are a guide, not a gospel.

By Tim Weeks, Monday, October 25, 2010