Hotel threatens to fine guests for negative reviews
A New York hotel has allegedly threatened to fine guests hundreds of dollars for posting negative reviews online.
The Union Street Guest House in Hudson allegedly warned couples who planned to hold weddings at the hotel that they would be fined $500 fine for each negative review posted by their guests anywhere on the internet.
However, the ploy has spectacularly backfired with potential guests taking to the web to slam the hotel’s policy, forcing its rating on the review site Yelp down to one star.
The Union Street Guest House told couples to warn their wedding guests that the old restored building, built by the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, might not be to their taste.
"Please know that despite the fact that wedding couples love Hudson and our inn, your friends and families may not," read an online policy according to the New York Post. The explanation has since been changed to remove any mention of the fine.
"If you have booked the inn for a wedding or other type of event…and given us a deposit of any kind…there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review…placed on any internet site by anyone in your party," it reportedly added.
"Your guests may not understand what we offer – therefore we expect you to explain that to them.
"The buildings here are old (but restored). Our bathrooms and kitchens are designed to look old in an artistic "vintage" way. If your guests are looking for a Marriott type hotel they may not like it here," the advert still reads.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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