Hotelier bans all social media influencers
A hotel in Dublin has banned all social media influencers after the backlash over a request by an Instagrammer for four free nights over one of the industry’s busiest periods.
UK-based influencer Elle Darby, contacted the Charleville Lodge, which also runs the White Moose Cafe in Dublin, asking for a free four-night stay just before Valentine’s Day, over the long weekend from February 8-12, in return for ‘possible collaboration’.
She said: "As I was searching for places to stay, I came across your stunning hotel and would love to feature you in my YouTube videos/dedicated Instagram stories/posts to bring traffic to your hotel and recommend others to book up in return for free accommodation."
The hotel’s owner Paul Stenson shared her request on the property’s Facebook page and asked her how she expected he could pay his staff if she was getting a room for free.
Although he blacked out her name, social media users ‘outed’ her as Darby, who is an influencer with 87,000 YouTube subscribers and 76,000 Instagram followers.
Darby later posted a video accusing Stenson of being malicious, saying that his post had resulted in countless comments calling her a ‘freeloader’.
Stenson retorted with a post on the hotel and cafe’s Facebook pages saying he was now banning all bloggers.
He said: "Following the backlash received after asking an unidentified blogger to pay for a hotel room, I have taken the decision to ban all bloggers from our hotel and cafe.
"The sense of entitlement is just too strong in the blogging community and the nastiness, hissy fits and general hate displayed after one of your members was not granted her request for a freebie is given your whole industry a bad name."
In another post, on the hotel’s Snapchat page, he said the incident ‘puts into question the authenticity of influencer marketing’.
The incident has boosted the hotel and cafe’s publicity around the world, with many people applauding the ban, leading Stenson posting a thank you to Darby for raising the establishment’s profile.
One social media follower posted on the hotel’s Facebook page: "First I’d like to point out that I have never stayed here, but upon seeing some negative press from an entitled blogger, I did a little digging and research and have determined that when I do come to your lovely country I will make it a point to come to your cafe and possibly stay in your hotel.
"Take care and know that there are more people for you and your stance on this matter than against you."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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