NY hotel’s negative review rule spurs online backlash
An upstate New York hotel has been bombarded with criticism following reports it threatened to charge guests $500 for negative reviews.
The Union Street Guest House in Hudson, NY posted on its website a forthright policy that any wedding couples would be ‘fined’ $500 for any negative online review left by a member of their wedding party.
"Despite the fact that wedding couples love Hudson and our Inn, your friends and families may not," the website explains.
The policy text read: "If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event."
"If you stay here to attend a wedding anywhere in the area and leave us a negative review on any internet site you agree to a $500 fine for each negative review."
The hotel went on to say any fine would be refunded once the negative review is taken down.
Following media reports of the hotel’s mean spirited policy, it has been inundated with scathing comments online in the last 24 hours.
The hotel’s Yelp page has received hundreds of new, mainly 1-star ‘reviews’ heavily critical of its stance.
One comment called out the hotel’s "sneering and arrogant disdain for their customers," while another stated: "any establishment that believes they can silence their guests deserves to be shut down."
The offending text has since been taken off the hotel’s website and the hotel now claims it was all a joke that has backfired spectacularly.
"The policy regarding wedding fines was put on our site as a tongue-in-cheek response to a wedding many years ago, it was meant to be taken down long ago and certainly was never enforced," it said in an email to CNBC.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026