Review vetting website launches in the UK
A new review site has been launched in the UK promising to help protect hotels from fraudulent and malicious reviews.
Vinivi.co.uk, which has been operating in France for five years, claims to operate a strict verification process whereby 80% of reviews are certified and are guaranteed to be submitted by genuine, recent guests of the property.
The remainder of spontaneous ‘posters’ are subject to email authentication.
All reviews are read by Vinivi consultants prior to being posted and hotels are given the right to reply to any negative feedback.
Vinivi.co.uk is not a booking site but provides links to external reservations services.
The site features over 41,000 accommodation providers in more than 225 countries, with more than 100,000 user-generated photos and 2500 videos.
Ratings from certified reviewers are weighted to ensure that their credibility makes them the most influential.
Founder Gilles Granger said: “Increasingly hotels are under threat from reviews posted by unscrupulous competitors, companies paid to post fake comments, and from individuals who choose to offer undeserved criticism of properties of whom they have never been a guest.
“Whilst allowing for freedom of opinion, Vinivi’s transparency principle ensures that consumers are not being misled by the spite and dishonourable behaviour which we estimate can drive up to 20% of uncertified reviews.
“Recent Vinivi research suggests that 78% of internet users are more likely to trust the opinions expressed by a certified reviewer, even more than the opinion of someone they know.”
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026