Underhand hotel properties are routinely advertising for freelance writers to post fake reviews on TripAdvisor in order to boost their ratings on the website, according to a report in The Sunday Times.
The UK paper claims that reviews are being bought for as little as $4.90 and 'reviewers' are encouraged to change email and IP addresses in order to avoid being caught out by TripAdvisor.
The Sunday Times report detailed an advertisement on freelancer.com from a Vietnamese hotel offering $250 for information on how to write fake reviews that can go undetected by TripAdvisor.
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The revelations follow a report in The Daily Mail which said some hotels are bribing guests to write glowing reviews in exchange for incentives such as cut-price rooms and meals.
The Cove Hotel in Cornwall may face an inquiry for breaching TripAdvisor rules, after handing out a letter to guests inviting them to join the 'Friends of the Cove' scheme. Guests are offered 10% off food and drink in the hotel restaurant and a 'free apartment upgrade' in return for becoming 'brand champions' and posting an 'honest but positive view' on TripAdvisor.
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Sep 12, 2011 , India
Well there's a surprise..................not.
Jul 31, 2011 , Canada
Hmmm! I'm staying in a hotel for 3 days next week. I wonder what they're offering? ;)