Hotel Fines for Bad Reviews
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According to an article recently completed by CNN Travel, one hotel in Hudson, New York learned a lesson the hard way. According to the establishment’s website, the Union Street Guest House had implemented a policy that stated that any member of a wedding party or any attendee of a wedding held at the USGH that left a bad review for the hotel anywhere online would cause a five hundred dollar fine to be deducted from the deposit made by the couple getting married. For every negative review after the deposit had been settled, the couple to be wed would receive a charge.
The justification for this policy, according to the Union Street Guest House’s website, was to offset negative reviews from those who failed to understand the inherent charm of the establishment. In essence, while the couple who chose to be wed at the locale could appreciate the historic look and feel of the rooms and furnishings, those attending the wedding might not comprehend that the hotel was artistically dated, not simply old. The bathrooms and kitchens are designed to look old and vintage and all furniture is period pieces. Some wedding guests may have other expectations when attending an event—such as Marriot-type modern furnishings and amenities—and may make the mistake of assuming the hotel is dilapidated. According to the hotel’s website, the responsibility for making this distinction falls on the couple that chose the establishment as their choice location for exchanging vowels. This should be made clear to guests, as well as the policy pertaining to punishment for negative reviews.
However, when the New York Post heard of this fine and completed an article on it, the issue went viral. Many felt as if threatening financial retribution was an incredibly unfair practice. The hotel defended it’s choice, pointing to a post on their Facebook page that declared the policy as a tongue-in-cheek response to a wedding from years ago. The policy was meant to be removed long ago and had gone unenforced for quite some time.
However, in the research done for the article, that proved to be untrue, as one negative reviewer posted a second review, to critique the emails he had received threatening financial retribution against the bride and groom, should he not remove his negative review. The email stated that the review would cost against the wedding party’s deposit until/unless it is removed. It also denoted that any future reviews would be charged against the wedding party.
In light of the article by the Post, the policy has been removed from the hotel’s website, as well as the clarification posted to the establishment’s Facebook page.
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