Being a blogger is not an easy task– it requires HONESTY so that you won’t give your readers the false impression and details. I create my blogs to inform them based from MY EXPERIENCES. Part of being a travel blogger is also being a part of the Tripadvisor community (I also write to give my honest reviews of hotels, restaurants and attractions). Before I have joined TA as a contributor, I read reviews before I decide to book a hotel, so it was really amazing because now, it’s my turn to help the readers by writing GENUINE and HONEST reviews.
After a week of my vacation in Boracay, I got the shock of my life when a staff from a hotel I have received a call in my mobile phone about my post in Tripadvisor. They told me I should have talked to them about my complains (the small room and the malfunctioned aircon) before I publish my post. I said we opted not to talk to them anymore and just apologized politely for giving my honest opinion. What I want them to realize is that reviewers are here NOT to convince other people—we are NOT promoters of those establishments. I am NOT paid to write fake reviews. I use my own resources to book hotels, so everything that I post in TA and in my blogs are based from my OWN opinion. I gave them a link to my website so they can read my more detailed blog about their hotel.
Here is my purpose why I review hotels/resorts:
1. To help the management identify what they need to improve and conceptualize ways on how they can resolve those concerns;
2. For the management to be aware of their best practices (what do the customers love in their hotel) so they can keep doing those;
3. To help the readers decide on their next trip
So, I think you have figured out by this time what is the negative side of being a hotel reviewer– the management put the blame on YOU when you post something about your bad experience with them. They should have dealt with the issue professionally. I have received responses from the management of the other hotels that I have reviewed, but those were professionally written and I believe that they understand that once you are in TA, you should be ready for criticisms—positive or negative.
With this experience, NOBODY can stop me from writing reviews. As long as I believe what I do is right and I am not violating any rules, nothing can change my views. Cheers and more reviews to come!
