Travel industry owners in the UK are being urged to share their experiences of negative and fake online reviews as part of a major Government probe.
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into online review sites to check the information posted is ‘genuine, relevant and trustworthy‘. Malicious and fake reviews should be reported, the Authority advises.
The CEO of the British B&B Association, David Weston, said: ‘We often have members who have had negative reviews that are clearly unearned and false, having a detrimental effect on their much-loved businesses. At present there is no way for our members to remove reviews or challenge the individuals behind them, if the websites themselves (as they often do) refuse to remove a false review. We’d like to see a situation where small businesses are given the chance to protect their valuable reputations that have often been established through hard work before sites like TripAdvisor even entered the public psyche’. Weston’ association represents 25000 B&Bs in the country.
Recently it was reported that a Scottish B&B owner couple is taking TripAdvisor to court for damaging fake reviews about their B&B, which TripAdvisor refuses to remove!
Every South African hospitality establishment would wish its tourism authorities to launch such an investigation too, unlikely to happen as SA Tourism, Cape Town Tourism, and other tourism bodies fraternise with TripAdvisor!
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: click here
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I agree, TA has lost ts credibility,I have pleaded to be removed, although we have been no1 for 18 months ,all your efforts and hard work comes to nothing when fake reviews are given if TA wants to be honest and truefull they must not allow nick names,if you do not want to “be known” dont review, who the hell are they to decide that you cannot remove yourself? Do they own us??I wish there was a lawyer who would look into the legality of it all TA YOU SUCK!!!!!
Well said Andre!
5/5!