Reviews

I went to a conference for a few days. Getting away always helps put ourselves in our guest's shoes. During my short trip, here are the review requests I've gotten.
Almost the moment I landed I got an e-mail from the airline asking "how did we do?"
Took a Sup er Shut tle to the hotel and before I even got up to my room, got an e-mail wanting feedback. Another request for a survey/review
Time to go home and here we go again. Same e-mails from shuttle service when I was dropped off at airport, then airline e-mail after we landed.
Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.
All of these came to me for a 5 day trip. Imagine what some of our guests are bombarded with after a lengthy vacation.
Of course we all need reviews, but maybe if you contact them for a review wait a month or so. They won't feel so bombarded.

Yes, I'm getting more and more review requests on everything I do and use. Anything I buy online is liable to generate several requests, from the manufacturer, the seller, and the shipping company that brought it to me!
I don't respond to most of them. I do respond if something extraordinary comes up, like wonderful or horrible service.

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience."

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience.".

Click to expand...

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience."

Click to expand...

It may be against their terms of service, but it happens all the time. In fact, there was a vendor at the hospitality conference I was just at that was selling this service. It follows exactly what just happened to me....send them a survey, then after the survey gets a positive response (you can set the variable), they are given the page where it asks for your review. The negative responses are sent to you so you can try to fix them. The negatives are not given a review page.
I don't see how TA can possibly track this kind of stuff.

Breakfast Diva said:

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience.".

Click to expand...

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience."

Click to expand...

It may be against their terms of service, but it happens all the time. In fact, there was a vendor at the hospitality conference I was just at that was selling this service. It follows exactly what just happened to me....send them a survey, then after the survey gets a positive response (you can set the variable), they are given the page where it asks for your review. The negative responses are sent to you so you can try to fix them. The negatives are not given a review page.
I don't see how TA can possibly track this kind of stuff.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

I don't see how TA can possibly track this kind of stuff.

Click to expand...

By people sending the link to ta with a complaint.

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience.".

Click to expand...

May be true, but let's face it. TA is a marketing tool for us and a business for them-and in neither of these two invested parties is a real push to limit solicitation of reviews.
I was just curious if anyone knows personally of a B&B or inn that got dinged for review fraud. I've read a couple of cases online of larger hotels, but I've never actually know anyone who it's happened to.

CafeMae said:

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience.".

Click to expand...

May be true, but let's face it. TA is a marketing tool for us and a business for them-and in neither of these two invested parties is a real push to limit solicitation of reviews.
I was just curious if anyone knows personally of a B&B or inn that got dinged for review fraud. I've read a couple of cases online of larger hotels, but I've never actually know anyone who it's happened to.
.

Click to expand...

CafeMae said:

May be true, but let's face it. TA is a marketing tool for us and a business for them-and in neither of these two invested parties is a real push to limit solicitation of reviews.
I was just curious if anyone knows personally of a B&B or inn that got dinged for review fraud. I've read a couple of cases online of larger hotels, but I've never actually know anyone who it's happened to.

Click to expand...

Yes, there was a smaller place near me that had their 'page' on TA red flagged a few years ago. There was a big notice when you read their reviews that TA believed the reviews to be false. (Of course you never get that if the reviews are bad.)

Madeleine said:

CafeMae said:

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience.".

Click to expand...

May be true, but let's face it. TA is a marketing tool for us and a business for them-and in neither of these two invested parties is a real push to limit solicitation of reviews.
I was just curious if anyone knows personally of a B&B or inn that got dinged for review fraud. I've read a couple of cases online of larger hotels, but I've never actually know anyone who it's happened to.
.

Click to expand...

CafeMae said:

May be true, but let's face it. TA is a marketing tool for us and a business for them-and in neither of these two invested parties is a real push to limit solicitation of reviews.
I was just curious if anyone knows personally of a B&B or inn that got dinged for review fraud. I've read a couple of cases online of larger hotels, but I've never actually know anyone who it's happened to.

Click to expand...

Yes, there was a smaller place near me that had their 'page' on TA red flagged a few years ago. There was a big notice when you read their reviews that TA believed the reviews to be false. (Of course you never get that if the reviews are bad.)
.

Click to expand...

Hah! It actually does happen. I haven't had bad reviews flagged, but I've had 2 of our inns reviews removed by TA (my only 1&2 star reviews). One I complained about, one I wrote a response to and both disappeared. Never suspected that there would actually be an action on TA's part, but I'm happy about it. The one star was actually kind of funny about what they complained about (yeah, I can laugh now that it's gone) -from the light switch placement, to no parking spaces at restaurants in town, to my ethnicity, to that we didn't tell them that we had insect repellant they could use-we only mentioned it in our room guide, which they didn't read until later, so they got bit.

CafeMae said:

Madeleine said:

CafeMae said:

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Now, 3 days later I get a survey from the hotel. I was curious to see if the survey ended with a request for a TA review so I took it. Yup, because my survey results were basically positive, the final thank you screen had a big logo/link to TA to leave a review. I'm sure that if my survey had been negative, the TA review request would not have been there.

Click to expand...

The latter would likely be a violation of TA's terms of service -- it's among the list of things TA considers to be review fraud:
"Selectively soliciting reviews (by email, surveys or any other means) only from guests who have had a positive experience.".

Click to expand...

May be true, but let's face it. TA is a marketing tool for us and a business for them-and in neither of these two invested parties is a real push to limit solicitation of reviews.
I was just curious if anyone knows personally of a B&B or inn that got dinged for review fraud. I've read a couple of cases online of larger hotels, but I've never actually know anyone who it's happened to.
.

Click to expand...

CafeMae said:

May be true, but let's face it. TA is a marketing tool for us and a business for them-and in neither of these two invested parties is a real push to limit solicitation of reviews.
I was just curious if anyone knows personally of a B&B or inn that got dinged for review fraud. I've read a couple of cases online of larger hotels, but I've never actually know anyone who it's happened to.

Click to expand...

Yes, there was a smaller place near me that had their 'page' on TA red flagged a few years ago. There was a big notice when you read their reviews that TA believed the reviews to be false. (Of course you never get that if the reviews are bad.)
.

Click to expand...

Hah! It actually does happen. I haven't had bad reviews flagged, but I've had 2 of our inns reviews removed by TA (my only 1&2 star reviews). One I complained about, one I wrote a response to and both disappeared. Never suspected that there would actually be an action on TA's part, but I'm happy about it. The one star was actually kind of funny about what they complained about (yeah, I can laugh now that it's gone) -from the light switch placement, to no parking spaces at restaurants in town, to my ethnicity, to that we didn't tell them that we had insect repellant they could use-we only mentioned it in our room guide, which they didn't read until later, so they got bit.
.

Click to expand...

CafeMae said:

...so they got bit.

Click to expand...

Good!

I personally am kinda getting tired of the whole review thing. It seems our lives revolve around them. Its funny you mentioned your experience on your trip. A conversation came up at breakfast a few days ago about reviews. A guest mentioned to another guest how they found us. The conversation found its way to review sites such as TA. Most mentioned they are kinda getting tired of it. They are being bugged by a flood of emails about writing reviews. They asked if I was going to be sending them all emails about writing a review. I quickly said "No! They all just want to get away and relax. They don't want to have to write a book report so to speak about us when they get home. I was lol when they said that! I just think people are getting tired of it. Time will tell. I do not advertise on TA. We are very busy and I know for some it helps. It will be fun to see what happens in the future with review sites and if people get tired of them. After all, who wants to write reports every time you step out of the house.

Hillbilly said:

I personally am kinda getting tired of the whole review thing. It seems our lives revolve around them. Its funny you mentioned your experience on your trip. A conversation came up at breakfast a few days ago about reviews. A guest mentioned to another guest how they found us. The conversation found its way to review sites such as TA. Most mentioned they are kinda getting tired of it. They are being bugged by a flood of emails about writing reviews. They asked if I was going to be sending them all emails about writing a review. I quickly said "No! They all just want to get away and relax. They don't want to have to write a book report so to speak about us when they get home. I was lol when they said that! I just think people are getting tired of it. Time will tell. I do not advertise on TA. We are very busy and I know for some it helps. It will be fun to see what happens in the future with review sites and if people get tired of them. After all, who wants to write reports every time you step out of the house..

Click to expand...

Just had an e-mail from T A today telling me my review of your wonderful facility is the most read and considered most helpful. And you did not even ask me to write it.

gillumhouse said:

Hillbilly said:

I personally am kinda getting tired of the whole review thing. It seems our lives revolve around them. Its funny you mentioned your experience on your trip. A conversation came up at breakfast a few days ago about reviews. A guest mentioned to another guest how they found us. The conversation found its way to review sites such as TA. Most mentioned they are kinda getting tired of it. They are being bugged by a flood of emails about writing reviews. They asked if I was going to be sending them all emails about writing a review. I quickly said "No! They all just want to get away and relax. They don't want to have to write a book report so to speak about us when they get home. I was lol when they said that! I just think people are getting tired of it. Time will tell. I do not advertise on TA. We are very busy and I know for some it helps. It will be fun to see what happens in the future with review sites and if people get tired of them. After all, who wants to write reports every time you step out of the house..

Click to expand...

Just had an e-mail from T A today telling me my review of your wonderful facility is the most read and considered most helpful. And you did not even ask me to write it.
.

Click to expand...

I love that! Its nice to get reviews that are not asked for! I think those are the best. We have been decorating for Christmas and have been thinking of the time we all spent together. What a great time we had!

Hillbilly said:

gillumhouse said:

Hillbilly said:

I personally am kinda getting tired of the whole review thing. It seems our lives revolve around them. Its funny you mentioned your experience on your trip. A conversation came up at breakfast a few days ago about reviews. A guest mentioned to another guest how they found us. The conversation found its way to review sites such as TA. Most mentioned they are kinda getting tired of it. They are being bugged by a flood of emails about writing reviews. They asked if I was going to be sending them all emails about writing a review. I quickly said "No! They all just want to get away and relax. They don't want to have to write a book report so to speak about us when they get home. I was lol when they said that! I just think people are getting tired of it. Time will tell. I do not advertise on TA. We are very busy and I know for some it helps. It will be fun to see what happens in the future with review sites and if people get tired of them. After all, who wants to write reports every time you step out of the house..

Click to expand...

Just had an e-mail from T A today telling me my review of your wonderful facility is the most read and considered most helpful. And you did not even ask me to write it.
.

Click to expand...

I love that! Its nice to get reviews that are not asked for! I think those are the best. We have been decorating for Christmas and have been thinking of the time we all spent together. What a great time we had!
.

Click to expand...

Hillbilly said:

I love that! Its nice to get reviews that are not asked for! I think those are the best. We have been decorating for Christmas and have been thinking of the time we all spent together. What a great time we had!

Click to expand...

Billy, I am so glad I got to meet you. The snow-covered grounds, the brook by the picture window, your family. Happy Thanksgiving

Its going to be funny someday we will be advertising to potential customers like this. "Come enjoy and relax. We promise not to clog up your inbox with requests to write reviews. No book reports here!"

gillumhouse said:

Hillbilly said:

I personally am kinda getting tired of the whole review thing. It seems our lives revolve around them. Its funny you mentioned your experience on your trip. A conversation came up at breakfast a few days ago about reviews. A guest mentioned to another guest how they found us. The conversation found its way to review sites such as TA. Most mentioned they are kinda getting tired of it. They are being bugged by a flood of emails about writing reviews. They asked if I was going to be sending them all emails about writing a review. I quickly said "No! They all just want to get away and relax. They don't want to have to write a book report so to speak about us when they get home. I was lol when they said that! I just think people are getting tired of it. Time will tell. I do not advertise on TA. We are very busy and I know for some it helps. It will be fun to see what happens in the future with review sites and if people get tired of them. After all, who wants to write reports every time you step out of the house..

Click to expand...

Just had an e-mail from T A today telling me my review of your wonderful facility is the most read and considered most helpful. And you did not even ask me to write it.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

Just had an e-mail from T A today telling me my review of your wonderful facility is the most read and considered most helpful. And you did not even ask me to write it.

Click to expand...

I got one too about the Hillbilly place! he he