Getting the wrong publicity

It's not necessarily true that all publicity is good publicity. I just got a Google alert with the inn name in it.
Today's alert was from an article written for a publication in our target market. Actually written for our target age group. (Think AARP, but not that magazine.)
I don't know where they got their info but I will take a leap and guess they read some reviews. They never verified anything in the article with us.
They have published incorrect info. Saying we offer a type of accommodation that we don't. Which is why I'm guessing they only read reviews and never looked at our website.
Because this article highlights a legally defined type of accommodation that we don't offer I am not sure how to proceed.
Email the author and say she is incorrect? Will that get a retraction published that then highlights something I don't want highlighted (for those people who make a living suing businesses)?
This is the reason I never corrected the review that lavishly praises us for having the accommodation we don't have. If anyone brings it up in a phone call my take is they must have the wrong place in the review.
Now what do I do?

IF a correction was even published, it would probably be buried. IF the general tone of the article was good, I think I would let it go. If someone calls about it, you can either set the record straight or you have no idea what article. Is it a magazine that a lot of people will be reading? I would continue with your current answer if called.

Online only or online & print?

Online only may be able to be edited, that is if they really care to share correct info to their followers.
Most of the time when we get a write up, things are incorrect.
OTOH, if someone contacts you and mentions these things at least you know who to 'thank'.

I think the article is good. If someone called looking for the mentioned type of accommodation, based on that article, I would probably just respond that the author made a mistake.

Harborfields said:

I think the article is good. If someone called looking for the mentioned type of accommodation, based on that article, I would probably just respond that the author made a mistake..

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Probably not going to get much activity from it as they forgot our website and only gave an email and phone number.
There was good info, but the photos in the side show were old.

Copperhead said:

Online only or online & print?

Online only may be able to be edited, that is if they really care to share correct info to their followers.
Most of the time when we get a write up, things are incorrect.
OTOH, if someone contacts you and mentions these things at least you know who to 'thank'..

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Copperhead said:

Online only or online & print?

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I don't know. I might email to find out.

Morticia said:

Harborfields said:

I think the article is good. If someone called looking for the mentioned type of accommodation, based on that article, I would probably just respond that the author made a mistake..

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Probably not going to get much activity from it as they forgot our website and only gave an email and phone number.
There was good info, but the photos in the side show were old.
.

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They are just a few exceptions to the publicity adage. This isn't one of them. We have had all sorts of errors put out there. It's our business to straighten any misconceptions and be grateful it generated some interest. That's the nature of the beast.

Politely request a "clarification" of the original article.
Give them a brief sentence or two they could put in to correct the error, and include your website.
"The PITA Inn does not offer all-nude room service as mentioned in our article. For more information, contact www.PITAinn.com."
Something like that. Done respectfully, you'll get double the PR for the same price.

PhineasSwann said:

Politely request a "clarification" of the original article.
Give them a brief sentence or two they could put in to correct the error, and include your website.
"The PITA Inn does not offer all-nude room service as mentioned in our article. For more information, contact www.PITAinn.com."
Something like that. Done respectfully, you'll get double the PR for the same price..

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PhineasSwann said:

"The PITA Inn does not offer all-nude room service as mentioned in our article. For more information, contact www.PITAinn.com."

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Sorry to hear that. Sounded like a fun inn (depending on who delivers the room service). ;-)

i can't figure out how to find the article. should've eaten my cheerios!