I'm glad that I am getting really great stories from you guys (and gals), your feedback is very helpful.
@Harborfields: nice deal with the painters. Imagine seeing their work 20-30 years from now, in some fancy gallery, with a painting of your B&B somewhere. I'm sure it will bring a tear at least.
And yes, all those emails were hand-crafted for each hotel (even though, as I mentioned earlier, contained a somewhat different message). I did not just copy/paste 20 emails, it took me about 4 days to send all 20+ of them.
I have actually booked and stayed at 2 hotels that peaked my interest during our trips.
One had a 9.5 rating on Boo!-king and cost about $180 / night, and we spent 2 nights there.
The morning we were leaving, I decided to try a friendly talk with the owner about their website, and he got incredibly defensive.
It was late September, we were the only ones staying at this 14-rooms hotel. I'm 28, 1.70m and young looking, always dressed casually, I'm no bully. So it surprised me that the owner immediately changed his attitude. The least you can do with your only clients for the day is to be polite for a couple of minutes.
I wasn't trying to sell anything, just told him that I run a firm that provides websites for properties like his, and if I could send him an email in a few days, after I finish my trip. So I simply asked for permission to send him an email, nothing more. And it was tough to get... Oh well, maybe it was just an example of stereotype about German hospitality
@Silverspoon: what's up with videographers...
About 2 years ago I was in a situation a little bit worse. At the time I was spending all my time promoting a travel website in my country (which was becoming very popular). One day, I get an email from an american (they don't come often to this part of Eastern Europe), saying that he is doing some cool video project, is going to visit like 100 countries in 2 years. Needed someone to take care of accommodation and transport.
I looked him up, checked his FB profile, his website, everything checked out. Saw some video previews of his travels to other countries.
So I pulled some strings, got him 3 FREE nights at one of the best 5-star hotels in the capital. Spent 2 full days with him on the road, drove about 500 km (our roads are among the worst in Europe), showed him all attractions and sights.
Aaaand I'm still waiting for at least one second of the promised videos. The hotel was promised a quick promo as well, nothing happened.
I'm not bitter, it is just painful to be deceived like that. So in a way "I feel you"
@Madeleine: the email with photos is just an example, it is not something that I actually sent out. In the past 12 months I think I have reviewed over 1.000 of hotel websites, and I can freely say that over 90% have incredibly outdated and low-res photos. This is why an email for photos might be a bit more attractive to some (especially if it doesn't cost anything).
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And to reiterate Harborfields's question: do you mind people taking photos of the property? Do you expect them to ask for permission first?.