TripAdvisor's Web site says that it has a team of moderators that examine questionable reviews. They claim to use automated tools to help flag questionable content for review in addition to help from the community, in the form of the 'Report Problem with a Review' link.
So what should you do to avoid the red text of death splashed across your listing on TripAdvisor? According to the TripAdvisor FAQ, avoid these practices:
- Writing a review for your own property
- Asking friends or relatives to write positive reviews
- Submitting a review on behalf of a guest
- Copying comment cards and submitting them as reviews
- Pressuring a TripAdvisor member to remove a negative review
- Offering incentives such as discounts, upgrades, or any special treatment in exchange for reviews
- Hiring an optimization company, third party marketing organization, or anyone to submit false reviews
- Impersonating a competitor or a guest in any way
As much as you want to see a glowing review on your page, it's not worth it at the expense of looking like a business that is willing to lie and cheat to make a sale. As a consumer, it's hard to see that box of text and think that your property is worth my hard-earned money. I would think, "Hm, what else does this hotel do to cut corners?" You should also know that if you're busted, you will drop in the TripAdvisor popularity index and disqualify your hotel from inclusion in the Travelers' Choice Awards.