http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-14T08:15:17Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/TripAdvisor http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/31/83521/7124 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/TripAdvisorreview.jpg" class="top"><p>During a routine sunrise Twitter-browsing session this morning, we came across <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2012/0131/1224311004417.html#.TyedBTUybrc.twitter">this story</a> about employees from the Irish-based <a href="http://www.carlton.ie/"><b>Carlton Hotel Group</b></a> being <b>instructed by their managers to post fake reviews on TripAdvisor</b>. Needless to say, the reviews had to be positive, posted from non-hotel IP addresses, and include photos that were "not professional" but "good quality." Because you've got to be subtle with these things! <p>Which is impossible to do when said staff memo, which was originally sent by one of Carlton's sales and marketing directors, <b>gets leaked all over the internet</b>. The wily, conniving underbelly of hotel management: exposed! <p>But this made us think. <b>How many times have you been co-erced (or simply asked) by ASchechter 2012-01-31T09:00:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/20/111621/623 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/hotelpalomarchicagoroomshot.jpg" class="top"><p> TripAdvisor is doing away with their infamous <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/28/91211/986/hotels/TripAdvisor_Names_The_Top_Ten_Dirtiest_Hotels_Hotel_Owner_Gets_Mad">dirtiest hotels list</a> and is instead focusing on their Traveler's Choice lists like the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels">"Top 25 Hotels in The U.S."</a> as decided by the most favorable reader reviews. <p>Topping the list is the luxury Chicago hotel, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/ELYSIAN/local/1672"><b>The Elysian</b></a>, which is now a part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection. Taking the #2 spot is <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/THE+GRAND+DEL+MAR/local/1572"><b>The Grand Del Mar</b></a> in San Diego who won us over with their <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/5/7/31745/46295/hotels/San_Diego_s_Grand_Del_Mar_Serves_Up_a_Less_Stuffy_Teatime">less stuffy teatime</a>. Coming in with the bronze is the perennial award-winner <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Four+Seasons+Maui/local/23"><b>Four Seasons Maui</b></a>.<p>Also making appearances on the list are the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Fairmont+Ghirardell+Place/local/1648"><b>Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square</b></a> (which we called a <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/1/15/124549/457/hotels/A_Semi_Secret_Super_Luxe_Hotel_Option_in_San_Francisco">semi-secret, super luxe</a> option in EssEff juliana 2012-01-20T13:30:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/12/27/124624/32 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/Shelborne_room.jpg" class="top"><p>Hotel makeovers: fun when they're finished but hell in the meantime? That may have been the case for the <a href='http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/2624'><strong>Shelborne South Beach</strong></a>, but the hotel has almost finished its massive overhaul, with 50 of its guest rooms now renovated to look like this. <p> As <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/28/11423/893/hotels/Sneak_a_Peek_at_the_Shelborne_s_Vesper_Cafe_Brasserie_#1">one commenter</a> pointed out last time we got an update, the hotel's <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34439-d85050-Reviews-Shelborne_South_Beach-Miami_Beach_Florida.html">TripAdvisor reviews</a> have not been kind during the construction phase. Not having stayed at the hotel, we can't speak for the service, but we can say that if the photos of the new rooms and the poolside cabanas are true to life, then the new Shelborne is nothing if not pretty. If you want to book a room MsRebecca 2011-12-28T09:55:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/28/91211/986 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/roaches_on_the_door_frame.jpg" class="top"><p>Hotel owners, take note: when you're trying to build credibility for your brand, it might not be a good idea to let <b>over eight years' worth of god awful customer reviews</b> pile up on your TripAdvisor page without taking action. Kenneth Seaton, owner of <b>Pigeon Forge Grand Resort Hotel</b> in Tennessee, is suing TripAdvisor for $10 million for placing him smack at the top of their <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/DirtyHotels">Dirtiest Hotels 2011</a> list, citing <b>87% percent of reviewers gave the place a thumbs down</b>. <p>According to <a href="http://themountainpress.com/view/full_story/16088932/article--Seaton-sues-TripAdvisor-over--dirtiest-hotel--ranking-?instance=most_recommended"><i>The Mountain Press</i></a>, Seaton's lawyers <b>are referencing "flawed" rating systems that "distort" the actual performance of the hotel</b>&#151;further, they accuse TripAdvisor of "contriving...to cause respected customers to lose confidence" in the hotel. <p>Um, ASchechter 2011-10-28T09:14:41-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/27/164727/941 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/publicchicagosign.jpg" class="top"><p> We gave you the complete lowdown on Ian Schrager's brand new <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Public+Chicago/local/1704"><b>Public Chicago</b></a> hotel the other week but today we decided to check in with the rest of the general public on <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g35805-d87629-Reviews-PUBLIC_Chicago-Chicago_Illinois.html">TripAdvisor</a> to see what their reactions are. And so far, so good. Or as good as it can be with just three reviews. <p> The <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g35805-d87629-Reviews-PUBLIC_Chicago-Chicago_Illinois.html">first reviewer</a> claimed to stumble across the hotel by accident but is now a devoted fan, especially of the delicious <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/16/14200/8052/hotels/Inside_The_New_Pump_Room_at_Public_Chicago">The Pump Room</a>: <i><blockquote><p>The other thing...I don't often eat in hotel restaurants, and I've NEVER done this before but I stayed two nights and ate lunch and dinner in the hotel both days. The Pump Room juliana 2011-09-27T16:53:27-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/