HotelChatter

Tags: Beijing Hotels / Olympics Hotels / 2008 Olympics / Hotel News / Refereeing Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

Beijing Hotels Bribing Reporters with Cash for Good Coverage

Where: Beijing, China

How do you say "Desperate much?" in Chinese? That's what we would say to a few of the hotels that have been offering reporters cold hard cash in return for favorable coverage of their properties.

The main offender is the Gehua New Century Hotel, which is the 2008 Beijing International Media Center and official host of the non-accredited media. The hotel was offering reporters 200 to 300 yuan ($145) and more for favorable coverage.

The Guardian reports:

Once verified by the public relations department...media can claim 500 yuan for a "positive" article on the hotel of 100 to 500 words in length and 1,000 yuan for an article of between 500 and 1,000 words.

"We want to extend our reputation through the opportunity of the Olympics, it is necessary to promote our brand," PR manager Zhao Xiaoda told Reuters by telephone on Monday.

"I understand it is different from international practice. It was a decision of the PR department not the hotel."

Well at least the PR director is being honest about it. However, there is some concern that the practice might be happening at other Beijing hotels. So be on the lookout for any glowing Beijing hotel reviews this summer.