Potential ’blackmail’ is an occasional concern for hotel owners. This blackmail presents itself in the form of threats by guests to write a negative review unless a demand for a refund, upgrade, or other request is met. TripAdvisor now has a way to proactively report these threats more easily, before the review is submitted.
Why Is it Important?
It’s important to immediately report blackmail because TripAdvisor takes allegations of threatening behavior by guests against property owners very seriously. With this, it’s essential to immediately report a case of blackmail to ensure that it is on record before a potential blackmail review is submitted.
How to Report Potential Blackmail Reviews
It’s very simple to report the threat of potential blackmail review by following the next steps:
1. Log in to your TripAdvisor Management Center
2. Select “Manage your review”
3. Click the link under “Dispute a review”
4. Review the information on the form and confirm that the issue, “Report blackmail”, is selected
You’ll need to provide some additional information, including the month and year of stay as well as the email address and/or the name of the potential reviewer. Try to provide as many details as possible.
What Happens Next?
If a low-rated review matching the details of your report is submitted, the TripAdvisor support team will be alerted. You may be contacted for additional information that proves blackmail was involved. It’s recommended to retain any relevant documentation that might be useful in this process.
What to Do When a Suspected Blackmail Review Already Has Been Posted?
It’s important to note that the enhanced functionality only works for reviews that have not yet been submitted. It will also only be effective if the information in the review matches what you’ve included in your blackmail report.
TripAdvisor can’t guarantee that the blackmail will be removed. Whether the review is submitted before or after, you should notify them. While the review is being investigated, it’s recommended to post a Management Response so other travelers can hear what you have to say, but be sure to keep it professional. This is no place for emotions; emotions will only make your hotel look bad so bear that in mind.
Check out our precious blog on how to respond to a bad review for tips on how to deal with bad reviews and write a professional Management Response.