Fraud hotel rating?

dhans · Dec 6th, 2006, 23:22

As I was browsing through the hotel listings it found it remarkable that some of the really good rated hotels get these ratings from people that never post on Indiamike.

More specific:

Hotel Madonna in Delhi. 8,44 on average, lots of "first time" ratings and even one with a post in Dutch by someone who doesn't speak the language.

Is this an exception, or are more hotel owners trying to get higher on the list?

Should you have at least a number of posts before you are allowed to rate hotels?

Hans

Nick-H · Dec 6th, 2006, 23:33

Good points.

The hotel section of IndiaMike is something that we'd love to see get really big and really good --- but at the same time tend to forget

.

PeakXV · Dec 6th, 2006, 23:34

It's a valid area for discussion. Hotels are first and foremost on every traveller's mind. Any rating system is vulnerable to a competitor's or one night-stayer's comments - that are justified or not. I think because such a low percentage of IM'ers bother to post their hotel experiences/ratings - any rating is welcomed at present.

What is needed is a bigger campaign/promotion/lobby for IM'er hotel input coupled with a posting rating of say 10 or higher!?

Nick-H · Dec 6th, 2006, 23:35

...any particular obvious badies you spot, please let the mod team know

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 7th, 2006, 00:09

A mention of tariffs must be made whenever a particular hotel comes up for discussion.

PeakXV · Dec 7th, 2006, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANJAY_DEL

A mention of tariffs must be made whenever a particular hotel comes up for discussion.

Budget, Mid-range, Upper(3-star, 4-star, 5-star etc.) are probably better than mentioning tariffs in India. The two-tiered tariff system makes it hard to
implement/nail-down for an international community like IndiaMike. I think it is best just to give a report on the service/cleanliness/satisfaction/gratuities etc.

The rack rate for Hotels can be reduced dramatically(or not) depending on whether you are Indian, NRI, Multi-national Business with an Indian Booking partner, or plain old Newbie to India with no connections!

Nick-H · Dec 7th, 2006, 00:33

This is not about budget, or any particular hotel --- it is about the quality of the IndiaMike hotel section.

Bottom line, of course, is that one has to not only read any review, but assess the reliability of the review too.

The hotel section is underused. We are often asking people in the forum to post reviews. Only by getting a number can any level be assessed.

I hope the other mods will catch up with this thread over the next day and comment.

Suggestions gratefuly received.

alext · Dec 7th, 2006, 01:25

I try to do my part with the hotels. One thing that irritates me though are the multiple listing for the same hotel.

As mentioned above Hotel Madonna has obviously been gamed for a better rank.

steven_ber · Dec 7th, 2006, 03:30

There is an easy solution to this problem.

All members give me Rs200 each year and I'll live permanently in India researching hotels and restaurants.

What say you all?

That was one of Mike's dreams, to send a couple of members to India to do that sort of thing.

Well spotted dhans.

machadinha · Dec 7th, 2006, 03:32

<... cross-posted with Steve... nice idea!>

... My take on it is that hotels and restaurants and the likes are among the most fickle business in the world, what's good today may go bad tomorrow and vice versa, and prices will likewise fluctuate. So while it's handy to have some pointers, it's also a good idea to take it all with a huge pinch of salt. It's kind of like the way guidebooks work, except the advantage of a site like this is you may stumble into more recent reviews. But then as noted those, too, will be subjective by definition.

PeakXV · Dec 7th, 2006, 04:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

There is an easy solution to this problem.

All members give me Rs200 each year and I'll live permanently in India researching hotels and restaurants.

What say you all?

That was one of Mike's dreams, to send a couple of members to India to do that sort of thing.

Well spotted dhans.

An online & real time hotel rating system sponsored/hosted by a site that is growing in leaps and bounds like IndiaMike.com will probably happen sooner or later. Roving raters that post reviews, updates, investigate complaints etc. would cost little in expenses and be the go to place for unbiased Indian accomodations. You could arrange an airline to sponsor the service and you're in business.

.... as long as it complements & doesn't confict with any present sponsors or online hotel booking affiliations here!

steven_ber · Dec 7th, 2006, 04:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

An online & real time hotel rating system sponsored/hosted by a site that is growing in leaps and bounds like IndiaMike.com will probably happen sooner or later. Roving raters that post reviews, updates, investigate complaints etc. would cost little in expenses and be the go to place for unbiased Indian accomodations. You could arrange an airline to sponsor the service and you're in business.

.... as long as it complements & doesn't confict with any present sponsors or online hotel booking affiliations here!

Just packing my bags.

steven_ber · Dec 7th, 2006, 04:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

Just packing my bags.

OK, bags packed, when do I leave?

PeakXV · Dec 7th, 2006, 05:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

OK, bags packed, when do I leave?

Dear Sir/Madam:

Please submit resume to IndiaMike.com Attention:Human Resources by XX/XX 2007.

<Methinks there might be a bit of a competition cum elbowing cum fistfight for that position/positions.

>

steven_ber · Dec 7th, 2006, 05:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

Dear Sir/Madam:

Please submit resume to IndiaMike.com Attention:Human Resources by XX/XX 2007.

<Methinks there might be a bit of a competition cum elbowing cum fistfight for that position/positions.

>

Looks like I'll have to start banning potential candidates.

It was nice knowing you Peak.

Dec 6th, 2006, 23:22	#1
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,842	Fraud hotel rating? As I was browsing through the hotel listings it found it remarkable that some of the really good rated hotels get these ratings from people that never post on Indiamike. More specific: Hotel Madonna in Delhi. 8,44 on average, lots of "first time" ratings and even one with a post in Dutch by someone who doesn't speak the language. Is this an exception, or are more hotel owners trying to get higher on the list? Should you have at least a number of posts before you are allowed to rate hotels? Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

Dec 6th, 2006, 23:33	#2
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 35,898	Good points. The hotel section of IndiaMike is something that we'd love to see get really big and really good --- but at the same time tend to forget . __________________ ... Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

Dec 6th, 2006, 23:34	#3
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 5,839	It's a valid area for discussion. Hotels are first and foremost on every traveller's mind. Any rating system is vulnerable to a competitor's or one night-stayer's comments - that are justified or not. I think because such a low percentage of IM'ers bother to post their hotel experiences/ratings - any rating is welcomed at present. What is needed is a bigger campaign/promotion/lobby for IM'er hotel input coupled with a posting rating of say 10 or higher!? __________________ What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Dec 7th, 2006, 03:30	#9
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,435	There is an easy solution to this problem. All members give me Rs200 each year and I'll live permanently in India researching hotels and restaurants. What say you all? That was one of Mike's dreams, to send a couple of members to India to do that sort of thing. Well spotted dhans. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Dec 7th, 2006, 03:32	#10
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,243	<... cross-posted with Steve... nice idea!> ... My take on it is that hotels and restaurants and the likes are among the most fickle business in the world, what's good today may go bad tomorrow and vice versa, and prices will likewise fluctuate. So while it's handy to have some pointers, it's also a good idea to take it all with a huge pinch of salt. It's kind of like the way guidebooks work, except the advantage of a site like this is you may stumble into more recent reviews. But then as noted those, too, will be subjective by definition. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Dec 6th, 2006, 23:35	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 35,898	...any particular obvious badies you spot, please let the mod team know

Dec 7th, 2006, 00:09	#5
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	A mention of tariffs must be made whenever a particular hotel comes up for discussion.

Dec 7th, 2006, 00:33	#7
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 35,898	This is not about budget, or any particular hotel --- it is about the quality of the IndiaMike hotel section. Bottom line, of course, is that one has to not only read any review, but assess the reliability of the review too. The hotel section is underused. We are often asking people in the forum to post reviews. Only by getting a number can any level be assessed. I hope the other mods will catch up with this thread over the next day and comment. Suggestions gratefuly received.

Dec 7th, 2006, 01:25	#8
alext Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Berkeley Posts: 150	I try to do my part with the hotels. One thing that irritates me though are the multiple listing for the same hotel. As mentioned above Hotel Madonna has obviously been gamed for a better rank.

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