Fraud hotel rating?

machadinha · Dec 7th, 2006, 05:57

I'm still trying to convince the missus but...

steven_ber · Dec 7th, 2006, 12:05

Sorry folks, I seem to have changed the discussion in this thread, so I suggest we get back on topic as some ideas are needed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhans

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

Should members be required to have a number of posts before the're allowed to contribute to the hotel section?

How can we improve the reliability of the hotel section?

machadinha · Dec 7th, 2006, 12:12

I think there's an intrinsic problem with any sorts of commercial listings that people may use it to either overrate a place that isn't worth it, or to underrate one that is, not least of them people working in the field.

Established members won't necessarily be free from this, or from their own biases (if I wake up somewhere feeling cranky you can bet I'll blame it on that place. Ditto if the toilet happens to drip. Etc.) I don't see an immediate solution to it, except to call on all web surfers to keep their common sense about them no matter what they do.

It would, however and by all means, be nice if members were to post their latest findings in the hotels section. Just I suggest to other members to take it no more as your bible than you would a guidebook (which you shouldn't).

capt_mahajan · Dec 7th, 2006, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

Should members be required to have a number of posts before the're allowed to contribute to the hotel section?

Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

How can we improve the reliability of the hotel section?

Tough one, since it is subjective. I know that some 'recommended' places here are foreigner friendly (and Indian unfriendly); same for families.
Different people have different priorities.

One way would be to have an extensive list of parameters without which the rating would not be accepted. But that isn't foolproof either.

More people need to contribute there, though.

mani · Dec 7th, 2006, 12:50

Yes More people need to contribute but the ratings / recommendations must be posted by someone who has actually stayed at the hotel.

A minimum no of post should be mandatory.

But then that is my view.

regards
mani

machadinha · Dec 7th, 2006, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by mani

More people need to contribute but the ratings / recommendations must be posted by someone who has actually stayed at the hotel.

But how do you check if this is the case?

In the past there has been some enthusiasm about IM taking the better of several guidebooks. I honestly feel this is overestimating your role. While I obviously really enjoy the info here (or I wouldn't be here), the web and its openness -- and the more you keep it open the better, as happens on this site -- has its own peculiarities which means you never really know what you're looking at. Wikipedia is a good example. I find it a handy resource, but their pretension to beat the Britannica has come under a lot of flak recently, for good reason if you ask me. Its strength -- anyone can contribute -- is at the same time its weakness, for obvious reasons. Their system of self-censorship seems to work to a degree, but not beyond it. If you get into the more esoteric subjects there you'll find it may be just copy-pasted material from elsewhere, presumably by the original authors (I stumbled over exactly such a case just recently), that doesn't get checked because no one is in a position to check it.

I'd say stick to what you're good at -- keeping an open and lively forum with all things relevant and goofy about a place we love -- India. Keeping accurate listings of hotels and stuff is hard enough on the "biggies," and if everyone complains about them when it doesn't work out to be quite as marvelous as they had expected, it's for precisely this reason. (Well there's the issue of a certain lag before the thing goes into print.) Besides as far as I know these writers are the underpaid slobs that we ourselves have just applied to become (hey I'm still interested

)

dhans · Dec 7th, 2006, 13:46

1. Some Indiamikes would love to be paid to do hotel reviews

2. The hotel section is valuable, we keep an open mind, but we are wary of over the top ratings from firsttime posters.
3. We promise to review all hotels we've visited
3. We throw out all frauds that are as obvious as the Madonna hotel one.

Happy lodging,

Hans

mani · Dec 7th, 2006, 14:06

Like I said Minimum no of post would help maybe regulate and stop fraud posts.

Also Self censorship as advocated by the web is essential.

When I check the hotel listing for a recommendation I have made it a habit to check the profile of the poster.

I am interested too ( for the job offer cant think that I can convince the Mr though

)

Gene25 · Dec 7th, 2006, 14:08

Don't you think that the issue raised about the reliability of hotel ratings leads in fact to a more general issue concerning the Internet? A fantastic opportunity to access and to post information about any kind of topics might lead users (people who ask for & receive these information)to be extremely cautious.
I have often noticed (and I think this is what makes the interest of a forum) that opinions could differ a lot and people usually feel free to express their mind. The more people post their controversial comments to rate a place (and I believe figures are not enough, it makes sense here to explain why a place can be recommended or not), the better users can make up their mind about the place.
Other people's opinions are important to .....them and correspond to their own system of values. Reading many controversial posts on the same issue has always helped me to start forming an opinion, never to make up my mind entirely.
Gene

luckyindia · Dec 14th, 2006, 19:45

If you really like to enjoy the hotel accomodation free and fortunately if you are white westner, does not matter if you are a man or woman,

You just tell to hotel owner that you are a travel guide writer,you will enjoy really royal maharaja hospitality from hoteliers.

Second I found personally in Jaisalmer top rating hotel Shahi Palace in IM they have their technical staff who are expert with Zip Codes and Postal Codes of many countries and then it is easy to have new but false ids to do marketting of their hotel with two different names.

So you can find common english, french names in various travellers forum.

machadinha · Dec 15th, 2006, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyindia

You just tell to hotel owner that you are a travel guide writer,you will enjoy really royal maharaja hospitality from hoteliers.

Wasn't that myth #2 among the traveller's scene?

Englanderin · Jan 3rd, 2007, 22:54

I've started to post reviews of the hotels I've stayed at, but I remember looking through them before I went that it was sometimes hard to know if the hotels were where I was looking for or in my budget without looking at all of them individually. This took a long time with places like Delhi and Mumbai where there are pages of reviews. Would it be possible to categorise the hotels by budget or area? 'near airport' would be especially helpful!

Dec 7th, 2006, 05:57	#16
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,378	I'm still trying to convince the missus but... __________________ 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 7th, 2006, 13:46	#22
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,842	Summing up 1. Some Indiamikes would love to be paid to do hotel reviews 2. The hotel section is valuable, we keep an open mind, but we are wary of over the top ratings from firsttime posters. 3. We promise to review all hotels we've visited 3. We throw out all frauds that are as obvious as the Madonna hotel one. Happy lodging, Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

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Dec 7th, 2006, 12:12	#18
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,378	I think there's an intrinsic problem with any sorts of commercial listings that people may use it to either overrate a place that isn't worth it, or to underrate one that is, not least of them people working in the field. Established members won't necessarily be free from this, or from their own biases (if I wake up somewhere feeling cranky you can bet I'll blame it on that place. Ditto if the toilet happens to drip. Etc.) I don't see an immediate solution to it, except to call on all web surfers to keep their common sense about them no matter what they do. It would, however and by all means, be nice if members were to post their latest findings in the hotels section. Just I suggest to other members to take it no more as your bible than you would a guidebook (which you shouldn't).

Dec 7th, 2006, 12:50	#20
mani Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: body in Mumbai - mind in himachal Posts: 476	Yes More people need to contribute but the ratings / recommendations must be posted by someone who has actually stayed at the hotel. A minimum no of post should be mandatory. But then that is my view. regards mani

Dec 7th, 2006, 14:06	#23
mani Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: body in Mumbai - mind in himachal Posts: 476	Like I said Minimum no of post would help maybe regulate and stop fraud posts. Also Self censorship as advocated by the web is essential. When I check the hotel listing for a recommendation I have made it a habit to check the profile of the poster. I am interested too ( for the job offer cant think that I can convince the Mr though )

Dec 7th, 2006, 14:08	#24
Gene25 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: France Posts: 15	Don't you think that the issue raised about the reliability of hotel ratings leads in fact to a more general issue concerning the Internet? A fantastic opportunity to access and to post information about any kind of topics might lead users (people who ask for & receive these information)to be extremely cautious. I have often noticed (and I think this is what makes the interest of a forum) that opinions could differ a lot and people usually feel free to express their mind. The more people post their controversial comments to rate a place (and I believe figures are not enough, it makes sense here to explain why a place can be recommended or not), the better users can make up their mind about the place. Other people's opinions are important to .....them and correspond to their own system of values. Reading many controversial posts on the same issue has always helped me to start forming an opinion, never to make up my mind entirely. Gene

Dec 14th, 2006, 19:45	#25
luckyindia Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: India Posts: 11	If you really like to enjoy the hotel accomodation free and fortunately if you are white westner, does not matter if you are a man or woman, You just tell to hotel owner that you are a travel guide writer,you will enjoy really royal maharaja hospitality from hoteliers. Second I found personally in Jaisalmer top rating hotel Shahi Palace in IM they have their technical staff who are expert with Zip Codes and Postal Codes of many countries and then it is easy to have new but false ids to do marketting of their hotel with two different names. So you can find common english, french names in various travellers forum.

Jan 3rd, 2007, 22:54	#27
Englanderin Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 13	I've started to post reviews of the hotels I've stayed at, but I remember looking through them before I went that it was sometimes hard to know if the hotels were where I was looking for or in my budget without looking at all of them individually. This took a long time with places like Delhi and Mumbai where there are pages of reviews. Would it be possible to categorise the hotels by budget or area? 'near airport' would be especially helpful!