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Fake Press - an oldie but a goodie....

General Hostel Operations

Maria A started this discussion 16 years 3 weeks ago

Just a warning to the hostels out there that might not be familiar with the old trick of being contacted a member of the 'press' asking for a free stay.

Always remember to get a business card from them or verify they actually are who they say they are before you give away a bed or room for free.

This came up recently when we were contacted by a guy who apparently made an arrangement with a now ex-staff member for a free room. He had told this staffer he was with the press and was going to review our hostel and wanted to stay for free.

Of course, this staff person should have contacted me first for approval, but didn't. The guy stayed - but staff at the hostel didn't know about this arrangement and charged him. He contacted me wanting his reimbursement...

But a couple of things flagged me that perhaps he was not what he seemed. I've now asked him twice to identify the media he works for as he's only provided their initials... and he's not gotten back to me.

Also, legit press -that is people who are employees and not freelancers, generally don't ask for free stuff (at least not in our country) - as it's a compromise of journalism ethics... so we'll see...

This also goes for supposed staff from other hostels (we give free stays to staff of other hostels) and people claiming to be in the travel business. We caught a girl a couple of years ago who represented herself as a staffer at a travel company that was scouting for new hostels to partner with. We knew another hostel was friendly with this travel company. Turns out she was not authorized to be scouting new hostels as business partners....and she got in trouble at work for misrepresenting herself. Idiot. If she had just asked nice for a free stay - we would have given it - but lying as to the purpose of her visit...well it was kinda funny to catch her! :eek:

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Tim

16 years

Also, legit press -that is people who are employees and not freelancers, generally don't ask for free stuff (at least not in our country) - as it's a compromise of journalism ethics... so we'll see...

No one from a reputable travel publisher would ever ask for a free stay and if offered it may backfire and get you a worse write-up than if you asked them to pay.

When I visit a hostel to review them and I'm offered a free stay, it just gives me the impression that the place is dodgy and the manager is unethical by offering bribes rather than let the hostel speak for itself. I've met many travel writers from larger more well-known publishers who think the same way and who have given a hostel a slightly more negative review because of this or dropped the hostel from the guide altogether.

Besides most reputable travel publishers would sack any writer if they found that they were accepting freebies. The last thing you want to do is make any travel writer feel uncomfortable about staying at your hostel and offering any sort of bribe will do just that.

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gordo

16 years

No one from a reputable travel publisher would ever ask for a free stay and if offered it may backfire and get you a worse write-up than if you asked them to pay.

When I visit a hostel to review them and I'm offered a free stay, it just gives me the impression that the place is dodgy and the manager is unethical by offering bribes rather than let the hostel speak for itself. I've met many travel writers from larger more well-known publishers who think the same way and who have given a hostel a slightly more negative review because of this or dropped the hostel from the guide altogether.

Besides most reputable travel publishers would sack any writer if they found that they were accepting freebies. The last thing you want to do is make any travel writer feel uncomfortable about staying at your hostel and offering any sort of bribe will do just that.

i havent had any reviewers come through yet - but we did have one when i was working back in melbourne. my boss asked me what i would do if a member of the press came in, my response; 'tell you what mate, pay what you think it was worth on the way out.'

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