I've never really been in favor of the constant aura of commercialization that enters the Luxury Hotels Forum. I read this forum (and the other FT forums I follow) more for my own personal enjoyment and product research than I do with the hopes of a sale. Lots of threads here have replies of little substance but with lots of links to blogs, bios whatever. I don't see the value in this.
This is similar to my reasoning to never post reviews of places I go to (other than general "yes you should go to XYZ hotel or this hotel has great F&B etc etc").
So all that to say, while I do appreciate the FT'ers who I have helped and continue to help professionally, i won't be posting bios, blogs, reviews or whatever here. I wish great success to those who do. I guess I am just happier for now under the radar here.
At this risk of creating an issue with you [of which it's obvious we've had many], I feel the need to respond to this one...
It's not a black/white, either/or scenario.
Full disclosure of whose who, or if/when someone visits a property as an agent, or in what capacity someone is reviewing a property = all that stuff is VERY important [which is obviously the 'why' behind Richard creating this sticky in the first place].
The Luxury Forums section of FT is no more commercial than the SPG forum [with has SPG company reps posting/responding 24/7] or the Cruises forum [of which there are many more agents there than here - and many more 'under the radar' than here, too].
And if you think agents are actually getting
real business by posting reviews, you gotta be kidding me. Lots of shoppers, sure. But business? Like a review of the FS Cairo actually would convince someone to think "damn, I gotta get to Egypt!!"...gimme a break. Sure, I bet a buck or two DavidO has booked some clients who PM'd him off here. But I don't think he's quitting his day job to lurk the FT forums.
Taking your claim at face value [commercialization --> solicitation --> the downfall of the LH forum]...you think banning agents from reviewing, or making it
harder to figure out whose an agent vs. whose not an agent..that would help?!
One things for sure...whether you're a MOD, an agent, a reader, a reviewer, or a shopper =
the support is overwhelmingly for transparency.