Originally Posted by
Dr. HFH
I think that this kind of behavior serves the same purpose as kidnapping. If the goal of Trip Advisor is to inform other guests, you've allowed the hotel to ransom your review for a sufficient number of points. You've benefited no one other than yourself by putting points in your pocket.
In a similar situation, I approached it slightly differently. I had a problem with a tour company which really ripped me off. In fact, I consider what they did to be pretty much predatory pricing and theft. I wrote them and told them that I was unhappy, but made no specific demand; and I also posted accurate, but very negative reviews on FT and Trip Advisor. Long and complicated story short, a couple of years later they offered a written apology along with an description of their complete replacement of senior management (which I verified on their website), and a full refund, in exchange for which I removed my negative posts at their request.
Have you ever kidnapped someone, or being kidnapped? If not, your comparison to kidnapped is extreme and uncalled for.
I did not initially contacted Marriott HQ myself. It was them who initiated to contact, and asked what kind of compensation I would like. I checked this forum and found someone else got 90k, so that's what I asked for, saying I haven't posted this experience in any public forum yet. I'll wait for response, before posting. When they offered 45k, and after a few days that they confirmed that's all they'd do, that's when I refused, and went ahead to post in TA. AT that time I also didn't know the seriousness of bed bugs, until our sister-in-law scolded at us, to wash all our clothes, clean our car, and check everywhere in our house to make sure no bed bugs followed us home from that hotel.
Good for you that you got changes to happen, and you chose to remove your negative review. But to compared to "kidnapping", hope you at least looked up what it means.