The other problems with Trip Advisor are that it can be gamed by the properties themselves, and unlike FT, you can't really enter into a dialogue with anyone to clarify an observation.

I think this assertion of a FS bias on this board is very interesting. To me, it is clear that FS has been very successful at preserving its brand - and it would appear logical that many of this board would find that persuasive.

As an aside, though - my personal experience with FS has been mixed, and I am now (reluctantly) of the view that the reputation of the brand rests on the shoulders of a few extraordinary properties (New York, Tokyo-Marunouchi, Paris, some resorts) and that many others are hit and miss (like London, many of the other North American properties, and places like the FS Great Exuma). But that's only my view - and I would love to be proved wrong, because when they do it right, the experience is fantastic.

PS - on the TripAdvisor observation about NY posters being the most negative. That is simply hilarious, given the generally lousy luxury experience many of us have at high end NY hotels.