10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers
  • Top News
  • Posts
    • CSR and Sustainability
    • Events
    • Hotel Openings
    • Hotel Operations
    • Human Resources
    • Innovation
    • Market Trends
    • Marketing
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Regulatory and Legal Affairs
    • Revenue Management
  • 🎙️ Podcast
  • 👉 Sign-up
  • 🌎 Languages
    • 🇫🇷 French
    • 🇩🇪 German
    • 🇮🇹 Italian
    • 🇪🇸 Spain
  • 📰 Columns
  • About us
10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers
  • Top News
  • Posts
    • CSR and Sustainability
    • Events
    • Hotel Openings
    • Hotel Operations
    • Human Resources
    • Innovation
    • Market Trends
    • Marketing
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Regulatory and Legal Affairs
    • Revenue Management
  • 🎙️ Podcast
  • 👉 Sign-up
  • 🌎 Languages
    • 🇫🇷 French
    • 🇩🇪 German
    • 🇮🇹 Italian
    • 🇪🇸 Spain
  • 📰 Columns
  • About us

Booking smart in the age of hype

  • Automatic
  • 4 July 2025
  • 2 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

This article was written by Hospitality Today. Click here to read the original article

How to avoid overrated hotels, fake reviews, and influencer traps when Planning your stay

Jul 4, 2025

Booking a hotel was once straightforward—read a few reviews, find a deal, and you’re set. Today, though, travelers face a maze of polished Instagram posts, paid influencer content, AI-written reviews, and inflated star ratings. The result? Too often, a disappointing stay. Here are practical tips to help you navigate the noise and book smarter.

Key takeaways

  • Reviews are unreliable: Guest scores and online reviews often skew unrealistically positive or are outright fake. Advice: Read a mix of 1–2 star and average reviews, focusing on aspects that matter to you—noise, cleanliness, amenities, etc. Recurring complaints deserve extra scrutiny.
  • Scrutinize photos & fine print: Hotels frequently display glamorous suite photos, not the type of room you’ll actually get. Advice: Always review images of the exact room category you plan to book. Check whether amenities like coffee makers or hair dryers are included before reservation.
  • Rely on seasoned critics, not influencers: Influencers often receive comped stays or get paid to post, while AI bots pump out fake reviews. Advice: Turn to respected, anonymous hotel reviewers (e.g., Michelin Guide, Rick Steves, Frommer’s, The Telegraph) for unbiased evaluations.
  • Consider location & surroundings: Distance indicators on booking sites can be misleading, and surroundings may hide drawbacks. Advice: Use maps to check what’s nearby—train lines, airports, nightlife, or sketchy neighborhoods—before booking.
  • Book directly with the hotel: Often, third-party sites (Expedia, Booking.com, etc.) must match prices available on the hotel’s own website due to rate parity. Advice: Booking directly can lead to better upgrades, room selection, and smoother customer service for cancellations or problems.
  • Question brand consistency: Many chain hotels operate as franchises that vary widely in quality. Advice: Don’t assume consistency just because of a brand name; check each property individually.
  • Use niche hotel groups: If you prefer specific styles—heritage homes, eco-lodges, boutique design—join curated networks like Historic Hotels of America, Beyond Green, or Design Hotels.
  • Leverage travel agents: Travel agents can be invaluable, especially for luxury or complex bookings. Their service is usually free (commission-paid), and they may secure upgrades or perks. Advice: For upscale stays, even in smaller rooms, do not book without consulting an experienced agent.

Get the full story at The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required)

Introducing AI Templates: Your Shortcut to Impactful Website Messages
Trending
Introducing AI Templates: Your Shortcut to Impactful Website Messages

Please click here to access the full original article.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
You should like too
View Post
  • Categorizing...

I was thinking about this over the weekend – just how much extra effort it now takes to simply buy things. | Luke Reed

  • Luke Reed
  • 4 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Dartmoor retreat responds to the “rhythm of farm life”

  • Clara Finnigan
  • 4 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Creating a Culture of Welcome: How We Engaged Employees to Delight Guests – Edward Mady

  • Josiah Mackenzie
  • 4 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Foolscap reimagines the Roman forum for Cremorne co-working space

  • Amy Frearson
  • 4 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Founder of Sustainable Travel Technologies…

  • Travel Weekly Group Ltd
  • 4 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Ant International unveils AI-powered travel…

  • Travel Weekly Group Ltd
  • 4 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Explora Journeys enhances travel advisor…

  • Travel Weekly Group Ltd
  • 4 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

‘Fundamental shift’ in Gulf visitor…

  • Travel Weekly Group Ltd
  • 4 July 2025
Sponsored Posts
  • The Future of Revenue Management Is Strategic Leadership – LodgIQ

    View Post
  • Influence Society Publishes Q2 Edition of Societies Quarterly for Visionary Hoteliers

    View Post
  • Case Study: Refinery Hotel Redefines Revenue Management with LodgIQ

    View Post
Last Posts
  • Italy’s Real Estate Market Grows: €5.2 Billion Invested YTD, Hospitality and Retail Lead, Residential Sales Recover
    • 4 July 2025
  • I was thinking about this over the weekend – just how much extra effort it now takes to simply buy things. | Luke Reed
    • 4 July 2025
  • HITEC 2025: Record-Breaking Attendance, Start-up Momentum, and a Look Ahead to San Antonio
    • 4 July 2025
  • HOF 2025: “Revenue managers are the lighthouse of commercial discipline”
    • 4 July 2025
  • Map of the week: hotel openings – July # 1 2025
    • 4 July 2025
Sponsors
  • The Future of Revenue Management Is Strategic Leadership – LodgIQ
  • Influence Society Publishes Q2 Edition of Societies Quarterly for Visionary Hoteliers
  • Case Study: Refinery Hotel Redefines Revenue Management with LodgIQ
Contact informations

contact@10minutes.news

Advertise with us
Contact Marjolaine to learn more: marjolaine@wearepragmatik.com
Press release
pr@10minutes.news
10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers
  • Top News
  • Posts
  • 🎙️ Podcast
  • 👉 Sign-up
  • 🌎 Languages
  • 📰 Columns
  • About us
Discover the best of international hotel news. Categorized, and sign-up to the newsletter

Input your search keywords and press Enter.