TripAdvisor will soon start identifying hotels where sexual assault has occurred through new icons that were introduced this week.
The company said they are taking steps to protect their customers whether it be health, safety or discrimination concerns.
‘We introduced a new notification we can add to individual TripAdvisor listings when there are news reports about health, safety or discrimination issues concerning a business,’ the company said in a statement.
TripAdvisor (file image) will soon start identifying hotels where sexual assault has occurred through new icons that were introduced this week. The company said they are taking steps to protect their customers whether it be health, safety or discrimination concerns
The icons (pictured) were introduced this week and will be issued any time the company perceives a current issue as relayed by either users or the news media
The company said they will ‘evaluate whether to place this notification on a business listing when we become aware of media reports regarding a notable health, safety or discrimination issue at a property listed on our site where that issue may not be apparent in TripAdvisor reviews or forum content’.
TripAdvisor came under fire a week ago and issued a public apology to Kristie Love, 35, of Dallas, after The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that TripAdvisor removed her 2010 forum post about the Paraiso Maya resort, where she said she had been raped by a security guard.
The company said at the time there was a former policy that allowed only ‘family-friendly’ language in user reviews.
‘A few years ago, we updated that policy to allow more descriptive reviews and content about first-hand accounts of serious incidents like rape or assault,’ the company said in the statement.
‘Even at that time, we recognized that our previous guidelines went too far in preventing information like this from being shared.’
The icons were introduced this week and will be issued any time the company perceives a current issue as relayed by either users or the news media.
According to the company’s website, the badges will remain on the site for up to three months, unless the issue persists. At that point, the badge could remain on the hotel or resort for an extended period of time
According to the company’s website, the badges will remain on the site for up to three months, unless the issue persists.
At that point, the badge could remain on the hotel or resort for an extended period of time.
The message that users will see if they come across a hotel with safety concerns is as follows:
‘Message from TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor has been made aware of recent media reports or events concerning this property which may not be reflected in reviews found on this listing. Accordingly, you may wish to perform additional research for information about this property when making your travel plans.’
Locations that are flagged for safety concerns will not be removed from the site.
Paraiso Maya, Iberostar Paraiso Lindo and Grand Velas in Mexico were given warnings after reports indicated they had issues with ‘tainted alcohol and sexual assault’.