Attempt by hotel to quash criticism

The owner of a US hotel that threatened to charge guests $US500 if they wrote a bad review has taken to social media to explain that it was a gag gone wrong.  Chris Wagoner, owner of the Union Street Guest House, posted to the hotel’s Facebook page explaining the policy was “originally intended as a joke” and something he never told employees to enforce. 

Wagoner’s explanation follows hundreds of angry posts made on social media sites and accommodation review sites slamming the $US500  fee for every negative review a guest makes. While Wagoner says the hotel has not enforced the policy fee, Rabih Zahnan. who was a guest at the hotel, claimed he was threatened with a charge for a negative review he posted online. 

 "The management of this hotel had the gall to email us twice to threaten us financially about the negative review!  Disgusting! Instead of taking responsibility and striving to improve their customer service, they instead resort to intimidation!"

Wagoner admits he was “embarrassed” the joke went “viral for all the wrong reasons” “I now realize this joke was made in poor taste and not at all funny."

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