Glasgow homeless hostel climbs Tripadvisor ranks after fake reviews

29 April 2013 by
Glasgow homeless hostel climbs Tripadvisor ranks after fake reviews

A homeless hostel in Glasgow ended up being named as one of the city's best hotels after a string of reviews on reviews site TripAdvisor, all giving it top marks.

The Bellgrove Hotel in the city's Gallowgate area was given a series of tongue-in-cheek reviews by reviewers who may or may not ever have stayed there, and some users even posted photos of pool and spa facilities that the hotel is supposed to offer, but which don't actually exist, according to the Scotsman.

User 927Jimp said: "Strongly recommend this as an ideal hotel for young couples and those just looking for a relaxing city break. As a couple who travel regularly, we weren't quite sure what to expect of Glasgow, we need not have worried, a glorious three day stay, made all the better by our choice of hotel in the Bellgrove."

Meanwhile, gordy682 from Dublin said: "Hotel did look a bit shabby on the outside however appearances can de deceitful. Luxurious rooms, spa and leisure facilities a real gem," before adding the hotel was "Glasgow's hidden treasure".

The Bellgrove, which houses around 150 homeless men, no longer features on the Tripadvisor website.

A spokeswoman for TripAdvisor said: "As this property is a homeless shelter, and therefore doesn't meet our listing guidelines, the listing itself has been removed from TripAdvisor. With over 60 pieces of content coming in every minute, occasionally a review or business that does not meet TripAdvisor's guidelines may slip through the cracks, and in these rare cases, our members can report the material to us, helping maintain the high quality content of our site."

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