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Sexually assaulted by hotel staff? TripAdvisor tells woman leave a review

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TripAdvisor is the largest travel site in the world, with 456 million people visiting the site every month to search for accommodation and other hospitality sites ranked according user reviews.

Two women alleged they were raped by staff employed by businesses currently promoted on TripAdvisor and said the company is failing its “duty to public safety” in the way it handles such complaints. They said they fear others are at risk without information about prior alleged incidents being made visible on the business page. These hotels are continuing to be promoted on TripAdvisor.

One woman said she was raped by a tour guide whose business was being promoted on the TripAdvisor. After contacting the hotel where he worked and reporting him to the police, she wanted to warn other tourists.

TripAdvisor’s response was to tell her to leave a first person review detailing her sexual assault on the website.

“I was in disbelief. Am I seriously being asked to recall the humiliating details of my own sexual assault? Was this global company pushing me to relive my trauma on their forum for everyone to see and comment, or worse of all for the perpetrator who is still out there, to respond to me, troll me?,” she said. “It left me feeling shattered, hopeless and alone.”

TripAdvisor told her that they do not remove a business from their site if a staff member was accused of sexual assault or rape, even temporarily to conduct an internal review. The company then shared 5 links with her of reviews detailing sexual assault and rape, allegedly committed by staff at different hotels, as examples of how she might write her own review.

In one review that TripAdvisor shared with her in an email dated November 2018, an 18-year-old woman said she had her drink spiked and was raped at a resort in Jamaica. She claimed the hotel hired lawyers to mount a case against her, even after undergoing a rape test at a local hospital.

The resort currently has a 4.5-star rating out of 5. There is no flag on the hotel’s TripAdvisor page to suggest any such attack has ever occurred. The only way to know would be to scroll through and read more than 5,000 reviews.

TripAdvisor ranks hotels based on the star rating given by users, but individual reviews are presented chronologically on listing page for the hotel. A review which detailed allegations of sexual assault could easily be overtaken by more recent reviews and be harder to find.

There are 40 examples of reviews describing sexual assault, rape, and groping committed by staff members of highly-rated hotels and other travel businesses on TripAdvisor. In only 14 of those cases, the hotel or travel business – such as tour guides – had replied to the review, with just one review indicating whether disciplinary action had been taken against the staff member in question.

TripAdvisor left this woman’s review as pending, because she did not write it as a first person account and it remains unpublished. She told the company she did not want to publish “first hand experiences” in fear of being contacted and identified by people whose attention she did not want to attract, including the alleged perpetrator. TripAdvisor suggested she created a burner account under an anonymous name to leave the review.

TripAdvisor has previously attempted to grapple with complaints of sexual assault. In November 2017, it said it would add a warning tags to hotels where “health, discrimination, and safety” issues have been reported – but would not explicitly say what the business has been flagged for. The decision came after the company deleted a review detailing a rape case in a hotel in Mexico because the language used breached its guidelines.

The amount of time a badge remains on a business listing is determined on a case-by-case basis, but the company uses a period of 3 months as a guideline for re-evaluation. TripAdvisor said there are currently 4 flags up on business listing pages. None of the flagged hotels or travel businesses have any warning on the business page of prior allegations made about staff.

Complainants believe a red flag on a business for 3 months to evaluate the ongoing safety of the listing is not enough, especially when little to no action is taken against the alleged attackers still employed at hotels and businesses.

Another woman, Christine, 44, from Toronto, Canada, alleged she was raped in a hotel in the Caribbean while on holiday with her family. She said the process of leaving the complaint of sexual assault as a review was futile as reviews were routinely “buried” by other reviews, making it difficult for users to find.

She added that the reviews detailing sexual assault attacks should not be lumped alongside other 1-star reviews complaining about “bed sheets.”

“They definitely should have a different kind of review system, for these types of incidences so they’re not buried in with everyone’s reviews about you know, the quality of the towels or the sheets. Especially if it’s a safety issue, particularly for women.”

Christine decided to go public with her story because, she says, “TripAdvisor has a major platform and really they have a duty for public safety, because it is a big problem. I’m not overstating it when I say it’s widespread.

“Many women contacted me and said this has happened to them, too, by a different staff member at another hotel. And we need to be aware of it.”

TripAdvisor said while the company was unsure if the reviews complaining of rape would have an impact on a business, it believed reviews were “very helpful” to travelers to inform them about where to stay or visit.

TripAdvisor added it had a team of hundreds of people working on content moderation focused on “maintaining the integrity” of the site, and that thousands of reviews on the website described health and safety issues, including sexual assault and other crimes.

The company said it took into account a number of issues before giving a business a flag, including whether a staff member of a business listed was implicated in the review complaint. The company adds a flag to listings where there are media reports of the issue or when a first-hand review is not “readily accessible.”

It said its notifications are not confirmation of the events but were there to “encourage consumers to do additional research outside of TripAdvisor” of the safety of the businesses. However, the company claimed most businesses that had received a flag had taken steps to address the issue that caused the media coverage.

In a statement to the Guardian, TripAdvisor said: “It is terrible that some travelers endure serious issues such as assault or rape, and we hope our platform can be used by them to help warn and protect others. It is important that reviewers follow our publishing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of our reviews, and when these reviews are not readily available and news reports exist that detail recent and pervasive health and safety matters, TripAdvisor’s notification process helps alert travelers about potential issues at a location.”

Travel News | eTurboNews

Older travelers still want adventure

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While much adventure travel information is aimed at young backpackers, recent research revealed travel is not just the domain of the young with middle-aged Brits still working their way through a wish list of destinations.

Older travelers haven’t lost their adventurous spirit

The poll of 2,000 adults aged 40 and above showed the average 40-something still has 7 countries to visit on their travel bucket list. In fact, over 40s reckon they have only visited a quarter of the countries they dream of going to around the world with popular backpacking destinations New Zealand, Canada, and Australia top of the list.

It also emerged that more than 6 in 10 are already looking forward to at least one trip abroad in 2019. Three in 10 over 40s even reckon they are more adventurous with their holiday choices now than they ever used to be with 38 percent preferring to go off the beaten track when they travel abroad. And rather than sitting by the pool, a fifth of over 40s have tried snorkeling on a trip abroad and more than one in 10 have been on a safari.

Why it’s better to travel in the later years

The study also found nearly half of over 40s polled say they go on more holidays now than at any other point of their lives with 6 in 10 putting this down to having more money now than they did in the past. And a quarter think it’s easier to get away and go jet-setting around the globe because their kids are older, while 46 percent have more time, according to the research.

Another 40 percent think their lives have simplified enough so they now have more freedom – in their 50s or beyond – to see the globe. And more than one in 5 have also gone travelling and taken a month or more off from work to visit different countries.

Aimee of Rough Guides who conducted the research said: “Travel is no longer the sole preserve of the young. It is important that the travel industry gives older travelers the same opportunities to have adventurous travel experiences as younger people if they want to and not dismiss them as being too old or boring.”

Travel News | eTurboNews

The world has spoken: 5 Jetwing Hotels among the top 25 hotels in Sri Lanka

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Jetwing Hotels renowned for its simple values and promise of traditional Sri Lankan hospitality is continuously expanding its foot print across the island. Over the past year North Gate by Jetwing-Jaffna, Underneath the Mango Tree by Jetwing-Dickwella, Hotel J-Ambalangoda and three bungalows in Hatton were added to the family of properties, increasing the count to 40. With fabulous dining options, world class spa facilities and excursions on offer, guests are guaranteed unique experiences in complete privacy. As befitting a reputation of excellence and being Sri Lanka’s premier hospitality brand, 5 Jetwing properties have been listed in the recently published Top 25 Hotels in Sri Lanka by TripAdvisor as part of their 2019 Travelers’ Choice Awards

In 8th place comes Jetwing Lake, with its contemporary design and modern comforts. Nestled in a rustic setting, the 18-acre property opens out to the best panoramic views of Dambulla. Jetwing Vil Uyana, renowned for its design and sustainability initiatives is placed 10th. This resort, featuring 36 dwellings set in 5 distinct habitats taking the form of a private nature reserve, is the finest eco-luxury experience found in the island. In 12th place comes Mermaid Hotel and Club, located in Kalutara with 81 standard rooms. Tucked away in a vast coconut grove along a stretch of golden beach, this all-inclusive resort is a perfect haven for relaxation. Jetwing Yala, a resort experience that combines wildlife and the beach is placed 13th. Last, but not least is Jetwing Lagoon, Sri Lanka’s first resort and Geoffrey Bawa’s first masterpiece, taking the 24th slot.

Shiromal Cooray, Chairman, Jetwing Hotels commenting on this great achievement said “Our talented associates make a great effort to provide a memorable holiday for all our guests and this kind of achievement is truly gratifying.  At a time when everyone is connected through different media in real time, recognition through customer reviews is a vote of confidence for our commitment to service excellence. We would like to thank all our guests who have taken a moment of their valuable time to share their experiences on TripAdvisor.”

Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 46 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectation at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand. Such a strong statement and direction have enabled Jetwing Hotels to imagine, create and manage marvels and masterpieces, where distinctive design and elegant comfort complement each other and the environment. In line with the Jetwing Hotels Sustainable Strategy, across all properties sustainable and responsible practices are given precedence with resource efficiency, community upliftment and education, and awareness being some of our key focus areas.

Media Contact:  Jetwing Hotels

For any queries regarding this press release please contact us:

Hashan Cooray (Manager – Marketing) – hashan@jetwinghotels.com

Sanduni Kulatunga (Senior Executive- PR & Media)- sanduni.n@jetwinghotels.com

Destinations reached by the Trans Siberian express

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One of the first things you have to consider when it comes to a vacation is the experiences you are able to enjoy. When you go to a place you have never been before, it is important to make the most of the experience and try to see as many things as you can. This will help you realize how beautiful the world is and how many other things exist apart from the ones you are used to.

This is one of the reasons why sightseeing is so appreciated by people from all over the world. If you want to spend some time on a vacation, you should focus on the options that allow you to explore a wide variety of destinations. If you choose one place, you should take the time to visit as many sights as possible during the time you spend there. This will make an experience unique.

One of the options you have at hand is visiting a city or a popular destination for a few days and try to visit all the major attractions in the area. It is easier to plan your routes as long as you are in the same place, but you will be limited to the area of the city instead. If you are looking for a lot more options, you can turn your attention to solutions such as the Trans Siberian express.

Russia is one of the most beautiful places you can focus on when it comes to a vacation. This is where you will be able to see some of the most amazing edifices created by man and you will be impressed by the craftsmanship and the effort that goes into every project. The Trans Siberian railway also gives you the opportunity to see some of the most amazing destinations in Russia.

Moscow is the capital and the place where your adventure will begin. You can take part in a city tour so you can explore this amazing place. The Kremlin is a very popular sight to visit and it can take up to 4 hours if you want to see the armory as well. Lenin’s tomb should also be on your list, but art lovers can visit Tretyakov Gallery or the Pushkin Fine Arts museum as a part of the tour.

Another amazing city you can visit is Saint Petersburg. This is called the majestic jewel of Russia and it is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. This is where you can see the beautiful palace of St. Catherine, the cathedral of St. Isaac, the Russian museum, the Hermitage museum as well as many other unique beautiful sights that will show you the amazing side of Russia.

Kazan is another place you must add to the list of visits you should make. This is the destination that will take you back into the history of the place as far as the 16th century. You can check out the Tatarstan Museum of Natural History, the Hermitage gallery in Kazan or an old settlement of the Tatar where the people in the area were forced to live during a siege dating back to 1552.

Ekaterinburg is another destination on the list. This is a city that sits on the border between Asia and Europe and it is the home of a number of attractions. Within the city limits you can find the Romanov Monastery, the Europe / Asian Obelisk as well as a military museum. If you venture outside the city, you can take a tour of the Nevyansk village, the Koptelovo village and so on.

There are a lot of other places that you will be able to see along the Trans Siberian railway. A few examples would be the small and clean town of Suzdal, the easternmost city of Perm, the city of Krasnoyarsk – the heart of Siberia, the Irkutsk – the gateway to Lake Baikal and Ulan-Ude – the center of Russian Buddhism among others. Each place will show you a unique part of Russia.

The last destination of the Trans Siberian express is Vladivostok, a city with a lot sights you can visit. People who live or work in Japan can start their journey back to Moscow here and embark on an epic adventure that will show them a side of Russia not many people can see. The examples you have read about here are just the tip of the iceberg because there are so many others along the way and each of them is going to provide an experience you will never forget.

Resource box: The  Trans Siberian express  is one of the best options you have when you want to plan a vacation you will never forget. All the destinations you find along the  Trans Siberian railway   will show you things you never expected in this part of the world.