@Rachael26
Yes, that's the ace we have up our sleeve...the review response. It's not really a matter of 'holding back' in the review. We all have a good idea of how 90% of reviews are going to go, and of course we need to be honest, so, that 90% don't pose a problem, they are going to be complimentary, or they are not. If I feel the experience was great I will just say they were wonderful to host have no hesitation in recommending to other hosts! And that is all other hosts want to see....They don't want some great epistle to wade through. If rules were broken, the guest was difficult, did not read the house rules or was not in any way a good fit I would state it in the review...."Unfortunately time did not permit us to engage a builder to tack on that additional bedroom the guest though they they were going to get"!
"I welcome and look forward to each new guest, but this is my house that I am inviting them into and I do expect that guests will treat my property with respect, just as I would theirs. It was unfortunate that an accident impacted on this guests stay and even more unfortunate that the guest saw fit to not only ignore my house rules, but inform me of the damage. Accidents happen, and that's a fact of life. I wish the guest all the best for the future, but would decline the invitation to host them again"!
Rachael you have fulfilled your duty to inform the community, and you have 'shamed' the guest rather than 'bad mouthed' them.
And keep it short. Great long responses draw peoples attention to what might have been a minor issue and slipped off the radar in no time. A lengthy antagonistic response just makes you look the difficult one!
Look I have been lucky Rachael, I have never had a 'difficult' guest, but by God I have worked hard to make it that way and as I just said in another thread it's possibly because I am a Virgo...I attend to details.
I do take it personally if I get less than a 5, I know that's stupid, but it's me! So, that review response is where I tell them how wonderful they were, and how the earth moved for me! And before I write that review 'response' I go to my 'Stats' and see how they rated me.
And on the hospitality note, yes I did totally misunderstand what you were getting at on the food thread. It's not that you didn't explain it well, you did, and I will respond with something more appropriate instead of blowing my own bags.....ok.
Cheers.....Rob