Imagine you’ve worked hard to deliver top-notch service, but one bad Tripadvisor review—possibly fake or wildly exaggerated—sends potential guests running. Frustrating, right? Unfortunately, it’s a common scenario for hotels and hospitality businesses worldwide.
Online reviews aren’t just feedback—they’re make-or-break moments for your revenue. A single negative review can damage trust, tank your ratings, and reduce bookings significantly. (Want to know how much it could cost you? Run the numbers—it’s eye-opening.)
Being visible on Tripadvisor can drive real growth, but it also opens the door to unfair reviews. The good news? You’re not powerless.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to remove inappropriate Tripadvisor reviews, respond to unfair feedback with confidence, and use smart tools to stay ahead of your reputation—before the damage is done.
Understanding Tripadvisor's Power Over Your Business
Tripadvisor isn’t just another review site—it’s a juggernaut in the travel industry with over 1 billion reviews and 400 million+ monthly users. A single misleading review can sway bookings, tarnish reputation, and drop your popularity rankings. In fact, 63% of consumers lose trust in a business after seeing mostly negative reviews, and 42% may avoid a business for a year after a bad review.
While positive reviews help climb Tripadvisor rankings, negative or fake ones? Not so much.
So, if you’ve asked yourself, “Can I get a review removed from Tripadvisor?”—the answer is YES, but only under specific conditions. Let’s walk through those in detail.
Tripadvisor Review Guidelines: What Reviews Must Follow
Tripadvisor requires that all reviews adhere to a set of community and content standards. Here’s what every posted review must comply with:
First-Hand Experience Only
The reviewer must have personally interacted with your business. No second-hand information is allowed unless in serious safety cases (like a parent reviewing on behalf of a child).
No Second-Hand Content
Tripadvisor will reject or remove reviews quoting third-party opinions or media unless verified by someone directly involved.
Relevant Travel Content Only
The review must focus on a genuine travel experience—not political rants, policy complaints, or promotional content.
Recent and Unique
Reviews must be submitted within one year of the experience and can’t be duplicated across different listings.
No Review Manipulation or Conflicts of Interest
Reviews from competitors, ex-employees, or anyone with a bias are not allowed.
When Can You Request Tripadvisor Review Removal?
You can submit a removal request if the review fits one of the following criteria:
- Posted on the wrong business listing
- Contains inappropriate or offensive language
- Written by a competitor or ex-employee
- Outdated (experience over a year ago)
- Content doesn’t match the star rating
- Reviewer never visited your property
- Duplicate or commercial in nature
- Contains personal or sensitive data
- Promotes illegal or restricted content
Note: Tripadvisor won’t remove a review just because you disagree with it—but if you have proof it violates guidelines, you stand a solid chance.
How to Remove a Review from Tripadvisor (Step-by-Step)
Follow these steps from your Tripadvisor Management Center:
- Log in and select your property
- Go to the Reviews section
- Find the problematic review and click “Report a Review”
- Choose the appropriate reason for removal
- Provide supporting evidence
- Submit and wait for Tripadvisor’s team to review
Tripadvisor typically responds within a few days. Complex cases may take longer and require additional documentation.
Major Renovation or Ownership Change? Here's How to Wipe the Slate Clean
Tripadvisor allows a full review reset in two situations:
Structural Renovation
If your hotel underwent major renovations (e.g., redesigned lobby, new rooms), submit:
- Press releases or articles with dates
- Government permits or city board letters
- Photos and official documentation
Ownership Change
New owners can request the removal of all past reviews—proof like business registration or transfer papers is required.
Important: Cosmetic updates (like repainting walls or new signage) don’t qualify.
Dealing with Reviews for the Wrong Business?
If a review was clearly posted on the wrong listing, take action quickly.
📽️ Check out this quick YouTube guide we made on how to fix it:
Just log in to the Management Center, report the review, and politely explain the error. Be sure to leave a professional management response encouraging the reviewer to repost it correctly.
How to Respond Professionally to Unfair Reviews
Even when a review can’t be removed, your response speaks volumes. Here’s how to do it right:
- Acknowledge the issue without sounding defensive
- Correct misinformation tactfully
- Show improvements based on feedback
- Highlight your standards
- Mention your team to humanize the response
- Invite the guest to return for a better experience
Example:
“Thanks for your feedback. While we don’t recognize this specific issue, I’ve already spoken with our team to ensure such situations are avoided in the future. Please feel free to reach out directly so we can make it right.”
My Review Concierge: The Smart Way to Manage Reviews
Managing reviews manually is time-consuming and stressful. That’s where My Review Concierge comes in.
This smart software solution helps businesses:
- Monitor reviews across platforms (Tripadvisor, Google, Yelp, etc.)
- Get alerts for new reviews instantly
- Automate and customize review responses in your brand voice
- Use AI-powered sentiment analysis to detect trends
- Flag and report inappropriate reviews easily
Empower your business to stay ahead of your online reputation—without the daily grind.
Final Thoughts
Tripadvisor reviews can shape your business—positively or negatively. But the power to manage that narrative lies with you.
- Know when and how to remove unfair reviews
- Respond to all feedback professionally
- Use tools like My Review Concierge to stay on top
Your online reputation isn’t just about stars—it’s about your story. Make sure you’re the one telling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, guests can delete and rewrite their own reviews anytime.
Hotels can’t bulk delete reviews under normal circumstances. However, Tripadvisor may allow mass removal of reviews if there has been a significant change to the property, like a major renovation that completely transforms the guest experience, or a verified change in ownership. In these cases, you’ll need to submit documentation (like construction permits or ownership transfer proof), and Tripadvisor will review your request before deciding.
Still respond professionally—your public replies matter more than you think.
