1. I’m not an employee of IHG. I help run an online community called Priority Club Connect.
2. I never gave permission to Chris from AmateurTravel to post it.
3. Unfortunately, it was syndicated to his site without my knowledge.
4. Yes, all hotels listed in my Dubai post were paid by me.
5. My articles are geared to the 20,000+ online community members who are loyalty card holders in IHG’s program.
6. If you need verification, or disclosure regarding my “Ombudsman” position, please visit, http://community.priorityclub.com/docs/DOC-1101

Respectfully,
Amanda

That’s not a question of what professional journalists may or may not do — all you’re attempting is the predictable attempt at “if we’re doing it, so what because other people are doing it too” line there. This is about one particular instance, that can get replicated in many other scenarios to a far greater degree online in the blogosphere. If print is folding and there are on the other hand statistics that 20,000 new blog sites appear every month (or maybe that was every week, but never mind), then you tell me where the far greater likelihood of shilling by people with no background either academic or profesional and who clearly don’t care is likely to take place?

It is irredeemably vile. Bugger all the debate about conflict of interest.

What kind of human could write the slab of text below?

‘Try to visit the poor areas of Dubai like the town of Deira to people watch and take photos. As any place, Dubai has non wealthy areas known as the slums. The indoor skiing area inside the Mall of Emirates is very cheap. Known as Ski Dubai, one can ski indoors for less than $50USD.’

I have recently moved to a market with a historical daily newspaper. This paper is currently being sued for scraping articles from other papers without attribution (after they laid off most of their local reporting staff) and for firing a reporter for investigating allegations against a major advertiser. Press releases or “articles” written by PR reps have shown up as stories. If you want a great restaurant review, just advertise and a Mexican restaurant where fish tacos consist of a fish stick with tartar (!) sauce on a flour tortilla is voted the “best” in the area.

Ah, but the professional journalists and editors get better pay than bloggers and sometimes health insurance.

The debate shouldn’t be about journalists vs. bloggers, but more on developing critical consumers. If it smells like, looks like, and sounds like…it probably is. You can find bias in stories from blogs to the NYTs.

I’m astounded to hear about the InterContinental Dubai conflict of interest.

Firstly because, while I’m not a fan of the Holiday Inn properties, the InterCont at Dubai Festival City is gorgeous, staff are brilliant, and it boasts a couple of the city’s best restaurants and bars. It gets great praise from good writers who stay there so not sure why this piece ever had to be written and put out there.

Secondly, because the IHG in Dubai actually do a great job at social media – they have someone on Twitter who is well regarded here, they have hosted some tweet-ups for Dubai tweeps, and they are a vital part of the local community. It seems so odd that this sort of piece would be part of their ‘strategy’. I’m doing some investigating myself, and will get back to you.

“X currently serves as the Priority Club Connect Community Ombudsman for IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) where she writes a blog, engages 20,000+ online community members, and shares expert knowledge of the brand”

Does that mean she’s on the payroll for IHG?

Do they pay her to write this dribble? if so, it’s kind of embarrassing for the Hotel group….

Thoughts people?