Hotelvisor Standards
The Truth in Travel.
Trust is paramount. We operate the most rigorous verification in the industry. Tamper-proof, strict, and uncompromisingly objective.
The Uncompromising Fight Against Purchased Reviews
The internet is dominated by travel portals where hotels shine with thousands of euphoric but completely unrealistic reviews. Purchased 5-star evaluations and artificially manipulated rankings destroy trust and, in the worst case, ruin our users’ hard-earned vacations. At Hotelvisor, we have established an absolute zero-tolerance policy against manipulated reviews.
Hard Proof of Booking as the Foundation
Unlike open platforms where any user can write a review anonymously and without proof, our system strictly ties every evaluation to an authentic, verified transaction. The crucial building block of our methodology is indisputable booking proof. Before a review even enters our system, it is mandatorily documented that the person actually stayed at the specific hotel.
Two-Stage Verification: Algorithm & Human
Our approach combines state-of-the-art technological pattern recognition with human precision. Our dedicated software initially analyzes all incoming reports for linguistic anomalies, excessive repetition, and suspicious IP patterns indicative of structured bot networks. If these metrics flag an entry, the submission is immediately isolated and manually verified at a forensic level by our certified editors.
Our 6-Step Quality Control
A strict, incontrovertible process ensures that every published opinion is absolutely authentic.
1
Proof Required
Every reviewer must upload booking proof – invoice, confirmation email, booking platform screenshot or similar. No proof, no publication.
2
Manual Review
Our trained team manually checks every proof for authenticity and match with the reviewed hotel. We check date, hotel name and plausibility.
3
Publication with Badge
Only verified reviews are published and marked with the green Verified badge. This way you can tell at a glance that the review is genuine.
4
Privacy & Deletion
Uploaded proofs are stored in private, encrypted storage. Only the verification team has access. After 90 days, all proofs are automatically and irreversibly deleted.
5
Abuse Protection
We use rate limiting, bot detection, duplicate checking and spam heuristics to prevent abuse. Suspicious reviews are additionally manually reviewed.
6
Transparency & Fairness
We don't selectively publish reviews. Every verified review is published – whether positive or negative. Hotels can respond to reviews.
The "Personally Verified" Badge
Our golden badge is only awarded to hotels that have been personally visited and inspected by our team. It stands for exceptional quality in service, cleanliness and hospitality. Hotels with this badge receive a ranking boost in our search results.
Our Golden Quality Badge
Awarded after a personal, unannounced on-site inspection by our trained team. No hotel can buy this badge.
How a Hotel Gets the Badge
The hotel applies or is selected by us
Our team visits the hotel incognito
We inspect service, cleanliness, facilities and hospitality
If passed, the golden badge is awarded
Annual re-inspection for quality assurance
What exactly do we inspect?
Our team evaluates every hotel across six clearly defined categories. Each category is rated on a scale of 1 to 5. The inspection is incognito – the hotel usally doesn't know we're coming.
Cleanliness & Hygiene
30%Rooms, bathrooms, lobby and public areas. General condition and upkeep.
Service & Staff
20%Check-in, friendliness, response time and staff competence.
Room & Comfort
20%Bed quality, noise level, amenities and condition of furnishings.
Gastronomy
15%Breakfast quality, restaurant offerings, variety and value.
Location & Surroundings
5%Accessibility, transport links and hotel surroundings.
Value for Money
10%Does the overall package match the price? Transparency on extra costs.
How our editorial review is created
Our editorial review isn't a quick impression. It's based on a standardized protocol with over 50 checkpoints.
1
At least one overnight stay, two for larger hotels
2
All public areas are inspected and documented
3
At least three staff interactions are evaluated
4
Breakfast and dinner (if applicable) are tested
5
Photo documentation of all relevant areas
6
The report is reviewed by a second editor
7
The hotel receives no advance notice of the visit
Weighting & Overall Score
The overall score isn't a simple average. Categories are weighted differently because cleanliness matters more to guests than location.
30%
Cleanliness & Hygiene20%
Service & Staff20%
Room & Comfort15%
Gastronomy10%
Value for Money5%
Location & SurroundingsThe badge is only awarded if the hotel scores no less than 3.0 in any category and achieves a weighted overall score of at least 3.5 out of 5.0. Hotels that lose the badge are transparently marked on their profile page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Verification
What counts as valid proof?
Hotel invoices, booking confirmation emails, screenshots from Booking.com, Expedia or similar platforms, and credit card statements. Bank details and addresses may be redacted – your name and hotel details must remain visible.
Do I have to show personal data?
Your name and hotel details (name, date, booking number) must remain visible – it's the only way we can prove you actually stayed there. Bank details, credit card numbers and home address can of course be redacted.
How long does verification take?
Usually 1-2 business days. During high volume it may take slightly longer. You'll receive an email notification if you provided one.
What happens if my proof is rejected?
We'll inform you via email (if provided) about the reason for rejection. You can submit new proof.
Can I edit my review later?
Not directly at the moment. Contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Are negative reviews also published?
Yes, absolutely. We publish every verified review – whether 1 star or 5 stars. Honesty is our core principle.