Travel Writers

We were called yesterday by the publicist for a local B&B, informing us that a travel writer would be in the area this week, writing about the Bed and Breakfast and several nearby restaurants. She wanted to know if we were interested in having them come to Brooks Tavern for dinner. The real question was - would you comp the meals, for both the writer and her husband? When we replied that, no, we really didn't believe in that, the publicist - while sympathetic - said,"oh well". They'll be writing about some other restaurant.

Is this really how it's done? In order to get your name in a guidebook, do you have to pay the writer to eat at your place? And her husband too? Maybe I am naive, but I just find this hard to swallow. Does this guarantee you a spot in the article, so you can sort of write it off as an advertising expense or something? I've gone on-line to find out what I can about the business of travel writers, but I don't see anything about comping meals. Does anyone know? On the one hand, Kevin and I both believe that a real "review" is written by an anonymous diner, at least until they have eaten a meal or two with you. And secondly, if you know the "reviewer" is coming and you are paying for their meal, how reliable is their description of their experience as compared to what your real customers experience? When you read travel articles, do you understand that the restaurant they are writing about knew they were there, made sure they got a great meal, and paid for it to boot? I am not sure if we haven't made a big mistake, passing up the chance for some much needed publicity from the outside world...but on the other hand, it just seems sort of...wrong? We've never dealt with anything like this before (and now I imagine we won't be dealing with it again, when the word gets out that we don't believe in comping meals for a write-up) so we are, once again, clueless.