New TripAdvisor Badge Warns Users Of Sexual Assault At Hotels

After the accusations against Harvey Weinstein and other Hollywood men in power, victims of sexual assault or harassment are coming out to share their stories in nearly every field — news, politics, academics, sports, and more. Even the culinary industry has been hit by this revolution, most notably with celebrity chef John Besh stepping down from Besh Restaurant Group after allegations of sexual misconduct. In line with this recent concern and increased awareness, TripAdvisor has added a feature on its site that will notify users of major health and safety concerns — including whether a hotel or resort has been the location of a reported sexual assault.

According to The New York Times, the warnings have been placed on venues in all of the travel categories on TripAdvisor: hotels, resorts, restaurants, airlines, etc. The badges are placed on the venue or company's TripAdvisor page so as to alert the user to any recent safety, discrimination, or health issues. And no matter how many complaints a company receives, TripAdvisor will not remove their listing so as to benefit their users.

"We want consumers to see good and bad reviews of businesses," TripAdvisor spokesman Kevin Carter told The New York Times. He also announced that the badges will only stay up on a TripAdvisor page for up to three months. The decision to add or remove a badge from a listing will be up to an employee committee.

"If the issues persist, we may extend the duration of the badge," Carter said. "These badges are intended to be informative, not punitive."

The badge, which turns up as a text box in red at the top of a listing, reads:

"Message from TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor has been made aware of recent media reports or events concerning this property which may not be reflected in reviews found on this listing. Accordingly, you may wish to perform additional research for information about this property when making your travel plans."

Some of the best resorts in the world have been flagged by TripAdvisor, including three in the Mexican region of Playa del Carmen: the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, and the Iberostar Paraiso Maya. Safety is a very serious concern for travelers. If you're nervous or unsure about where you can go for a secure and stress-free vacation, check out our list of the 50 safest cities in the world.