Can you rely on Tripadvisor reviews?

Fairness is expected in every business. The question is, “Is Trip advisor an innocent third party, posting honest independent reviews or a Money Making Business”. My observation has been; it is nothing but a money making business, it is up for sale and anyone who has money, can buy it.
In simple terms, if you subscribe to their BUSINESS membership; and that is not cheap – it costs US$1500, at least that is how much it cost when I cancelled it, a few years ago, it may be more now.
In return what you get is, only the positive reviews are on the top, your star ratings go very high based on current year reviews only, everything will look great. They are bought and sold just like any other commodity.
Now if you don’t subscribe to business membership, and don’t pay the dues then they use the same pressure, what the old used car salesmen did. Bring the worst reviews on the top, even the ones that may be from a very long time. You star ratings will go down. They even hired a specialist to pull the worst parts for all negative reviews, very neatly summarise them as his personal observations and put the total package right on top of the reviews.
Now if that isn’t black mail, what is?
Its dirty old marketing, that’s all. They provide a platform to allow the people to steam out, and we all know that, 99% of them are simple grudges, personal vendetta, and sometime just a little man’s blackmail.
I am talking from personal experience, to gain an advantage on pricing; they will say right to your face, “if you don’t do this, I will make sure your name is in dirt – all over the internet. Or to avoid paying for a room, after an overnight stay; a bleach dis-coloured spot on the bed sheet turns into a spot of feces

I find it generally ok. Obviously people’s standards differ but there is generally a strength in numbers, particularly bad reviews. Two issues however. I had a terrible meal at a restaurant once and told the truth about it. Tripadvisor allowed a riposte by the owner, which was a pack of lies and I was branded a trouble-maker! The second issue is regarding local reviews of restaurants. The restaurant I rate the best locally is now always 2nd or 3rd in the table. It always used to be first. It has been supplanted by 2 curry restaurants that now have masses on reviews by people who have only ever posted one review: their review of the curry restaurant. I suspect fake reviews by staff/family/friends. So like with any statistic be wary.

I have been a regular contributor to TP for many years until recently, i left a comment about a well known chain of hotels pointing out that the service was horrendous ,the food was terrible ,and the rooms were awful ,i did go into detail why but their faults were too many to mention, i also pointed out that i was surprised that so many people found no fault at all and also to my surprise the comments were from first time trip advisor members who use the hotel as a stay over for flights to their holiday but strangely they never made any comment about their holiday hotels. I received an email from tripadvisor telling me i was abusive and they removed my post. i have visited hotels all over the world and have written good and bad reviews and have never been abusive , i ask them to explain exactly where i had been abusive ,6 months later still no reply . i for one will never use or trust TA again.