Hotel bills influencer $10 million after stouch over free stay

The White Moose Cafe and Charleville Lodge in Dublin has invoiced Youtuber Elle Darby, who goes by the name Elle Swift, following a heated exchange about free accommodation.

Ella had emailed the hotel asking if she could stay for free at the hotel in exchange for exposure on her social media accounts.

In the email, she says she’d previously worked with Universal in Orlando and that it’s “been amazing for them.

While such a request from an influencer isn’t uncommon, the response from the hotel’s owner is.

Paul Stenson posted his scathing response alongside a screenshot of the email on Facebook.

“Thank you for your email looking for free accommodation in return for exposure. It takes a lot of balls to send an email like that, if not much self-respect and dignity.”

A Harsh beginning to the response, but Stenson was just getting started.

“If I let you stay here in return for a feature in your video, who is going to pay the staff who look after you? Who is going to pay the housekeepers who clean your room? The waiters who serve you breakfast? The receptionist who checks you in? Who is going to pay for the light and heat you use during your stay? The laundering of your bed sheets? The water rates? Maybe I should tell my staff they will be featured in your video in lieu of receiving payment for work carried out while you’re in residence?

“In future, I’d advise you to offer to pay your way like everyone else, and if the hotel in question believes your coverage will help them, maybe they’ll give you a complimentary upgrade to a suite. This would show more self-respect on your part and, let’s face it, it would be less embarrassing for you.”

Ouch.

Ella responded via YouTube explaining she was simply trying to raise awareness of what appeared to be an absolutely stunning hotel.

The emotional video only added fuel to the Stenson fire.

“**ALL BLOGGERS BANNED FROM OUR BUSINESS**

“The sense of entitlement is just too strong in the blogging community and the nastiness, hissy fits and general hate displayed after one of your members was not granted her request for a freebie is giving your whole industry a bad name. I never thought we would be inundated with negative reviews for the simple reason that somebody was required to pay for goods received or services rendered,” Stenton said in a Facebook post.

He then went a step further and issued an invoice for more than $10 million to the influencer for the free publicity he had provided her during the online spat.

He listed “the provision of features in 114 articles across 20 countries with a potential reach of 450 million people,” in his claim.

Stenton then takes one last swipe at the influencer’s occupation.

“Mentions in videos will not qualify as payment.”

I think it’s safe to say the White Moose Cafe and Charleville Lodge in Dublin would get five stars for clear communication.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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