Travel Roundup: TripAdvisor's Fake Reviews, Travel Channel for Sale, Travel Agents Leaving Business and More

(MoneyWatch) 
TripAdvisor warns of hotels writing fake reviews -- TripAdvisor, the travel Web site that lets customers rate hotels online, posted disclaimers to warn its readers that hotels could be writing fake reviews to improve their rankings or hurt their competition. Bloggers and some industry experts say this shows that TripAdvisor's user-submitted content has lost credibility. But TripAdvisor disagrees, saying the disclaimers have been on the site since 2006. The Newton, Mass. company also said the fake reviews are minute compared to their 400,000 user-reviewed hotels and that it has a system to uncover unsound reviews. [Source: Associated Press]

Cox puts Travel Channel for sale -- Cox Communications is putting up the Travel Channel for sale and both Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. and Time Warner Inc. are interested in the cable network. Analysts estimate the auction to range from $600 million to $1 billion. The channel is known for its travel programming including "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations," where chef Bourdain travels around the world sampling local cuisine and culture. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. will handle the sale. Cox declined comment on the story. [Source: Reuters]

Agencies can't find travel agents to fill vacancies -- The American Society of Travel Agents reported that although hiring demand for travel agents is down, travel agencies can't fill vacant positions. The trade group suggested that low starting salaries may be contributing to the dearth of agents. The starting average salary is $20,912. The average salary is $30,458. [Source: Travel Agent Central]

Las Vegas Sands Corp. files lawsuit over clothing -- The Palazzo hotel, part of Las Vegas Sands Corp., filed a lawsuit against Palazzo Design Corp. of Houston over selling clothes with its name and likeness of the hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Officials at the Palazzo hotel argue that the design company doesn't have exclusive rights to sell its items and the hotel should be able to sell those items. [Source: Associated Press]