Hotel That Fines Brides $500 For Negative Online Reviews Says It Was Just Joking

This morning, The New York Post's Page Six reported that the Union Street Grand House in Hudson, New York, had a policy on its website that said they fine wedding guests $500 if they leave negative reviews about the hotel online.

The story spread like wildfire, and lots of people went to Yelp to leave angry one-star comments about the way the USGH runs its business.

Now they hotel says they were kidding the whole time.

The policy on the website, as of this morning, stated:

If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event. If you stay here to attend a wedding anywhere in the area and leave us a negative review on any internet site you agree to a $500 fine for each negative review.

Though it doesn't sound much like a joke, the message has since been removed, but left behind is a bizarre warning:

Please know that despite the fact that wedding couples love Hudson and our Inn, your friends and families may not. This is due to the fact that your guests may not understand what we offer - therefore we expect you to explain that to them.

Meanwhile, the negative reviews on Yelp have taken over.