When hosts respond publicly to private feedback

[yecatsr]

@ClaireHL

I’ve almost always leave a response - just “Thank you, John, for your kind words, it was lovely to meet (or host) you and Jane, and your sweet dog, Trigger.”

@Emily makes some good points on not replying to reviews here:

Need help with response for a review

My personal view has always been not to respond, in part because it comes across as controlling. All your responses were fine, fritmdly and complimentary and grateful, but when I read them I thought a. The response is not relevant or needed for the general public, it’s more a private response if anything so it comes across as faux, a bit helicopter monitoring of reviews or too personal plus b. I found it distracting. I was more focused on your response (that added nothing to the great reviews…

(She was replying to me, thinking I was the OP of the topic–so talks about the OP’s listing, but her comments still stand)

I think she’s right, so I don’t leave public responses any more. Potential guests are looking for info from guests, not my replies, when looking at reviews. I save my personal touches for when the guest stays, leaving personal notes etc. I leave them a nice “private response” when I leave them their review as well. Just food for thought, there are different ways to look at it.
But I like your point about pets, if they didn’t mention in their review…