A luxury beach resort in Siargao has hit back at “self-proclaimed influencers” who constantly pester staff to blag free holidays and perks.
In a Facebook post this week, the White Banana Beach Club wrote: “We are receiving many messages regarding collaborations with influencers, Instagram influencers. We kindly would like to announce that White Banana is not interested to ‘collaborate’ with self-proclaimed ‘influencers’.
“And we would like to suggest to try another way to eat, drink, or sleep for free. Or try to actually work.”
The post has been liked more than 10,000 times since Tuesday (March 26), with many comments applauding the resort’s no-nonsense stance.
Typical was a comment by internet user Rhya Regondola, who wrote: “Whoever is curating your social media accounts, is actually doing an amazing job. Kudos to you for standing up to that ‘self proclaimed influencer’ who wanted to rip you off.”
Influencers defended
Others, however, defended the social media influencers as dedicated individuals who “work their asses off to give their followers the best content”.
Marjorie Liwag, for example, wrote: “HOW ABOUT THE INNOCENT INFLUENCERS who is (sic) now affected because of this shaming you did? you spoke and attacked everyone. Saying that ‘or try to actually work…’ isn’t that insulting?”
The resort has since clarified that “we are not against INFLUENCERS. Just against freeloaders”.
“A REAL influencer is called as such by the rest, he does not address him/herself as an influencer. They are bloggers. We have actually collaborated with a few of them, in different terms and conditions, and we support them.
“There are real influencers, that in case we will contact them and pay or offer something. But look, they’ve never contacted us, as they don’t need us. We need them.”
Today, the resort has made the most of its expanded online profile to advertise for new staff. A Facebook post said it was “exploiting the moment” to ask “maybe you can use your ‘influence’ to help us”.
They have also added two new cocktails to their menu, named “The Influencer” and “The Snowflake”.
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