PAUL STENSON OF The White Moose Café and Charleville Lodge in Dublin has a bit of reputation for being a wind-up merchant.

In his quest to be king of social media in the world of hospitality and beyond, he’s managed to piss off parents, vegans … And pretty much everyone in between.

Case in point – the hotel went viral for their mad guest directory which warns those staying about exploding hair dryers.

Now, Paul is facing the wrath of the world of bloggers and influencers, following an email he received this week.

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteMooseCafe/photos/a.1626436094303667.1073741828.1623682991245644/2048405988773340/?type=3&theater

A social media, who Paul did not name, reached out to the hotel asking for a complimentary stay at the hotel in exchange for YouTube videos and “dedicated Instagram stories”.

Paul’s response? Well …

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.

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?”

The post has received as mixed reaction – some people have called the response unprofessional, while others have criticised the influencer for their request in the first place.

The influencer in question, Elle Darby, has posted her own response video on her YouTube channel, on which she has over 80,000 subscribers.

Can’t see the video? Watch it here.

The 22 -year old said she was “torn to shreds” by the post.

I feel disgusting having to say this. As a 22-year-old girl, who’s running her own business from her home … I don’t feel like I did anything wrong.”

Paul has posted an apology to Elle and “all bloggers” – in typical White Moose Café fashion.

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteMooseCafe/posts/2048700702077202

I am so sorry that I have waited until now to mobilise you in numbers and I am kicking myself that I didn’t think about you before now. If each one of you is pissed off, and you all have your individual following (no matter how small), there is a fair chance that you will all speak badly to your followers about us which will result in a huge number of people hearing about our brand collectively.

I am so sorry that I didn’t think of you guys until now. You are a much more lucrative group of people to piss off than the vegans and the gluten intolerant combined.

Thank you for all your hard work and don’t forget to continue to spread the word about our business!”

Never a dull moment, eh?

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