Bobbie Hasselbring www.realfoodtraveler.com, Harbors magazine, MotorHome magazine, Oregonian, Northwest Travel The Chocolate Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest and The Chocolate Lover's Guide Cookbook Portland Oregon
My work in tourism includes the opportunity to host the many travel writers visiting my area. The journalist I remember most was Bobbie Hasselbring, but not for good reasons.
We hosted her on a group press trip, on which she continually made snide, judgmental remarks to the other writers. She repeatedly went out of her way to criticize others. This harmed the group dynamic on the trip, and I fielded several complaints from others on the trip. She was constantly offended by almost all conversations at dinner.
Among other incidents: between courses at a long dinner, two of the journalists, both adults, excused themselves to go outside to smoke. The pair went to a designated smoking area approximately 100 meters from the restaurant. We were inside, completely unaffected by their smokers, and they returned before the next course. After the two left the table, Hasslebring followed them outside to the smoking area to lecture them about smoking for several minutes. They asked her to return inside, but she continued to lecture them, and made very personal remarks.
At the conclusion of the trip, when the writers were exchanging pleasantries and business cards, Hasselbring quickly walked away without any speaking to anyone.
I mentioned Hasselbring to a colleague in another city who had also hosted her on a group press trip, and the same thing happened there. The journalists on the trip eventually had a nickname for her: Bobbie Bummer.
Before I invited Hasselbring on the group press trip, she made me promises for coverage in the publications for which she writes. She did not keep those promises, and the aforementioned colleague had the same experience.
It must be difficult to be a writer who encounters Hasselbring in her work as a managing editor for HARBORS Magazine as well as www.realfoodtraveler.com. Among other media outlets, Hasselbring has written for The Chocolate Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest and The Chocolate Lover's Guide Cookbook. How ironic that such a sweet subject is covered by a woman with a sour attitude toward life and other people.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Bobbie Hasselbring
Beacercreek,Oregon,
untrue, slanderous
#2REBUTTAL Individual responds
Wed, August 14, 2013
I was completely suprised to read the RipOff report from Jess Bell of Oregon about my participation in a press trip. I don't even know who this Jess Bell is. It's curious that websites like Ripoff Report exist because suddenly I'm getting emails from companies promising to "fix" my reputation--for a price of course. Sounds like a scam to me.
I've been a professional writer for more than 25 years and have attended dozens of press trips and have always had excellent relationships with both fellow writers and tourism professionals. I believe strongly in being a good "guest" on these trips. The author's contention that I would make snide comments or demean others for smoking is ridiculous. As a former smoker, I know how difficult the addiction is and, frankly, it's none of my business if others choose to smoke. Suggesting I'd make comments about it to somene is completely false.
If this "Jess Bell" really exists, I suggest she contact me directly with any concerns she might have about me or my conduct. It's cowardly to use the internet to make false claims about someone. Ask any public relations or tourism professional I've worked with and they'll tell you I am a true professional and always conduct myself in a respectful manner. I also always product good stories for my destinations.
While it's troubling to read such garbage on these kinds of sites, I remind myself and other readers that you can read just about anythning about anyone on the internet or in trash publications, much of it untrue. Given that there are companies who want to now fix my besmirched reputation makes it even more ridiculous. I'll let my many years of work and good relationships with others speak for me. -- Bobbie Hasselbring