28/06/2026
π’ An Official Statement from RainForest Resort regarding the incident of June 14 midnight.
My name is Sambir Shrestha, and I am the Founder of RainForest Resort, Chitwan.
The recent events have compelled me to speak directly to our community.οΏ½Following this incident, our business experienced an unprecedented surge of thousands of reviews within a few days.
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πΏ WHY WE WERE QUIET
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We did not respond immediately because we were going through the proper legal and professional process. Responding impulsively when emotions are high is how situations go from bad to worse. We chose not to do that.
They told their side of the story. Now let us tell ours.
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πΏ WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
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The incident began after a group of 9 guests became dissatisfied when our staff enforced our established safety and operational policies and did not allow them to use the Swimming Pool overnight.
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Our swimming pool is not available for overnight use for the safety of our guest. This is a standard hospitality safety policy followed by responsible resorts worldwide. Guest safety is non-negotiable.
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In the Outdoor areas, we maintain quiet hours after 10:00 PM β out of respect for all guests, including families and couples seeking a peaceful retreat.
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Our pool undergoes nightly chemical treatment and maintenance so that every guest the following morning steps into a clean, safe, and properly maintained pool.
Our staff acted professionally, respectfully, and entirely within our guidelines. I stand fully behind each and every one of them.
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πΏ YOU DESERVE THE COMPLETE PICTURE
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There is one additional detail that was not mentioned in the video. Prior to their departure, this group attempted to leave the property without completing our standard checkout process. We feel it is important to share this context, as our resort has unfortunately encountered situations in the past where guests have departed without settling their dues, including unpaid bills and property damage. Our checkout procedures exist precisely to protect both our guests and our business, and our staff followed those procedures as required.
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πΏ THE FAKE REVIEWS
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Whether those 9 guests chose to leave a review β that is their right. Genuine experiences deserve to be shared.οΏ½Rather than returning the following day to address their concerns through dialogue, the group chose to publish a video on their YouTube channel, actively encouraging their followers to leave negative reviews about our business.
What happened next was something else entirely.
Within 48 hours, we received over thousands of one-star reviews from people who have never visited RainForest Resort β accounts that do not match a single booking or guest record in our system. We have strong reason to believe these were coordinated, automated fake reviews designed to damage our business.
Our Google rating dropped to 1.2 stars. We investigated through Google and since we wereβt wrong, google removed most of the fake reviews and theyβll continue doing it. Our rating is slowly improving, recovered to 3.1 stars and continues to improve. π
οΏ½It is worth noting that Google's review removal process is rigorous and impartial. The fact that thousands of reviews were removed is itself a clear indication that those reviews did not meet Google's standards for authenticity.
We are winning this, one step at a time. Because we are right.
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πΏ WHERE WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
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Now, I am going to take accountability.
Not for that night. Not for enforcing safety policies. I will not apologize for that.
But for the broader story of RainForest Resort over the years β yes. We started small, with humble beginnings. There have been moments where our service could have been better. I will not deny that.
We are working hard to offer a great experience at accessible prices. We are honest about that β and we are improving every single day.
If you had a genuinely bad experience at RainForest in the past, I welcome your feedback. Come and find me. Let us talk. Let us improve.
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πΏ THE PERSONAL PART
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I left a career in the United States to come back to Nepal and build something in my own country β for my family, for this community. Running a business in Nepal is not easy. Anyone who has tried knows that.
So when people who have never visited RainForest send threats and harassment to me, my wife, and our staff β that is not just a business problem. That is a human problem.
I want to be clear: this controversy has not impacted our bookings. Our guests continue to show up. The resort is operating. The river is beautiful. The nature is right there.
But the harassment has been real. And I am naming it because it matters.
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πΏ TO THE GROUP INVOLVED
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I do not want to escalate this further. I never did.
You are young people with careers and dreams ahead of you. I genuinely do not want police cases and court proceedings to define your early years.
We have already gone through the legal process. But what I would prefer is simple β come forward, acknowledge what happened, and apologize. That is honestly enough for me to close this chapter and move forward.
The door is open. Use it.
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πΏ TO EVERYONE WATCHING
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Thank you β whether you came here as a supporter, a skeptic, or simply curious. Thank you for hearing our side.
To the haters: a business that survives a coordinated review bombing attack, a viral controversy, and constant harassment β and still has guests checking in β is not going anywhere. I have Plan A. I have Plan B. None of them involve giving up.
To our guests from Pokhara specifically: you have always been among our Favorite guests, we created so many good memories together. This incident was an exception. We would love to welcome you back and show you exactly what RainForest Resort is capable of.
To our community and supporters: even through all the negativity, your support has meant everything. I see every one of you β even the silent supporters β and I am grateful.
RainForest Resort will come out of this stronger, better, and more committed than ever. We cannot let this dream shatter. And we will not. πΏ
Sambir Shrestha
Founder, RainForest Resort
Chitwan, Nepal
rainforest360.com
