"Dirtiest Hotels" get scrubbed clean as TripAdvisor chooses to accentuate the positive

Don't expect a reprise of TripAdvisor's annual Dirtiest Hotels lists any time soon.

Although TripAdvisor recently beat back a defamation lawsuit -- in the first round, at least -- from the top hotel on the infamous 2011 list, there are no plans for a 2012 or 2013 list.

"As TripAdvisor has grown globally, we are now dedicating our efforts to recognize the thousands of properties worldwide that are providing travelers exceptional accommodations in an increasing number of Travelers’ Choice awards and categories, as well as through the Certificate of Excellence program," says TripAdvisor spokesperson Kevin Carter.

In other words, TripAdvisor, which published Dirtiest Hotels lists for five years starting in 2006 and became a public company in late 2011, is choosing to accentuate the positive in the interests of hotel relations.