Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   South African born Heston Blumenthal has been named ‘Chef of the Decade‘ by the Observer Food Month.

*   SA Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima has promised the tourism industry an Indaba 2014 that will be ‘an intensely business-focused’ one.  He has promised a revamp, which will be ‘relevant and future proof‘!

*   Beerhouse is organising an Oktobeer Fest on 31 October, from 17h00, at its Long Street premises.  (received via Facebook)

*   SA Tourism and Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint marketing of South Africa, to attract tourists from the Middle East, and also from other countries in the world.

*   The economies of the UK, Germany, and France are improving and the proportion of citizens of these countries who have taken at least one holiday a year is on the rise.

*   Hannes Storm, winemaker of  Hamilton Russell Vineyards, will talk about ‘Understanding Pinot Noir’, at the Wine Forum at the Wine Village in Hermanus on 5 November. (received via e-mail)

*   London’s hospitality industry is suffering the post-Event blues, as did South Africa, Athens and Sydney, with a bookings vacuum and decline after major events such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup.

*   Research conducted in the USA about traveler reviews shows that 9% fewer reviews were written compared to a year ago, that reviewers were slightly kinder although fewer 5-star ratings were given, that more owner-representatives responded to reviews, and that pricing is not a major source of complaint.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Twitter: @WhaleCottage