Tag Archives: Dubai

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 4 June

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   London has been named as the most visited tourist city by the MasterCard Global Destinations Cities Index, estimated to receive 19 million tourists this year. Bangkok follows in second place, with Paris, Istanbul, and Dubai making up the top five most visited cities.

*   The Department of Tourism has been allocated a budget of R 1,8 billion for the next financial year. The target for international tourist arrivals is 12 million by 2018. Just under R1 billion will go to SA Tourism. Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom announced Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 8 April

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   German competition authorities have reacted strongly against Booking.com, which prohibits accommodation establishments from offering better rates to clients booking with them directly relative to the rate they charge via Booking.com.  Action is also being taken against a similar booking site Expedia.com

*   The contribution of Tourism to the economy nationally has remained at 2,9% in both 2012 and 2013, reaching a total of R104 billion.   Just more than half of the spend was Continue reading →

One&Only Le Saint Géran celebrates its 40th anniversary in Cape Town!

OOLSG TV screen Whale CottageThe One&Only Le Saint Géran celebrated its 40th anniversary in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, and in Cape Town two weeks ago.   The hotel’s GM and Head of Sales thanked invited guests for attending and joining in the celebration of the important milestone.

In Cape Town the celebration was held at the Cook’s Playground, Giggling Gourmet Chef Jenny Morris having traveled around the country with the Le Saint Géran team.  On arrival, we received a garland of flowers to wear, the frangipani in it transporting one to Mauritius immediately.  Long tables had been set up for us to eat at, beautifully decorated with Continue reading →

Lindt Chocolate Studio Sweet Service and Cape Town International Sour Service Awards!

Lindt logoThe Sweet Service Award goes to Lindt Chocolate Studio and its Manager Dimo Simatos, for organising a special delivery of its Lindt turndown chocolates we use for the guest houses. Having popped in at the Studio almost two weeks ago, with all the staff attending a conference on that day other than one young disinterested lady, who told me that they would only receive delivery of the chocolates two days later.  She did not tell me that I would have to place an order for the chocolates, something I have never had to do before. Calling later in the week, I was told that all 10000 such chocolates had sold out in the two days since delivery.  The next delivery would only take place in two weeks from that time.  I told Dimo that I needed the chocolates desperately, having run out due to their supply problem.  He promised to make a plan, and was true to his word, in that I could fetch the chocolates yesterday, one week earlier than delivery had been promised. Continue reading →