Tag Archives: Hype Media

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 19 March

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   SA Tourism may be feeling threatened by the World Travel Market Africa expo taking place in Cape Town a week before Indaba in May.  To date Indaba has been the dominant tourism expo in South Africa and on the African continent. Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk issued a statement, in support of Indaba (logical as it is organised by SA Tourism)!  In it he reflects that (the very negative) feedback about Indaba 2013 was heard and taken into account in planning Indaba 2014, scheduled for 10 – 12 May. Key is the increasing attendance of African countries at Indaba, 22 to date, with a total of 1242 buyers having booked to attend to date.  The Minister announced that a new bidding process will commence after Indaba 2014.

*   Bistrot Bizerca appears to be in liquidation.   The restaurant has been a Top 10 and Best Bistro restaurant in the past, but appears to have lost energy when it moved into Heritage Square over a year ago.  (Note: See Comments for response on behalf of Bizerca, not explaining its liquidation in 2012, when it moved to the new premises)

*   South Africa’s tourism growth is estimated to be 3,6%, below the global growth rate Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 6-8 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Graham Beck Wines has been appointed as the official MCC supplier to Cape Town’s hosting of World Design Capital 2014.

*   Wine writer Sherwin Lao from the Philippines, writing the column ‘Sip by Sip‘ for the Manila Standard Today, visited the Winelands of South Africa twice in 2013, and sings its praises, describing it as ‘a marvel to look at’, having visited Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Elgin.  He also wrote about its ‘surreal mountain views, quaint looking towns and unparalled God-given beauty’.   He was one of 14 international judges for the 2013 Michelangelo Wine Awards.

*   The Guardian writer John Brunton visited the Winelands as a guest of SA Tourism, and titled his article ‘South Africa’s Cape top 10 wine route‘, recommending Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, the Swartland, Tulbagh, and Wellington generally, and Chamonix, Glenwood, Nabygelegen, AA Badenhorst, and Tokara specifically.  He also recommended restaurants Franschhoek Kitchen at Holden Manz (before they lost their Chef Maryna Frederiksen, whom he mentions) , Fyndraai at Solms-Delta, and Readers in Tulbagh.

*   The growing popularity of craft beers in South Africa is highlighted by Voice of America. The popularity of the artisanal Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 12 November

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   One of the most interesting wines to be launched recently must be the Hidden Valley Shipwreck Shiraz 2009, for which the wine barrels were placed in the ocean at Cape Agulhas during maturation.  (received via Manley Communications)

*   Heston Blumenthal is opening a restaurant in the new terminal in Heathrow, due to open in June next year.

*   Graham Beck’s The Game Reserve wine range is dedicated to conservation, and each of the wines in the range is associated with one of the indigenous animals and plants on their wine estate in Robertson.  For each bottle sold in the range a contribution is made to the Wilderness Foundation, neck labels sharing this support of nature, wildlife, and wilderness, and its conservation. ‘The Game Reserve range of wines symbolizes our unwavering commitment to restoring balance. The symbiosis between our wines, our people and the earth is the golden thread which runs throughout all our actions. Leaving a lasting legacy for tomorrow means we’re duty bound to take fundamental and far-reaching steps today – a responsibility we’re deeply passionate about’, says the Waterford Communications media release on behalf of Graham Beck.

*   Emoya Luxury Hotel & Spa in Bloemfontein is offering its clients a unique ‘Shanty Town Experience‘,  whereby one can stay in a shanty with underfloor heating and wifi, in their game reserve!   The writer’s definition of a shanty town (with ‘poor people’) is insulting!

*   The first cruise liner of the season, MSC Opera, arrived in Cape Town Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 3 September

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Mutual & Federal Agri Wellington Wine Route’s ‘Quest for the Best’  is coming to Cape Town tomorrow at the Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel, at the cost of R60.  Wellington wines will be offered for tasting, with the recently selected ‘Quest for the Best’ Top Ten Wines and Top Spirits. (received via Wellington Wine Route newsletter)

*   There are more than 40000 hotel rooms being built in Africa in the next four years, 10% of these in Lagos in Nigeria alone.  No South African city appears on the top hotel room construction list.

*   Retail sales only grew by 1,5% in the past year, and it is the low income shoppers who are shopping less and closer to home.   This has affected retailers at the bottom end Continue reading →