Tag Archives: St George’s Mall

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 16 April

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Pop-up restaurants are here to stay, and are increasingly supported by food lovers who are prepared to pay a premium to attend such a restaurant.  They give young chefs an opportunity to try their hand in running their own mini-restaurant.

*   Cape Town’s Tourism Big Six has grown to the Big Seven, with the addition of the Cape Town City Walk, a new service which is to be launched on Saturday 18 April, a walk covering the Company’s Garden, the Fan Walk, St George’s Mall, Waterkant Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 14 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Business Confidence Index of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry retracted by 2,5 points last month, to 88, and was also lower than in December 2013, and the lowest in the past six months.   The economic future for our country for the coming year will be a balance between the crude oil price and electricity loadshedding.  The Index being below 100 is a ‘matter of grave concern‘.

*   A survey conducted by the Cape Town Central City Improvement District reflects a young owner profile, being 25 – 34 years old;  plan to live in the city for at least another 4 years; enjoy visiting  The Company’s Garden, St George’s Mall, Greenmarket Square, The Fan Walk, and Church Square;  84% visit a city coffee shop at least once a week; 68% visit a restaurant in the city centre at least once a week;  and 66% live 3 km or less from their work.  (source: City Views)

*   South African Stormhoek Wines is the Official Wine Partner for the 40000 nautical mile 2015/16 Clipper Race starting on 30 Continue reading →

Colourful Cape Town in ‘Happy’ music video excellent marketing for our city!

Happy music video titlePharrell Williams’ song ‘Happy‘ is infectious, and on the playlist of radio stations like Kfm every day.  Now it has been honoured with a unique Cape Town inspired music video, by a team of five local filmmakers, who made it for free, and want it to go viral, and to be seen by as many people as possible (93000 views in the past two days already)!  It is fabulous free marketing for Cape Town!

Using the Cape Town World Design Capital 2014 colour yellow as its title page, which will bring it some brownie points, the Cape Town music video captures a 12 hour day.  It includes the Sea Point Promenade, Muizenberg beach, Athlone Stadium, a number of township and Cape Flats scenes,  colourful Bo-Kaap with minstrels, Charly’s Bakery, with the street art portrait of the late Nelson Mandela across the road, St George’s Mall, and Long Happy Cape Town SkaterStreet.

The music video was directed by Shamiel Soni and Tannan Woods, and directed by Nicky Priem.  Priem says of the ‘Happy‘ music video, and the reason for making it: ‘We are the most amazing city in the world.  I think it was important for us to showcase the Mother City’s diversity and beautiful people.  We all love the song and the message it portrays and I think the video helps unite our City. It gave us an Continue reading →

Banning bloggers not a response to Social Media criticism: an open letter to Michael Pownall, GM of Taj Cape Town!

Taj logoDear Michael

I laughed when I received your letter of 28 February in the post this weekend, to advise that I have been banned from your five star establishment, a member of Leading Hotels of the World!

You wrote: ‘This letter serves to inform you of our shock and disappointment at the manner in which you have dealt with our establishment in the social media.  As a fellow colleague in the hospitality industry I have been (sic) amazed that you have failed to address our perceived shortcomings and your concerns, (sic) directly with me, the general manager. We are fully supportive of social media, however, one should have details 100% correct before publicly. (sic) Slandering (sic) one of my team and our establishment, it is so unnecessary and unprofessional.  To this end, we wish to advise you that you are no longer welcome nor permitted to enter or be in the Taj Cape Town hotel without my personal permission. Should you enter the premises, you will be apprehended by our Security Department and asked to leave’.

You do not state which 0f the references by us to the Taj in ‘Social Media‘ you refer to:

*   was it the Tweet about the rude service from your barman during the interval of a concert at the St George’s Cathedral a few weeks ago, which I reported to your Duty Manager?

*   was it the poor accommodation at your hotel after the poor Gastronauts gourmet dinner at Mint more than 3 years ago, so bad that I chose to go home in the middle of the night?

*   was it the Tweet four months ago about the poor non-caring attitude of your Banqueting Manager Eugene Myburgh, when he showed no regard for my complaint about slipping on your dangerous highly polished wooden floor in your Banqueting section, once again reported to your Duty Manager, with no response?

*   was it the mention a month ago about your new Conference facility you are opening in The Reserve this month, mentioning my doubt that your Manager Myburgh will be capable in running it if he cannot even run the tiny Banqueting section in your hotel? Continue reading →