Tag Archives: Tripadvisor

Eat Out changes ‘Best of’ Awards completely, increases from 6 to 90 winners, lacks credibility!

Eatout-best-everyday-eateriesLast week Eat Out dropped the bombshell that it is changing its ‘Best Of‘ awards, awarding an award in 10 categories (five of them new), in each of our country’s provinces, making it a total of 90 ‘Best of‘ awards! The method of selecting the ‘Best of‘ winners has changed dramatically, making the new winners of 2015 incomparable to those of the past four years! It appears to stem from Eat Out‘s desperation to be national, and not to be criticized for being so Cape-dominant in its awards. It makes a mockery of what the Eat Out awards stand for!

Almost three weeks ago Eat Out announced the shocking news that it had separated the Eat Out Top 10 Restaurant Awards from the ‘Best Of‘ awards, the latter awards to be presented in October already, in Cape Town and in Johannesburg. Given the news of the award base of what they are now calling Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Best Everyday Eateries Awards Continue reading →

Airbnb: will it survive? Lots of hot air, poor beds, no breakfast, unprofessional hosts!

AirBnBMy trip to Europe in June and July included challenging myself to try Airbnb, given that the new shared accommodation service stems from the formal accommodation industry.  It was a ghastly experience, and I will think twice before using this accommodation service again!

Airbnb has taken off in its seven-year existence, with 1 million accommodation listings in 34000 cities and towns around the world.  It has become a swearword for the formal accommodation sector, and is a massive threat! Its popularity stems from the more affordable accommodation options offered, and the personal contact one has with the host, to receive personal tourism tips. Hotels are moving unsold stock onto Airbnb, testimony of the power of this new shared accommodation offering. Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 25 June

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   AirBnB is increasing in popularity, and becoming a greater threat to hotels, especially as it is accepting hotel room listings at its attractive 3% commission compared to the norm of 15-25%, and because the guests are verified, reports MarketWatch!

*   Reports speculate that the Formula One could be held in Cape Town Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 15 June

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Passengers traveling by plane may be faced with hand luggage size reductions by up to 40%, it was announced last week. The new dimensions have not yet been announced, but 50 airlines have agreed in principle, reported German TV channel ZDF. Should the hand luggage not meet the new size guidelines, a charge of $25 may be levied.

*   Do hotel star ratings still matter, when TripAdvisor has become the Continue reading →