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Dining: Cactus Blue
Bonaire Talk: Dining: Archives: Archives 2003 -2006: Archives - 2006-03-01 to 2006-08-01: Cactus Blue
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Murphy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 3:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just returned from a visit to Bonaire and discovered the Cactus Blue restaurant. This is a gem that you locals and visitors as well need to discover (if you haven’t already) and protect.

We dine out frequently and let me say that they are doing just about everything right. The locations is solid, being in the old Casablanca haunt but they'll have a tough go against the Oceanside competition. Service is good, Or great by some island comparisons. Prices are fair.

Last but not least the food is simply wonderful. Be it fish, pasta, or beef their seasoning is excellent and yet never overdone. Just the right combination and quantities for the dish. From tasty and well proportioned appetizers to excellent desserts Cactus Blue should be a welcome addition to the Bonaire dining experience.

They’ve only been open for a few months and everybody should hope they continue to prosper. They have all the right elements of great food and solid service so if they can make it a year, they’ll be around for a good ling time.

Corinne good luck, and thanks for all the great advice, service, food, and drink while there. Your restaurant is a refreshing additional to any dining scene and I sincerely hope you get the recognition and business that you deserve.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rosanne (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #259) on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 3:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We dined at Cactus Blue in April and found the food to be very good and the servers were very friendly and helpful. The only complaint we had was when we asked for the check it took forever but I would reccommend it to anyone and will certainly visit there again on my next visit!The menu was eclectic with some local/Carribbean food that I didn't find on other restaurants menu's.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Just Jeanine Again (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2670) on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 5:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I dined at Cactus Blue about 2 weeks ago. There were 6 people in the entire restaurant, a party of 4 and my party of 2. The servers were nice, but the owners never came out and talked to us. We didn't even know they were there until a car pulled up and the female owner (Corrine???) ran out from the back and greeted them. She and her husband then spent their time futzing over them. We were not acknowledged until we went to leave and then they waived goodbye. The food was good but we had to ask for water twice. Given that other places take the time to speak with you even when they are busy, I don't think we will be back. But yes...the food was good.

One other little issue. They are now canvassing the dive sites with flyers. I have collected 3 so far on my windshield. I cannot imagine how many people just throw them on the ground. I'm a little worried about this because I have found the orange flyers floating in the water. :-(

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3591) on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 5:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Jeanine! I am not surprised by your review, not at all. Thanks for posting.

Jeez, putting flyers on windshields at dive sites? Now that is a new one! Hope lots of folks see this and remember not to just chuck the paper on the ground as it may end up in the ocean. Who is distributing them, maybe someone should let them know where they are all ending up and they will figure a new way of advertising instead of the dive sites. Worth a try, I think.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #329) on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 6:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Personally I would frown on a business establishment that resorted to placing paper flyers on vehicles, especially at dive sites!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Judy Workman (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 7:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We were at Cactus Blue a couple of weeks ago and the explanation for the flyers is....they opened too late for the Bonaire Dining Guide Brochure printing. Hopefully, they are still in business in October for the new printing. Our meals were excellent, but this is low season and they were not busy. Good word-of-mouth might take over the need for the flyers. We'd eat there again and have recommended it to several others.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2096) on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 10:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am the editor of the Dining Guide and offered them a space for their flyers next to ours at the airport and as yet have not heard back from them. Also, over 20 years ago I was involved in starting Tene Boneiru Limpi (Keep Bonaire Clean) and we had a problem with folks who thought it was a good idea to litter the island with their flyers, etc. that ended up in the water or stuck to a cactus. Putting ads on cars reminds me of mass tourism destinations where folks are bombarded with flyers for time shares, etc....Placing ads in convenient locations gives visitors the option of picking it up and reading it.I guess spamming is not just for e mails.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rosanne (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #288) on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 11:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm angry that the flyers were placed on cars! This is just so thoughtless. I feel sad that once again Cactus Blue is getting bad press because we really did enjoy our meal there. I think it would be wise for them to get some help in marketing. Know the island, the people, the vibe because it seems this is what lacking and hindering the success of the restaurant. If I were to receive one of these flyers on my vehicle I would make an extra effort Not to go there. Thank you Michael for your efforts to keep Bonaire clean!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sandy Ruffin (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 1:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ladies and Gentleman:
Please, let us keep this "point of issue" in perspective, and not "go overboard" in condemnation, because flyers were placed in areas to promote a new business on Bonaire. All agree, in that, placing flyers/papers/etc. can potentially cause environmental issues on several levels. Those having the flyers placed on their automobiles, "could" responsibly dispose of them appropriately, thus placing no burden on the environment/subsequently contacting the business stating they feel there are better ways to promote.
Before we start "casting the first stone", and berating the "passing out of flyers", perhaps we all need to examine our own, individual impact on the environment. My assumption is: unless you live on Bonaire, you do as we do: you take vehicles to the airports, fly in airplanes, ride on dive boats, and drive your vehicle while on the island. We could dialog for years regarding the impact of engines and fuels on all levels of our environment. All of we divers going to Bonaire-----using all the islands resources-------talk about impact on the environment.
The best we can do is attempt to be mindful, considerate,repsonsible and take care of the limited and fragile resources on Bonaire.
I am certain, at this time, those that passed out the flyers have the message that many are upset, and in the future will use other methods to advertise.
As someone mentioned in a previous e-mail, "word of mouth" is a great, pollution free, way to advertise a business. So, if you have dined in this establishment,enjoyed the food, then pass on the "good word"!
Some having read this message will want to vent their wrath upon me verbally, via e-mail, for assuming I " don't really understand the environmental issues here". That, in fact, is not the case. My vocational background was environmental issues, on all levels. I applaud the efforts of all those, especially Michael Gaynor, for supporting the positive steps to keep Bonaire environmentally sound.
I wish the new business the best, as it will serve many tourists/divers on the island.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2098) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 8:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well said, Sandy...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #348) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 8:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

i wouldn't be happy to get a flyer on my windshield at a dive site, not because of the environment issues, but of the commercialism it represents. I go to Bonaire to relax, not be bombarded with ads - if I want that, I can just stay in NYC.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sandy Ruffin (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 9:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sue:
My message was addressing the point of issue which originally was environmental. The point you made centered on "commercialism".
I am certain all going to Bonaire, including myself, do not want to be "bombarded with ads". Yes, we all have that, "ad infinauseaum" in the places we live.

However; this may be an idea to consider: if not for "commercialism", on one level or another, how would we have "discovered" all the myriad of details needed to achieve a successful trip/journey/vacation to Bonaire? I for one, initially would not have had the information needed to answer those questions had it not been for "commercialism/advertising".
It must be an extremely difficult position for the businesses on Bonaire to make all the information available to visitors and locals alike-------yet attempting to keep Bonaire "pure" and free of "commercialism". I am certain those people attempting to provide services to us all, have a very challenging" balancing act"
giving us information, yet trying to be mindful and not put us on "commercialism overload". We visitors are on vacation having a wonderful time. The businesses are the "bread and butter', the very existence of the families and people of Bonaire. I am certain the business owners on Bonaire have read your post on the talk site and are taking very seriously your statement and concerns.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Murphy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 10:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

“Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door.” Unfortunately this simply isn’t true. Add to this that many entrepreneurs spend nearly every available penny on building the product, be it a mousetrap, a gizmo, or a restaurant. They carefully plan and perfect the product before putting it out in front of the public. Then they sit and wait. They often have a great product that everybody might very much like, but alas nobody knows about it for lack of promotion.

By this time they are struggling. How to reach a market, especially one as brief and transitional as Bonaire tourists? It has to be quick, inexpensive, and in your face. Word of mouth helps tremendously but you have to get some people in there first. So, on a limited budget, you try to get creative and use your best asset, effort.

I can see how flyers might be a logical choice, and I can see how due to wind, careless recipients, and other unexpected events, it could turn into an unfortunate predicament. It’s a mistake to think that the business went out of their way to have their effort and their flyer be unappreciated. If you found it to be a problem, either to you personally or possibly to the environment, stop and pick up the offending paper that accidentally became litter, (because you also care about Bonaire) and then stop by and talk with the proprietor of the establishment.

While many of the businesses are supported by large corporations and their resorts and restaurants on several or even dozens of other islands, I prefer to support the little guys. I guess I see it as the American (perhaps human) way to support the person who’s trying to get a leg up and venture out on his own. Certainly rather this than we all eat at KFC because their logo and menu is to drilled into our heads at such an early age that they have little need of promotions, flyers, or other creative advertising.

Unfortunately it also seems very American to want to travel and get away from what we don’t like about our own communities. At home it’s business as usual but on vacation we see it as crass commercialism. This is flat unfair and denies people and businesses the opportunity to grow and develop in the same way ours at home do. I not sure if its arrogance or selfishness to expect to travel to marketing free paradise islands. Everybody deserves the right to pursue happiness and follow a dream.

We travel to the islands for a week here and there and tend to forget that the people who were born there or moved there and are trying to survive on the tourist trade want the absolute best for Bonaire. They love it enough to live there and it is arrogance to assume they somehow won’t protect it better than we might. Nobody knows better than the residents of Bonaire what a jewel they have and nobody will strive to protect it more.

I’d hope people could look beyond the horror of finding a flyer on their windshield (inviting them to a perfectly lovely restaurant) and see that these are people struggling to make Bonaire and their own lives a little better, more rewarding, and pleasant.

Where I come from we don’t fight the little guy, we fight for them.

Kelly

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sandy Ruffin (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 11:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kelly:
Amen!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3608) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 2:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jeez, I don't see anyone here fighting "the little guy" Jeanine originally posted her review of what happened when she was at Cactus Blue and also noted that flyers were found in the water as well and had concerns for that. All the long winded posts on this is really weird. Not everyone enjoys this restaurant, and some do, those that do can spread the word. I for one, will NEVER go back there. Anyone want to see my review can look in the archives and see it. As far as the flyers go, I am glad they got the word of what is happening to them. That just my opinion and different strokes for different folks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Patrick T. (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1178) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 2:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Debbie:
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Gauron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #825) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 2:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Check Please!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #331) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 6:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

People let's get real here.. No one has the right to put an advertisement on someone's private property. THAT is arrogant. When I (or anyone else) rents a car, the vehicle is in your care custody & control. It's tantamount to being your private property since it's your financial responsibity..Please save the long winded explanations excusing this behavior & trying to find a reasonable rationale for it...

I don't appreciate anyone putting a flyer on my windshield. Period!!! Once we start making excuses for this practice, where does it end?

If a business wants to advertise, that's fine. There are proper ways to do it. A flyer on my windshield is NOT one of them.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #592) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 8:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kelly, FYI, KFC is owned and operated by 2 ordinary people who have chosen to make Bonaire their home; I have lived here nearly 16 years, and my husband almost 32 years. We have no other home in the world. Our staff is 100% Antillean. Just because you didn't see it, doesn't mean that I don't have competition (it's tremendous in our price range), and that I don't "have to advertise." This is far from reality. I advertise in the Bonaire Dining Guide with a full page ad, on all the bus-stops (mostly located in neighborhoods where local people live), and on the radio, in Papiamento. Our customers are 90% local. You are right to point out that ..."these are people struggling to make Bonaire and their own lives a little better,..." However, you were wrong to exclude me.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2405) on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 9:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ruth,

You perfectly correct about your KFC. I suspect Kelly was speaking from a US person's point of view here, where KFC advertising seems to be everywhere, rather than Bonaire. :–)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Just Jeanine Again (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2674) on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 9:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi all! Well I can verify that the message did not get back to the owners about the flyers. Yesterday at Vista Blue they pulled up to our truck, a little boy jumped out to hand us another flyer, then when I told him I had collected 4 already he looked at the adults in the front of the car and they all seemed puzzled. So, I then reached into my truck and pulled out the ones I already had. They then waived, smiled and drove off. I am keeping one on my dashboard now. And yes...the ones I find on the ground and in the water I am picking up.

But back to my original statement - if the owners had even attempted to greet us or say hi when we were in the restaurant, it would have been nice, especially since there were only 6 people there. Every time we go to Casablanca, regardless of how busy they are, both Pablo and Pablo come speak with us. They even remember us from trip to trip. It is that type of treatment, not advertising, that will get people to come back again and again AND will get them to spread the good word. We were basically ignored at Cactus Blue (also do not agree with their business practice regarding the flyers) so we won't go back.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2100) on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 9:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bonaire's policy of Sustainable Growth carries over into every aspect of island life. I imagine that STINAPA will now have to address the issue of printed windblown literature poluting the reef! It is a matter of priorities I guess!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Goodwin (BonaireTalker - Post #61) on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 1:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ruth,

Settle down - everyone knows that since you own your own business, you must be a gazillionaire!

Doesn't the franchise do all the advertising you may need? And for free, right?

All you have to do is feed your pet octopus all day long..... how do you spend all of your "free" time??

Dave.

P.S. When I think of you and Jan, the word "ordinary" doesn't jump out at me :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Gauron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #845) on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 2:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Let's blame Ruth.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2104) on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 5:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

How to become a millionaire on Bonaire? Start out as a multi millionaire of course!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #593) on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 5:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yup, that sounds about right. On Bonaire, you have to spend a lot of money, to make a little (I'm still waiting for that second part-it's been only 12 years). And of course, when all else fails, blame me.
;-)

PS-Dave, didn't get to snorkel OR nap today-whah!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Goodwin (BonaireTalker - Post #62) on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 9:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ruth,

I always blame the folks I like the most......that way I don't have to worry about having too many friends around me!!

Spend a lot of money to make a little?? That's not only on Bonaire, that's pretty much business as usual at my place too. But try to tell the employees that.....

My checkbook is open this mornign for that $6,000 engine!



 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2816) on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 2:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Vince, in the USA, businesses have every right to put advertisements on your private property in the form of printed matter, and you have no recourse against them by law. I get tons of circulars on my doorstep, no way to stop them. They have only been stopped by buildings that have sued restaurants for leaving menus when the building (business) has had to pay to have them cleaned up.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #341) on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 6:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Seb...Well, good luck with all the circulars at your doorstep. Yea I guess I may have "overshot" a bit on this. I vaguely remember reading about that case in NY.. If memory serves me correctly it was a chinese restaurant who was the defendant. However I really don't agree that there's "no way to stop them".

In actuality under US law one could bring a tort action against the perpetrator if they could demonstrate that there was a breach of a duty owed & as a direct result of this harm or injuries were sustained.. In other words if you could demonstrate negligence & damages ensued from that. That's the legal hurdle that must be overcome.

No matter, personally I think it's a lousy way to "advertise" & this practice should not be condoned (I realize you're not). Especially on such an environmentally sensitive island as Bonaire.
That's my 2 cents on this. If a business establishment wants me to patronize them, they'd better not plaster my car with their ads.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #353) on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 11:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My NJ town has banned unsolicited ads being left in the driveways. I haven't heard of anyone being fined, but the township litter laws were amended to include this - now we get lots of junk mail :-). It has improved the situation, no more plastic bags of ads thrown all over front lawns.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #343) on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 5:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sue..Yup, that's another way to stop this, amend the local laws as the practice is against public policy. In my instance, if we go away for 2 weeks, I always take care to have the mail stopped, advise newspaper subscriptions, notify business clients I'm away & not send any fed ex packages etc. to avoid having stuff accumulating on the driveway indicating "no one's home". All this is defeated by someone casually throwing free newspapers, ads etc onto the driveway. Yes, I have complained more than once & have been successful in getting the practice stopped....Rant over...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2819) on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 8:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Vince, that legal hurdle is why only complaining entities that are businesses that can prove they have spent money to clean up chinese menus can recover damages, but cannot stop the menu dropoffs. Our time is worth nothing in the courts, I'm afraid.
I would be surprised if a law banning flyers would pass a constitutional test, but one never knows, does one?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2109) on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 9:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Commericialism is a kind of pollution that is offensive to most of the folks who visit Bonaire. As for flyers on cars, STINAPA is aware of the issue and it will be addressed. Let me say, as a business I spend a lot of money printing a brouchure and a lot more to have it placed at Flamingo Airport where people can take one if they wish. I try to make my message clear and and unoffensive and that includes the way it is delivered. Good marketing practices are not Rocket Science!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By curtis steiner (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 - 9:29 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

ok folks lets take this one further.

I was there for 16 days in july and dined at cactus blue twice. Most pleasent experience as to dining on the whole island. Both owners came out both times and had long talks with us during the course of dining.

If you want to complain about commercialism.........lets talk about the 3 very large billboards that were put up advertising ...here it comes........

CELL PHONES

AARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!

How about a local law banning any sign over 4 x 8 feet and not attached to that businesses building??

I go to bonaire to relax and get away from the ad crap. We are also in the process of buying a home to retire to in the next 24 months. So we will have a vested interest in keeping bonaire "clean" and we will be opening up a local business.

As to local dining and shopping guides, my experience in places like St. Thomas, Key West, Orlando, Newport and other places, is that if it is only one or two guides, the publishers take a rater piratical view if you don't place an ad in their printed mater. Quite often the ad rates are extremely high and you get a review based on the $$$$ you spend.

We have made it a practice to check with the locals and also explore on our own to find the unique treasures in each place we visit.

We also dined at several other places while on bonaire that were listed and not listed and asked questions about the dining guide. Since this was our 5th visit in 4 years, we have gotten to know various owners etc and were not surprized to have the same story repeated again and again........you have to list or run the chance of being blocked out.

Additionally, we were pleased to learn that the owners of cactus blue were that same people that took care of us when they were working at one of the dive establishments prior to opening this restuarant. AND of course, they gave fantastic service there also!!!!!!!!

I guess its time to wake up and see that bonaire is growing (1000 new residents in the last several years) and that means new businesses and that means new avenues of ads. While I personally HATE window advertising, and tend to rip it from the wipers crumble it up and throw it away later......NOT just let it fly on the wind.

so long winded and rambling............

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #18809) on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 - 10:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chris, I was there when digital was putting up the billboards, and had the big "free concert" at the stadium as well. I would suggest you write to TCB, and the government of Bonaire with your thoughts on the billboards. I agree, and I think that most others that live on Bonaire also agree, that the billboards must go.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2197) on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 - 8:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The billboards are temporary and will be coming down soon. Also, I am the editor of the Bonaire Dining Guide and fail to see your point. Also, where do you get your figures for our growh? Please let me know your source.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By curtis steiner (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 - 9:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

as a response to Mr michael gaynor, my source for the additonal residents was from my real estate agent.

As to failing to see my point, I assume you are refering to your publication and the methods you use for ad space and etc.

Rather than start a fight over your business methods, I suggest you attempt to find a way to truly get unbiased opinions of your practices and ideals. Anytime there is a situation where you "have to" publish in only one or two guides or suffer much lower returns....it make myself and other people wonder. This is not a direct shot at you, but a coment on perceived monopolies in general.

Remember, you need to get the true opinions, not the opinions of people that are concerned about what will or will not be published.

I am all for making money by providing services, provided it is done with professionalism and ethics. THIS IS NOT a shot at you!!! I will not be opening a dining establishment, but will be dealing with the various media for sure.

If my facts are off on the residents, that is my fault for not double checking my agent, but after talking to numerous rest. owners over 4+ years, I a reasonably sure of their feelings.

Again, with more people both visiting and moving to Bonaire, the challenges are going to be vast and far reaching to the populace, especially once the big hotels finally clear all the hurdles and open up.

Before that happens, I hope the government and peoples of Bonaire have taken a survey of the surrounding Islands and other areas that have had the cruise ships and big money hotels come in and basically end up controlling the local area. I have seen it throughout the islands and Alaska, other areas in South America and beyond.

Sir, my hat is off to you for establishing and continuing to run a sucessful business!! Difficult to do under any circumstances, let alone an area as small as Bonaire, and you obviously provide a needed service. I wish you further sucess and look forward to checking out your guide upon my next visit to bonaire when I finalize the purchase of our house.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #18829) on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 - 10:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Michael, thanks. Good to know the billboards will be coming down:-):-):-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #397) on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 - 2:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Michael - my impression of the dining guide was that the restaurants placing the ads wrote or provided the copy. I don't have one handy, but seem to recall all the comments were glowing, and as we know from this board, one person's gem is another's dud. Is this correct? In this case, I'm unclear how a restaurant would be punished for not buying more space.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wally and Eva (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #959) on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 - 5:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Flyers nothing…what really gets my goat is all the tourist poop that is left on the island….it leaches through the porous soil and ultimately ends up in the reef. Maybe BON should have a pack it in pack it out policy for poop like it has for batteries on Bonaire

Andy where are you? I believe this is up your alley.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2198) on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 12:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The dining guide is published once a year by the Bonaire Resteraunt Association. There is only one size ad and the copy is written in conjuction with the owner of the establishment. Those choosing not to advertise are not "bad mouthed" since they are not mentioned at all. You can find the guide at www.bonairediningguide.com. It has proven itself to be a vauable resource for visitors to be able to scope out the places to eat. Also as for real estate agents, remember they are sales persons as well and sometimes tell folks what they want to hear. Wally, I did not see you boarding the plane with little plastic baggies.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1442) on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 4:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

michael
did you check wally's carry on?
(EEWWWWWWWWW!)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2202) on Friday, August 4, 2006 - 8:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Shoot! I forgot how sneaky he is..

 


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