As the organizer of #CIFF2017 (Cyprus International Food Festival) my dream is to cultivate a demographic of local and international foodies to Cyprus showcasing our cultural diversity while using local services and products to produce the festival. So blah blah – what did I do? To draw further attention to #CIFF2017 which will take place on 23 and 24 September at Molos in Limassol, I created the #CIFF2017 Best Limassol Restaurant Awards to run for a week in May. The entire concept was and is simple. The restaurants would receive FREE promotion and would receive all the printed marketing material for their premises. They literally did not have to do anything except confirm that we could include them on the website for people to vote for them. Is it possible that from hundreds of restaurants in Limassol, only 5 have taken advantage of our offer? I’ve heard many excuses including “we don’t have time, we don’t need promotion, why is it free, I can’t decide, I’ll tell the owner…” If we were in any other country, restaurants would be jumping at the offer of free promotion without having to do anything. Why is there such apathy in Cyprus, where we even say, there is an economic crisis? I welcome ALL comments and advice about how we can go forward in the mission to develop a greater, international foodie culture!
Warmest wishes to everyone Saskia