I understand where LaEsquina is coming from.

I was a bus driver (for my sins) for 18 years, we had an inspector who actually didn´t have a PCV license so was unable to drive a bus trying to tell me how to drive. How stupid is that?
I would also have to argue with passengers who didn´t want to pay the correct fare as they "knew" what the fare was, or they didn´t need a pass when it clearly stated on the bus they did.

Ok,
2 for 1 offers at €1.50 a pint would IMHO be a business closer. At the moment (theoretically) someone comes in and drinks 6 pints (more if it was meat ), that gives a bill of €9/£7.90, bogof deals would earn €4.50/£3.95!
Not really going to increase profits or really help.

Sorry, but AI people have paid their money for what they get, good or bad. If they don´t like the food/drink served in the hotels it isn´t the local bars that have "stung" them. Why should local bars fund people who have been "stung" by either hotels/tour operators etc?

My outlook on bars is that if they look clean and tidy, offer reasonable prices and the staff are happy, smiley and willing to listen to constructive discussions, then thats a bar for me.

Good luck to all bar owners fighting their corner anywhere on the Island, indeed anyone at all that fights for what they deem to be correct.

Not my problem - I'm just another mug tourist who won't be spending money in your bar! Customer is always right didn't you know?!!

The customer is only right when you are making anything from them.

That will, unfortunately be your loss.
I only found the bar this year. The customer is always right went out of the window years ago.
I´ve worked in a number of bars over the years and sometimes one customer can empty a pub. Is this customer right or the 20 people who walk out of the door due to the anti-social behaviour of one person?

cymmon your joking right?! We are all being friends again and you are stirring it all up.

Now more than ever businesses need to listen to their customers.
You are being extreme - of course you would chuck out some p*ss head acting like a nutter.

And your bus inspector analogy is all wrong. You unqualified bus instructor be paying a fare to get on the bus. Just some jobsworth being a pain. Ditto if the man from the brewery came round and told steve he was pulling his pints all wrong - wouldn't affect his sale just waste his time!

At least get the correct analogy!!

I´ve got ´ologys in alot of things but not anal!

I just don´t understand people who don´t know the people involved saying they won´t go in a bar because of an opinion. And actually an opinion formed whilst working in said industry.

I only coment on what I know about. I believe my reference to join bus drivers and the thread was correct. Someone with no knowledge or concept of something is not really qualified to tell someone how to do that job. Hence an inspector with no licence telling me how to drive. Not valid. Simples!

Sure fire business plan for all CT bar/restaurant owners:

For a trial period, why not reduce all of your prices by 75% to see if this attracts more customers and increases profits. I suggest the trial is held between 27 August and 3 September.

If it works, I will take a cut of the profits. If it doesn't, I'll have had a cheap holiday.

Cymmon - Up until a couple of years ago, I would have totally agreed with all of your comments. However, I have since got a new job managing a number of teams. The sector I have moved into I had no knowledge about previously and to some extent, I still do not understand it 100% and I still do not know how to do some of what my staff do. However, this does not make me a bad manager. I am still able to manage and direct them and I am at an advantage where I can step back and look at what efficiencies can be made.

I have had the same argument on a management qualification course that I took recently and the outcome was that there was no right answer (surprise, surprise - how many times do you study to be told that!!)

My opinion is that a manager does not have to know what his staff do to the Nth degree to be able to manage them.

Have I made sense? Probably not, but I hope you understand where I am coming from and I hope I understood your post correctly.

Yes I completely understand but this inspector was actually telling me how to drive. With 18 years of bus driving and more in cars I can see no viable way he could tell me how to drive when he actually didn´t know how to.

I also like your idea to sort out the bars for your stay. Strangely I think your advice this time may go unheeded.

Oh well, I'll keep my advice to myself in future!!

And I can see how somebody who cannot drive a bus telling you how to drive one can be annoying, not to say dangerous!!

Cy, the analogy is wrong I'm afraid but I'm not going to go into it.

But regarding your experience as a driver - staff think their boss 'doesn't understand' but without realising that they don't understand the management either - and if they did they'd be the manager themselves.
Alex Fergusson is a pretty crap footballer, but Ronaldo didn't do too bad under his management.
Ole

Was Ferguson any good in theatres or swimming pools ´cos he certainly passed on some good theatrics and diving!

I still stick by what I said. I was a tourist for 15 years and thought I knew everything about the Island, I then moved there and did I find out how wrong I had been. Living there full time immersing yourself in the culture and business technicalities is SERIOUSLY different to going over twice a year and seeing things from the outside.

When you going back ole and we´ll go for a drink. Spenders anyone?

Maybe so - but then why do so many companies spend so much money on market surveys and customer research?!

Are you suggesting that the business knows best and that us naughty tourists should toe the line and spend how you tell us to?


Spotting changes in customer habits first guarantees you a serious wealthy and early retirement!!!

Quote "tourists should toe the line and spend how you tell us to?"

As a tourist that's what I read into some of the comments of recent forums (not Cy's)

Cy, no Lanza plans at the mo, too busy with a house move.

Ole

A tourist is free to drink wherever they please. If they don´t like the look of the place, the prices or even the staff then go somewhere else.

I used to do that as a tourist. I made a choice, some good and some bad, but as you visit more and more you find out ones you do like. Some survive some don´t. I used to love Las Arenas but it´s now under the same owner/management but is a shop.

Things do change, not necessarily due to low patronage. Sometimes rents are too high, next place cheaper, change of owner, retirement etc.

People who live on the island have alot clearer idea of the current trends as stated by foodie, . Here´s hoping that Lanzarote weathers the storm and AI quickly becomes a niche market and allows tourists to sample real Canarian Hospitality.

PS: Good luck with the move Ole, cheers.

Hi

I would just like to make an observation as someone who has been coming to Lanzarote for many years. It is very bad all over Europe at the moment not just the UK so that is affecting all visitors to the Island. I was over in May and certainly saw the difference in PDC, it was very quite although the old town appeared busier than the new, perhaps because there were fewer younger people, even Tropical and Routa were half empty. I was amazed to just be able to get a seat at Golden Corner, I remember you always had to wait. The biggest thing I noticed was that it appears that the locals are not going out like they used to. Saturday nights were always great for people watching as the locals used to promenard up and down the strip in their finest and you could not get anywhere in a hurry because of the crowds.
Anyway we are back in September for two weeks and yes we have had to curtail our going out in the UK in order to maximise on the holiday funds but our love of the island spurs us on.
Finaly a message for John (Spenders) we only had the chance of one visit in May due to being with friends and trying to fit things into one week so when we are back we will see you more often.
Linda K