Behind every view, like, or comment is actual human life. Not just a vanity metric.
What started as a creative platform full of entertaining dances, innocent challenges, and funny videos has took a wrong turn as it claimed the lives of innocent children and teenagers.
The rise in popularity of TikTok has led to a big increase of unsafe and life-threatening challenges which include swallowing strange objects, putting dangerous chemicals on their skin, or experimenting with foreign items into body parts. Many of these challenges are viewed by millions of young people, who then feel pressured to try them out themselves and be part of a “community”.
Misinformation is spreading faster than wildfire, both devastating and dangerous.
It’s nearly impossible to round-up a list of TikTok’s unmoderated challenges and beauty or health advice because the content keeps multiplying to satisfy its users' short attention spans and the need for new things.
Slugging for example, which currently has 385M+ views, advises people to sleep with a thick layer of petroleum jelly on their faces for hydration. However dermatologists say that doing this could actually induce breakouts and leave the skin in a more awful state to begin with.
One of the worst in the platform are the “Benadryl challenge” where users are encouraged to take large amounts of the medicine to induce hallucinations and the “Blackout challenge” which promotes a form of self-strangulation by challenging users to see how long they can go holding their breath - both of which have already taken innocent lives due to misinformation.
But who's to blame? The platform, creators, or both?
Accountability goes both ways here.
Stronger community management and strict content moderation needs to be in place in every social media platform. On the other side of the coin, creators must know their responsibility to curb the spread of misinformation.
In response to this, up until recently, TikTok has started moderating certain content and keywords on their platform to limit the spread of dangerous, disturbing, or even fabricated information. They do this by showing a dedicated landing page within the app that provides a resource to identify harmful content when a banned keyword is searched. They promote a 4-step process; Stop, Think, Decide, and Act which encourages users to report suspicious content rather than liking or sharing it.
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![Michelin Star Guide revealed in Dubai in association with Dubai Tourism Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides with Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg436JFH5uVTYWymoXIH_gmroyoWHH0itIDAEu9QAWSdWMbRZcMgR2Rg2ZpfxhONSTMU97LKIsPtG9Jnn29ieV0n_0Ugat2uNTtyTqbkWlv40sjBuRG6zNtF9SfDYaeiNbH57n-zym1H4Gmb3LZis4kVPSyoUpDtFs1_iSMCMmnshqZfomL-dzu3Rbx/s16000/Michelin%20Star%20Guide%20Revealed%20in%20Dubai%20a%20first%20in%20the%20Middle%20East%20-%20by%20AngeloDG.jpeg)
A First for the Middle East: Michelin Guide Reveals 11 Starred and 14 Bib Gourmand Restaurants in Dubai
A prestigious gastronomic selection that covers over 30 destinations worldwide, the Michelin guide is considered one of the world's most respected food guides in existence. The guide anonymously rates restaurants based on a one to three star system and also awards Bib Gourmand for quality cooking at reasonable prices.
During its Middle East debut, Michelin unveiled the 2022 edition of its iconic MICHELIN Guide in Dubai, celebrating the mega-city’s spectacular culinary map. The 69 restaurants in the guide were selected and recommended by anonymous inspectors. 2 restaurants were awarded two stars, 9 received one star, and 14 were recognized as Bib Gourmand restaurants.
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Dubai is a city that knows how to eat. With a wide variety of internationally recognized brands paired with many home-grown concepts, it is likely there's a restaurant in the city’s buzzing Food and Beverage scene that will satisfy cravings. From Italian to Japanese and everything in between, the choices are simply endless.
“One thing all the restaurants in this fast paced dynamic and elegant city have in common is they are brimming with passion and enthusiasm. Today, Dubai is settled as an inspiring gastronomic destination and we have no doubts that gourmets from all over the world will be seduced by its very unique energy.”
Two Restaurants awarded Two MICHELIN Stars
STAY by Yannick Alléno impresses with its less-is-more approach, which results in precise, sophisticated dishes that are skillfully crafted with French cooking as the base.
11 Woodfire by chef-owner Akmal Anuar, offers a global variety of vegetables, seafood and meats grilled to perfection over oak, hickory or hay.
Al Muntaha led by Saverio Sbaragli sits atop the architectural masterpiece of Burj al Arab and offers sophisticated and refined French cuisine with Mediterranean influences.
Armani Ristorante presents precise, modern Italian cooking at the Burj Khalifa, where beautifully decorated dishes are met with attentive, enthusiastic service.
Hakkasan at the Atlantis Hotel offers reimagined Chinese dishes that are exclusive to Dubai, including the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.
Höseki is a nine-seat omakase restaurant helmed by a sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama, set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel.
Ossiano located at the Atlantis Hotel gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger’s childhood memories, featuring dishes that come with fine texture contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.
Tasca by José Avillez in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is set around an open kitchen where the team combines fresh, great quality produce with Portuguese dishes that are vibrant, innovative, and great for sharing.
Torno Subito owned by internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura at the W Hotel on the Palm offers Italian classics, pasta dishes and desserts with a twist.
Trèsind Studio is the brainchild of Himanshu Saini, which offers original and precisely executed multi-course tasting menus featuring herbs and flowers grown on its rooftop terrace setting.
The 2022 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai also spotlights 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants that offer a value-for-money gourmet experience for an average price of 250 AED for a 3-course meal.
Al Khayma focuses on simple rustic Emirati cooking, slow cooked meats, Arabic spices and fresh bread cooked in the courtyard.
Bait Maryam serves up delicious, home-style Levantine dishes cooked with love.
Brasserie Boulud provides a little piece of France in a classically styled brasserie, offering everything from escargots and canard rôti to tarte Tatin and île flottante.
9 Restaurants awarded One MICHELIN Star
Al Muntaha led by Saverio Sbaragli sits atop the architectural masterpiece of Burj al Arab and offers sophisticated and refined French cuisine with Mediterranean influences.
Armani Ristorante presents precise, modern Italian cooking at the Burj Khalifa, where beautifully decorated dishes are met with attentive, enthusiastic service.
Hakkasan at the Atlantis Hotel offers reimagined Chinese dishes that are exclusive to Dubai, including the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.
Höseki is a nine-seat omakase restaurant helmed by a sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama, set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel.
Ossiano located at the Atlantis Hotel gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger’s childhood memories, featuring dishes that come with fine texture contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.
Tasca by José Avillez in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is set around an open kitchen where the team combines fresh, great quality produce with Portuguese dishes that are vibrant, innovative, and great for sharing.
Torno Subito owned by internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura at the W Hotel on the Palm offers Italian classics, pasta dishes and desserts with a twist.
Trèsind Studio is the brainchild of Himanshu Saini, which offers original and precisely executed multi-course tasting menus featuring herbs and flowers grown on its rooftop terrace setting.
14 restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand
Al Khayma focuses on simple rustic Emirati cooking, slow cooked meats, Arabic spices and fresh bread cooked in the courtyard.
Bait Maryam serves up delicious, home-style Levantine dishes cooked with love.
Brasserie Boulud provides a little piece of France in a classically styled brasserie, offering everything from escargots and canard rôti to tarte Tatin and île flottante.
Fi’Lia celebrates the culinary knowledge passed down through generations of women with a menu of artisan pizzas to contemporary twists on traditional Italian dishes.
Folly offers an ingredient-driven menu that focuses on precise, modern dishes cooked from a kitchen counter where diners can watch the chefs in action.
Goldfish is a funky, buzzing sushi and yakitori concept by chef Akmal Anuar, and sharing plates and wagyu steak are the order of the day.
Ibn Albahr is home to a fresh fish counter where diners can choose what to eat and enjoy ingredient-driven fare.
Indya by Vineet is the destination where street food meets sharing plates, with colourful dishes from the earth (vegetarian), land (meat) and sea.
Kinoya has five ramen dishes that underpin the menu, while Japanese classics including sushi, sashimi, robata and tempura are on offer.
Ninive reflects a bedouin tent with low tables and cosy sofas, which sets the tone for the tasty, well-priced dishes from all over the Middle East and North Africa.
Orfali Bros is set in a striking, two-storey open kitchen, where playful Mediterranean small plates with global influences, such as the imam bayildi alongside burgers, caviar and wagyu beef, are served.
REIF Japanese Kushiyaki helmed by Singaporean chef-owner Reif Othman, focuses on robata-cooked, street food-style snacks along with a wide range of well-priced sushi, ramen and creative desserts.
Shabestan has been around since 1984 and offers traditional Persian dishes, marinated meats, freshly baked breads and mezze.
Teible is the cool, minimalist bakery-cum-restaurant that showcases seasonal, local and occasionally fermented ingredients in great value dishes.
One restaurant awarded a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainable gastronomy
Highlighting establishments at the forefront of sustainable gastronomy, Lowe is recognized for its outstanding efforts and remarkable commitment to sustainability. Run by culinary duo Kate Christou and Jesse Blake, it is the first and only restaurant in Dubai to receive a MICHELIN Green Star. The kitchen team cook on fire, practice nose-to-tail cooking and procure ingredients as locally as possible.Hotels are in a constant battle for customers, and as such, they need to rely on well-built marketing strategies to stay competitive.
It's more challenging than ever to attract guests, as well as keeping them happy once they are on your property. Hotel marketing strategies have evolved since the hotel industry was born, and you must be up-to-date on the most effective practices for your hotel.
This post covers 5 effective online hotel marketing strategies that everyone should know, which will put your hotel above the rest:
- Use online reviews as a way to measure customer satisfaction and improve your service. Whether it's from your hotel website, surveys, TripAdvisor, or OTAs (like booking.com) - use online reviews to "listen in" to what your customers are saying. Fortify your hotel's best assets and strengthen areas that guests say needs improvement. It's nothing personal, just honest feedback to serve your guests better.
- Create a blog where you can post stories from within the hotel and your staff. Make sure the General Manager or Marketing Team can approve all of the content on this blog before it is published. By doing this and adding a human element to your brand, you will quickly see that you will have a community that is more than willing to share their experience about your hotel.
- Invest in high-quality images and videos that represent your property. Pro tip: dedicate a full day for the photo shoot and a corporate video shoot. Have a mood board ready beforehand and communicate your content strategy to the photographers/videographers ahead of time. Planning is key. If you're recording a video with a voiceover or people speaking, make sure the audio is clear and understandable. Use short but well-constructed calls to action that lead viewers to your website or social media pages.
- Offer promotions on social media that people can share and post their experience at the hotel. This is a great way to increase followers and also engagement. Create fun memes and contests that people will want to share with their friends and followers. Maximize your Instagram engagement by using Reels to create short-form informative and entertaining videos. Don't forget to use trending music too.
- Post with purpose and start a conversation with your audience on social media to help them feel more connected to the hotel. As much as possible, skip the promotional content for the ads and stay unique and genuine on social media. Throw in a bunch of carefully selected hashtags too, and you're all set for success.
For more marketing strategies and tips, head over to @HeyAngeloDG on Instagram.