One restaurant in Verona in Italy, launched the promo in March, according to Italy’s Garda Post. The Al Condominio offers “l’opzione ‘tech free,’” in exchange for a “bottiglia di vino omaggio” or a tech free option for a bottle of complimentary wine.
The owner’s aim — according to the U.K.’s Guardian — which also covered the story — is to encourage people to talk to each other instead of constantly checking their phones.
According to the Guardian, 90% of customers gave up their phone, which was put in a lockbox, and then showed the lockbox key to their waiter, to receive the complimentary bottle.
Would it work in Guam? I reached out to five businesspeople, who I know eat out a lot. Four trusting individuals immediately said yes, though hypothetically.
The fifth businessperson wanted a discussion on vintage, etc. (It’s just a column item, not a binding commitment, I said.)
Of course, even the house wine in Italy can be outstanding. But I’m assuming any restaurant that wanted repeat business would ensure the quality of the wine matched the “sacrifice.”
“Omaggio” is a wonderful word. You might see it with “pan,” in Italy as in “pan omaggio” or “complimentary bread.” And it can come drizzled with olive oil or with a selection of other tempting bites alongside it, while you examine the menu — which is serious business.
I don’t speak fluent Italian, but I do speak Italian menu.
The only time I was flummoxed in Italy was when we saw “ghiro” on the menu at a restaurant. It translates to “dormouse.” (We did not order the dormouse. I’m more than happy experimenting with pasta.)
By the time you read this, I will be in Europe. I hope to speak menu a lot while I’m away.
(In case you envy me, the weather in London will be hotter than Guam and election fever there is in full swing. When we visit Scotland, it will be raining. A lot.)
Arranging flights this year has not been easy. Without our travel agent’s dedicated research, it would have been a lot more difficult and considerably more expensive.
(I admire people who book their own tickets, or do their own tax filing, but time is short, so we don’t. I don’t cut my own hair either.)
I appreciate all the professionals we can call on in our lives who are part of Team Maratita.
There’s every chance we’ll see people from Guam on the trip. Among our agent’s numerous clients traveling to Europe is a party of eight bound for Amsterdam, where our daughter and family live.
June was a busy month, with a number of events before the summer holiday season really kicked in. At one party, a group of executives from off-island began to share their business cards and of course we Guam residents happily did the same in reciprocation.
It’s an instantaneous introduction.
However, one young businessperson had no business cards, but offered a QR code on her phone, suggesting we take a picture of that with our own phones.
Technology is wonderful. But sometimes I have to ask, why would you make a simple procedure more complicated, just because you can?
And I can hardly imagine waving a phone with a QR code at any Japanese businessperson who politely bows and offers me their meishi.
Sorry (not sorry) to sound grumpy. Maybe I just need a vacation. If you are also traveling, I hope that your trip is fun or fruitful. mbj
— Maureen N. Maratita is the publisher at Glimpses Media. Glimpses Media includes the Marianas Business Journal, Guam Business Magazine, The Guam Guide, Wave 105.1 FM and Power98.