Deep inside me, I believe I am an entrepreneur. At this stage, however, I am slowly developing my business idea by observing others’ and help them grow so as to build a goodwill reputation that would guide my business once established. Constructive criticism is a powerful tool that when channelled through the right forum can help small businesses grow. In 2019, I got a very positive acknowledgement from a well-established hotel, Avani Hotel in Gaborone Botswana. This followed the comments I posted in Google Local Guide Platform as feedback based on my experiences on the service they rendered us in an important event in our mother’s life. She was turning 60 years and retiring from active employment. I, My wife and brothers decided to host a surprise party in her honour to celebrate not only her 60th birthday but also a milestone of reaching retirement age.
The dinner comprised of small family members some whom too had no prior knowledge of a surprise party. In preparation for this, we had met the hotel management ahead of the event and submitted our customised request to ensure that the dinner met all our expectations and would surely thrill our mother. To our surprise, the hotel staff and management followed all our requests and, in fact, exceeded our expectations. The presentation of food, drinks and the birthday cake was well-timed and organised. It was only at the presentation of cake that our mother came to realise that we were not only celebrating her retirement (which we had by now revealed to her), but it was also in respect of her 60th birthday. These activities were synced beyond my imagination, all thanx to the Hotel staff. The dinner was beautiful and remains etched in our mother memory as she occasionally remembers it fondly. A day after the dinner I got a reminder from Google Local Guide platform that I should rate the Hotel. I expressed my heartfelt gratitude for the service they rendered to us. Little did I know that they would respond to my ratings and comments attached. They expressed gratitude and apparently more people are now booking the venue for similar social functions based on my reviews. I find this a very interesting contribution to Google Local Guides and more importantly into the growth of the business referred here.
Much recently, the same occasion repeated itself when I visited Leru Guest House in Francistown, Botswana for a private booking. My ratings and comments have been duly noted and acknowledged by Guesthouse management. They have promised to take on board my suggestions and that can only help their business to grow. I can say now, my ratings have become more deliberate and intended to help the businesses grow.