Why the name “anitadvisor”?

I was thinking about starting a blog for a long time.

During my manically busy years - in the corporate world and subsequently, running my own little boutique hotel - I did not have the time or mindspace. Last year, that changed when I sold the hotel. All of a sudden, there was plenty of time. I love running, reading, sewing, photography and video making. I’m a qualified Sommelier. I started learning my eighth language and playing the piano again after a thirty-year break.

As for the blog, there were too many ideas. I did not want to start another travel blog, nor did I want to write about business. It took a while to define the focus. The next problem was, I had no name for the site. 

I used all the brainstorming techniques I knew, and created a huge heap of ideas over several months. Some names were absolutely awful, some brilliant and many descriptive enough. But all the domain names were already taken, either word by word or close enough not to create confusion. In a moment of desperation, I even tried working with some AI apps - useless. They were proposing the very same creativity techniques I had already tried. 

Discouraged, I sat on my hands for a while, until a different approach popped up in my mind. Why not use other people’s wisdom, something somebody else has said about us? Guests had published hundreds of online reviews during my Boutique Hotelier days, and I had saved the favorite ones in a special folder.

That’s where I found it. “Anitadvisor”, a review written by two wonderful persons, Alessandro & Cinzia. That’s brilliant, I thought. Back then, my mission was to give our Guests a happy stay, which included sharing stories and tips. The things that we loved and could recommend from the heart, friend to friend, human to human.

That’s the essence of this blog, too. Not acting as a critic, giving grades, points or stars. Not providing itineraries or logistical information. But sharing stories and sprinkling some happiness.

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For full disclosure: this blog is one of my hobbies and has no commercial affiliations. All recommendations are based on my own experience and personal views, and do not benefit me financially. I am, however, delighted if readers find any of the tips useful.