Cafés: Acceptable or not
aWildKeithApprd-PGO
Posts: 32 ✭✭✭
By café's I mean a local independent cafe that is a local hotspot, as opposed to a chain like Starbucks, Cafe Nero, Insomnia etc...
My understanding is they would be valid under the rationale that it is somewhere you may take a friend to have a nice bespoke drink or something.
I can understand generic mass produced ones like starbucks (though they are sponsored in other territories) being ineligible, but I would have thought a local hotspot, particularly if they have interesting architecture, or being a converted renovated building would be eligible?
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Gendgi-PGO
Posts: 3,347 Ambassador
I don't think being a "converted renovated building" would necessarily be a qualifier unless there is history tied to the building before or after renovation, or that somehow ties in with the unique architecture.
Coffee shops and cafes can be great nominations, but can also be flagged as generic businesses since, by nature, they are businesses. A good nomination would focus on what makes that location special. Many also feature unique art that could be eligible nominations.
I also shared a guide that has been created by reviewers and many of my friends have used it and been successful with their own nominations.
In the end, cafés typically are good nominations, but can also require a little work to get through.
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AgentB0ss-ING
Posts: 553 ✭✭✭✭✭
https://ingressama.com/ama/nov2019
Q51: I’m trying to figure out a good example of a local hotspot that will pass review. We have a local non-chain coffee shop that is a common place for College students studying together and just people grabbing coffee with friends. Additionally it brands itself as a Cuban coffee shop and has a lot of cultural aspects inside. Would this kind of business fit what Niantic is looking for with that local hotspot criteria?
A51: Yes.
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have you a link for that? Stuff does change now and then, and I was hoping for clarity
@aWildKeithApprd-PGO Cafes can be acceptable, but are not inherently eligible. You as the submitter have to prove its worthy of a waypoint. You need to show in the description why its special or important. Why would people travel to visit this location?
Has it won awards? Does it have a cool story? Has it been featured in articles? Is it listed in Travel Guides?
If all else fails, if there is some sort of Art inside that may be easier to get approved; items such as paintings, murals, sculptures etc.
The most recent guidelines are as follows:
Pubs and Restaurants
https://wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/help#niantic-wayfarer-clarifications-january-2020
I don't think being a "converted renovated building" would necessarily be a qualifier unless there is history tied to the building before or after renovation, or that somehow ties in with the unique architecture.
Coffee shops and cafes can be great nominations, but can also be flagged as generic businesses since, by nature, they are businesses. A good nomination would focus on what makes that location special. Many also feature unique art that could be eligible nominations.
I also shared a guide that has been created by reviewers and many of my friends have used it and been successful with their own nominations.
In the end, cafés typically are good nominations, but can also require a little work to get through.
https://ingressama.com/ama/nov2019
Q51: I’m trying to figure out a good example of a local hotspot that will pass review. We have a local non-chain coffee shop that is a common place for College students studying together and just people grabbing coffee with friends. Additionally it brands itself as a Cuban coffee shop and has a lot of cultural aspects inside. Would this kind of business fit what Niantic is looking for with that local hotspot criteria?
A51: Yes.
Remember that even though it was intended as an Ingress game AMA, the Wayfarer guidance is still relevant for reviewers except when given more clarification on the Wayfarer site itself.
I've had a park café (run by the local council) accepted before. I think, for example, a community café would be acceptable (e.g. one near me that helps the disabled and mental health patients integrate back into the community and has its own community gardens). There is also a historic tea rooms near me that's been a wayspot for years. When I'm reviewing, I take each independent café on a "case by case" basis. Sure, the local pubs and taverns tend to make it as wayspots, but they tend to much more historic than your average café and often are located in historic buildings.
would that count, seeing as its mostly online? My understanding is that it would have to be in TimeOut or something printed?
I think that would depend greatly. I wouldn't necessarily reject a nomination that used TripAdvisor or even Yelp in the supporting information, but I also wouldn't strictly rely on them.
Acceptable: Eateries that have been featured prominently in travel guides, those with historical or cultural significance, or establishments that are popular tourist destinations.
The person making the nomination should be using the supporting text to elaborate as clearly why they think their nomination is eligible. Many cases an online search being done by the reviewer can validate (or invalidate) the person's claims, but again it is up to the nomination to explain why it is an eligible candidate.
No TripAdvisor is not an actual Travel Guide and shouldnt be used to reference for submissions. I would look for more legitimate sources or articles about your location. TripAdvisor will literally list all restaurants and cafes in a city.