An interview with Tim and Nina Zagat, founders of Zagat Survey.
Tim and Nina Zagat (left) with Robert Reiss
In June 2006, Jeff Howe of Wired magazine coined the term “crowdsourcing.” But the concept it describes, gathering insight and wisdom from the broad populace and using it to build a powerful communications medium, was born more than two decades earlier–at a dinner party. There a husband and wife decided to begin drawing on all their friends to rate restaurants, in the belief that the opinions of consumers could be more accurate than those of a few professional critics. This was a hobby, but it ultimately grew into one of the world’s most trusted brands, Zagat Survey.
They started in 1979, and their first survey rated 121 New York restaurants, with 200 surveyors initiating their signature 30-point rating system. Today more than 350,000 surveyors in 100 countries rate restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, golf and leisure activities for Zagat.
As 2009 closes in just a few days, there are some important tax changes that will help you save money and prepare to file your 2009 tax return in the spring. We have summarized many of the major changes in our blog post, “Tax Planning Strategies & Year-End Considerations” in November, and since it has been one of our most popular posts, we’ve reposted it here and encourage you to review this information again before starting the process for your 2009 tax return.