AWOL Gets Featured on Yahoo Finance: A Big Win for Small Hospitality

Every once in a while, something happens that reminds you you’re onto something big.

For us, that was getting featured in Yahoo Finance this month.

It’s a proud moment for our whole team — but more importantly, it shines a light on a growing movement: independent cafés, bars, and restaurants are taking back control from fake reviews and pay-to-play platforms.

Why Yahoo Finance Featured AWOL

Verified reviews only – No bots, no spam, no ghost-written hype. Only people who actually visited can leave feedback.

Personalised results – AWOL learns your preferences (like Guinness > rosé or tacos > burgers) and recommends venues that match you.

No pay-to-play – No one can buy their way to the top. We don’t do ads or “sponsored” listings.

Support for independents – We help the small venues win — the ones who usually get drowned out by big brands and fake ratings.

Real Reviews, Real Trust

Fake reviews are a £240 billion problem worldwide. That’s not a typo.And for small business owners, they’re more than frustrating — they’re dangerous.

Yahoo Finance spotlighted how AWOL fixes this: only real people, verified bookings, and genuine feedback.No fluff. No manipulation.

That means when someone finds your bar or café on AWOL, they can trust the reviews are legit — and more likely to give you a shot.

We’re Just Getting Started

The Yahoo piece isn’t the only spotlight we’ve had lately:

• We were just featured in Grit Daily as a “punk tech rebellion” shaking up TripAdvisor.

• Our story’s now on Apple News, reaching thousands more diners.

• And we’ve got a key appointment Thursday to keep growing this movement fast.

With 22,000 venues already on the platform and thousands of users finding places through AWOL without a single ad, we’re proving there’s a better way.

We’re not here to look polished. We’re here to be real.

AWOL is about honesty, personality, and giving the little guy a platform.

We’re the opposite of the big review sites — no filters, no fake stars, just real food-lovers finding real places.And we’re proud that Yahoo Finance saw that.

This isn’t just a win for AWOL — it’s a win for every indie business trying to cut through the noise.The more coverage like this we get, the more diners discover your venue, not whoever paid the most for ad space.

👉 Want to get listed? You can join AWOL free in minutes. No cost. No BS. Just verified reviews and fair exposure.