Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

It Gets Worse

Not to completely bum out Destination Marketing Pros...but the number of people that say they expect to travel less for leisure pursuits in the next 12 months has nearly TRIPLED to 28.8% from the same period response rate of 9.2% in 2007. 29.8% expect to spend less on leisure travel, up from 10.9%.

Like yesterday's bad news, the data again comes from The State of the American Traveler study from David Bratton and Destination Analysts. If you're going to be at DMAI in Vegas next week, look for him to learn more.

Staycations? It's Not Funny Anymore.

Yeah, I know that DMO Executives have gotten lots of media mileage over the past few months, touting their efforts to encourage locals to enjoy "staycations" because of high fuel prices.

Of course, I'm happy for them...but, they're just encouraging the behavior.

Our friend Dave Bratton (Destination Analysts) points us to the brand new version of his State of the American Traveler study...which reveals that 24% of Americans now admit to taking a Staycation over the past 12 months.

OK...you can stop now.

Airline Cutbacks Expected to Hurt Hotels

It only makes sense. Fewer arrivals at your airport means fewer travelers looking for hotel rooms.

But PKF Hospitality has released a report that identifies a direct correlation between a reduction in airline seats to hotel stays. And, if the reduction in routes hits the anticipated 10%, PKF estimates that occupancy will drop 3.9%.

MeetingsNet's Sue Pelletier surmises that this decrease will be felt mostly in leisure travel...and not in the meetings market.

I'm not so sure...as the reduction in flights will increase fares. Add the increasingly inane add-on fees and hassle...and I'm thinking a lot of potential attendees will say, "screw it" and stay home.

In any case, hotels in air markets are in for a rocky ride. As are the DMOs upon which they depend.

Pythons on YouTube

Snakes on a Plane...Ticks on a Plane. How 'bout (Monty) Pythons on YouTube?

Our friend Maura Gast (with whom we just shared the stage at Albuquerque's Town Hall Meeting to discuss the future of the Q's downtown) suggested that this just might be the most inspired utilization of YouTube ever.

You gotta be a fan of Monty Python to get the joke...but The British Emporium (a shop in Grapevine TX) has recently posted an homage to the Python using residents and local landmarks to recreate the iconic British television show. It's all to promote this weekend's Monty Python Madness Charity Festival ("a celebration of all things Python").

Well done, lads (and lasses)...well done.

Ticks on a Plane

Not sure it has quite the Box Office appeal of "Snakes"...but if Samuel L. Jackson will star, the film version of the true story of a United flight that was taken out of service so that three ticks could be escorted off the plane should, err, at least go straight to video.

Well, since the airlines treat us like chimps, I guess we might as well pick bugs out of each others' hair while in flight...

Thanks to our bud John Groh for the catch...

The Great American Lager

Hey Budweiser...

Not that anybody watches the All-Star Game (only 12 million Americans)...but isn't there just the slightest bit of brand incongruency of taking a lead advertising position and stressing that you are "The Great American Lager" over and over, less than 48 hours after selling the company to a Belgian conglomerate? Couldn't you have, like, delayed the deal until after the game? Or brought back the Lizards in the interim?

I guess $52 billion in your pocket means you don't have to care about your brand anymore. But one would think that InBev should have known better...

Hotel Meta-Search Defined

Our friend Adam Healey, CEO of VibeAgent (now being re-launched as a hotel search engine), recently posted a great description of just what a Hotel Meta-Search is. And, while it clearly touts the advantages of VibeAgent...he lays out the concept (and the advantages) so that anybody can understand the advantages.

Temporary My Butt

Northwest Airlines has joined in the insanity of charging for the first checked bag...but they say it's only temporary until fuel prices come back down. Right...and that's gonna happen, err, when?

Since all the airlines are gonna do this (except Southwest...which is the only airline that seems to understand how to make a profit), can't y'all just increase your ticket prices $30? Like, all at once? And leave us alone?

Of course not...because that would violate anti-trust laws.

Which are, umm...supposed to protect us from people like you.

As the late, great Sam Kinison would say....Ohhh. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh.

Lyrics that Mean Nothing

Come Down Off Your Throne,
And Leave Your Body Alone.

The classic opening line from Blind Faith's "I Can't Find My Way Home," powered by Steve Winwood's ethereal vocals and Eric Clapton's acoustic mastery.

Sirius 14's Carol Miller recently asked Steve what that line means. His Response:

"I have no idea."

And yet...err, he WROTE the song.

Too funny.....

Now THAT'S Regionalism

Facing sharp airline service cutbacks and a sagging U.S. economy that threatens travel to the islands,  the Caribbean Tourism Organization last week voted to launch a $60 million advertising campaign to market the region as a single destination.

So Smart...and so amazing that the tourism leaders of 32 distinct brands could agree that the resonant message to most travelers would be the overarching concept of the Caribbean.

It's also another not so subtle reminder that American policy leaders should ask themselves a simple question. If these nations can figure this out...why can't the only industrialized country without a tourism marketing budget?

Bigger is Better

As much as many would like to believe otherwise, size DOES matter.

Especially when you're Barack Obama. A 21,000 seat convention center hall for my upcoming coronation? Not big enough.

You got anything bigger? Like a Stadium?

Sure you do. I'll take that...

And, so it will be, as the final night of the Democratic National Convention will be at Invesco Field...with over three times the number of screaming fans.

What an insanely smart move on so many levels, as reported by the New York Times. But most importantly, it will make McCain look small...or like a copycat if he asks for the Metrodome.

Where's My Jetpack goes even farther in his analysis.

Obama's Team is so Smart.

Third Best Airline in the World has One Plane

Which, as CEO David Skillicorn admits, makes it a little easier to focus on customer service.

But...as he also says in this great interview from the BBC, "it costs nothing to smile at people and, actually, good service costs nothing either."

What a concept...

And thanks to my friend Stuart Ellis-Myers for the catch.

Ringo's Birthday Wish

It's Ringo Starr's Birthday. His birthday wish?

That you say "Peace and Love" at Noon today.

After all he's given us over the years...it seems so simple a request.

Which I'm passing on to you...to pass on to your friends.

All we are saying...is give Peace a chance.

Thanks to Roy Williams for the catch!

Maybe $4 Gas IS Working to Encourage Travel Closer to Home

First, the caveats. It's the close of a three-day 4th of July Weekend. The weather in Wisconsin this weekend has been the reason we put up with six months of truly horrible climactic conditions. It couldn't have been more perfect. Cool nights. Warm Days. Light breezes. Virtually cloudless. Nirvana.

Next, the background. While many travel experts were putting on the happy face that $4 gas wasn't going to keep people home, I have been increasingly cautioning that, for many, it would.

Apparently not this weekend in Wisconsin. My folks live in the suburbs of Chicago and I often find myself driving home from visits on Sunday evenings. Never, in 17 years of living in Madison and making this trek, have I seen what I saw last night (and captured at left). A solid, two lane stream of cars that extended from suburban Elgin at just after 8pm to Janesville WI (70 miles) at 9:30pm.

At times, we counted over 100 cars a minutes heading home to the Chicagoland area. From Wisconsin.

I silently thanked each one as they passed, knowing that our economy has been bolstered, my property taxes reduced and our collective Quality of Life improved.

The Food Shack

When one travels to Palm Beach for some luxurious rest and relaxation, restaurants with names like L'Escalier, Ta-boo and Forte might come to mind to kick off an evening's entertainment. Surely not, "hey honey, let's go to the Food Shack."

Big mistake. I've been to Palm Beach County five or six times in the past year and sampled a lot of fabulous restaurants. And, one of my favorites is this out-of-the-way-in-a-dreary-strip-mall seafood joint called, yep...the Food Shack. And, before you question my culinary sophistication, you might want to check out these reviews from The New York Times, Southern Living and the Boston Globe. And, Zagat's rates the Food Shack as "Outstanding."

Never been? My suggestion is to skip the entrees and heavy up on the "Shackatizers." The menu changes frequently, but my faves that night included the Butter Rum Tempura Wahoo Lollipop, the Panko Fried Oysters, Bacon Wrapped Salmon Medallions and the Sweet Potato Crab Cakes. Go with friends. Buys lots of Shackatizers and share.

Funky, loud and fun...with a great view of the kitchen. And simply sensational food.

Age Means Nothing

Case in point: Last night's Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha.

The simply incredible 41 year old Dara Torres not only qualified for tonight's 100m Freestyle finals...she set a personal best time in the event.

Better than her time in the 2000 Olympics. Better than her time in the 1992 Olympics. Better than her time in the 1998 Olympics. Better than her time in 1984 Olympics.

Yeah...24 years ago.

Age Means NOTHING. Passion and Dedication is EVERYTHING.

UPDATE 7/4: Seeded third in tonight's finals, Dara takes first place and is going to the Olympics. Simply amazing.

What Does Southwest Know that United Doesn't?

A lot, apparently.

United announces that it will shut down operations in Ft. Lauderdale. The next day, Southwest announces it will increase service to Ft. Lauderdale.

Go figure.

Dot Whatever

ICANN recently approved an overriding policy that will allow hundreds (if not thousands) of TLDs.

For the uninitiated, TLDs aren't like STDs. TLD stands for Top Level Domains. Or, in another language, domain "suffixes"...like .com, .org, .net..and the troubled .travel.

Now, it appears that anybody (with cash) can register a TLD. So, according to an AP article by Anick Jesdanun, "new names could cover locations such as '.nyc' and '.berlin' or industries such as '.bank.' The hefty application fees could curb a rush for individual vanity names, though larger companies might claim brands like '.disney.'"

An interesting strategy, to be sure. But let's not forget that search and .com are the default actions for virtually every web user. And, despite its availability for a number of years, most consumers still don't automatically think to add .travel to the name of a destination to reach the website of that area's DMO.

Gas Prices Impacting Prostitution

From our friend Cole Carley (Fargo-Moorhead CVB)...gas prices are cutting into even the most basic of male urges. That's right, Nevada's Shady Ladies Ranch is experiencing slower than normal business since gas prices went intergalactic...and is now offering gas cards to increase business.

As Cole said, "they’re not going to take economic problems lying down."

Or, with gas cards....maybe they are.

The Bright Spot is One We Can't Measure

After putting on the stoic happy face this spring, more and more tourism talking heads are admitting that this year is gonna be a challenge. As noted in Travel Weekly, new indicators suggest that total travel in 2008 will be flat.

The bright spot, they say, will be an increase in Leisure Tourism this year...before tanking next year. Reading between the lines suggests that business knows there's a large pothole ahead, but American consumers are whistling past the graveyard.

So, if the opportunity this year is Leisure, how will Destination Marketers prove their effectiveness in landing it?