Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Power of Viral

When I picked up on this music video rant about United Airlines Tuesday morning from Chris Elliott on Twitter, it had been viewed on YouTube 320 times. Last night it was at 218,000.

The backstory: Last spring, the Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and Dave Carroll's Taylor $3500 guitar was severely damaged. United didn't deny the experience occurred but, for nine months, the airline refused to accept responsibility and finally said they would do nothing to compensate him for his loss. So he promised the last person to finally say "no" that he would write and produce three songs about his experience and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world.

This is the first song. Word on the street is that United is, all of a sudden, interested in talking with Dave.

But, for over 200,000 of their potential customers...it's too late. United Breaks Guitars.

UPDATE: 10 hours after this post, the video was at 470,000 views :)

See Ya On the Other Side

While the drumbeat isn't as incessant as Y2K, the next end of the world marker is upon us:

04:05:06:07:08:09

That would be 6 seconds past 5 minutes past 4:00am...ummm, today. Of course, you could also look at it as 4:56 (4:56 7/8/9). Or 12:34:56 7/8/9. No telling whether that's am or pm.

And no one is saying what Time Zone that may be...but, so far, I'm thinking we're OK. 'Cause this is a fairly selfish way for us to view such a once in a lifetime event. You see, outside of North America, everybody else flips the month and date when using numerals to express the calendar. So, 7/8/09 is really the 7th of August for most that live on terra firma.

So, unless whoever is behind the coming numerically inspired armageddon is American...we have another month to party our asses off. And then wake up on the 8th, cock our head knowingly and say, "Yeah...I knew it wasn't really gonna happen."

Small Town

As John Mellencamp said:

Educated in a small town
Taught to fear Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic, that's me

Yeah, that's me. Raised in a small town and now living in a much bigger town. Like a lot of us.

But there are times when I find myself back in a small town and there is that tinge, that "oh, shit, I'm home" feeling that I had when I returned to my hometown a few weeks ago, swung by the old haunts and caught up with an old friend over a couple drinks too many.

I had that feeling in the early days of this blog as I watched a small town Halloween celebration in Punxsutawney PA. I had that feeling when I walked the streets of Grand Marais MN earlier this year.

And a Twitterer that I saw there (but never met...long story) just tweeted a link to his 1:17 condensation of the 6 minute 4th of July parade there.

There is just something so perfect about a 6 minute parade in a small town.

And I think I wish I had been there...

It's Bad All Over...except Africa

The World Tourism Organization has just released statistics showing tourism worldwide dropped 8% during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. It goes on to predict the decline will slow during the rest of the year and end up with a 4 to 6% loss. Hardest hit so far: Europe at a 10% decline.

The bright spot is apparently Africa, which turned in a 3% gain, driven by a resurgent Kenya and strength in the Mediterranean region. Go figure.

Linking Illegal?

It could be if an Illinois judge has his way, according to an article in the Guardian (and thanks to our buddy Meilee Anderson from Seattle Southside for the catch).

Influential Chicago Appeals Judge Richard Posner is concerned that newspapers are a dying breed. So are we. We think they are because they haven't embraced the internet correctly and report nothing but terrifying economic news, in the attempt to snare readers. Except, when they scare the shit out of their readers, their readers stop buying products. When readers stop buying, businesses don't have revenue with which to buy newspaper advertising.

Is it any wonder that newspapers have been complicit in their own demise?

But Posner thinks that it is the bloggers and twitterers linking to newspapers' online content are the culprits. But don't they deliver even more eyes to the online editions of these newspapers through their links? Eyes that wouldn't have, any other way, been there? Shouldn't bloggers and twitterers be thanked (even compensated) for their referrals?

Instead Posner suggests that copywrite laws be expanded to prohibit linking without permission (permission that would ostensibly carry a modest cost). In her e to me, Meilee brought up a very salient point. What happens to DMOs that rely on the ability to link to our partners to promote our destinations? While I doubt that permission wouldn't be granted by most...the time and paperwork that would be required would be astounding.

As is the case in so many areas these days, the attempt to save something seems to screw up the world for everyone else. Here's hoping the web stays free.

Ohio's Perilous Path

It's as if none of Ohio's political leaders has read the landmark Longwoods International study of what happens when you shut down a State Tourism Department. Or, they don't believe it.

Because, when Colorado went down that road in the early 90s, it cost the State hundreds of millions of dollars in forfeited tax revenue and thousands of jobs.

But that's the same path the political leadership in Ohio has charted with a budget proposal that would slash the Tourism Budget by 90% in FY10 and eliminate all funding by FY11.

Once again, for those that are hard of hearing. Tourism promotion is not an expense...it is a revenue generator. You want more tax dollars? Promote your Destination to people that will spend money with you.

As Ken McGill (EVP of IHS Global Insight) said earlier this year: "Cutting public tourism promotion in the name of reducing a budget deficit is a risky proposition, at best. It would take a surprisingly small loss in visitation to entirely negate any budget savings."

I think I've come to the conclusion that we need to be governed by professionals...not just people who speak well and look good on TV. 'Cause they clearly don't know what they're doing.

And, in the end, it's we that pay the price for their ineptitude.

The Impact of a Million iPhones

The new iPhones feature the ability to record, edit and post video to YouTube. A million were sold during their first week of availability. Video uploads from mobile devices jumped 1700% that week.

Coincidence? Not.

Those DMOs that were on the bleeding edge of trying to get visitors to post videos on their sites that didn't get much traction? It might be time to reconsider.

A Game Changer for DMOs

No doubt about it. Google has developed a game changer with its new City Tours app. And, as Travel 2.0's Troy quipped, "yeah...they beat you to it."

Enter a city in the search box and you are rewarded with a mapped out itinerary for a day or more of your visit. Naturally, bigger destinations have more robust choices...and Google still has some work to do to make the walking tours customizable and logical. But, I have no doubt that they will...and quickly.

Last Thursday one of their itineraries included a walk across my city's largest lake. By Friday, it had been corrected.

Once again, the question of DMO relevance is being posed. Will we be the trusted source of information and recommendations...or merely content providers to private sector companies that are figuring out how to monetize destination marketing?

The Always Feared Burglar Hold-Up Alarm

I have no idea why I found this funny enough to snap on my last visit to Springfield MA...but I did.

Found on the door post of the downtown Student Prince Cafe...it's not just a Burglar Alarm. It's a Burglar Hold-Up Alarm.

I know, I know...I'm easily amused.

SiriusXM: Fail

I have Sirius in my house and XM in my car. That they are one and the same doesn't seem to matter much. I still get screwed with their pricing.

This week, they are both breathlessly bragging about their new app that will let me listen to SiriusXM on my iPhone. It's FREE, they scream.

Except...err, it's not. The app is...but the service is an additional $3 a month.

I know that's not a lot of money in the big scheme of things. But, when you have as awesome of an iTunes collection as I do? Ummm...no. I'll stick with the music that I have selected...not you guys.

Nice try at attaining solvency through airline-like nickle and diming, tho.

FileMaker Trial: Fail

OK, I'm not a software developer...and I have never played one on TV. I don't know the first thing about running a software company...but I do know something about customer service.

We've been using Now Contact as our database management system since starting Zeitgeist in 1995. In the '90s, it was pretty rad. However, it has grown very long in the tooth over the past few years, and Now Contact customers have eagerly awaited the seemingly vaporware successor known only by its code name: Nighthawk.

The Beta finally arrived (two years late) and, at least from our standpoint, is stunningly incomplete and frustratingly inelegant. So...time to suck it up and change platforms. And we looked at a bunch of options...finally settling on FileMaker Pro.

Now, I developed the first Convention Sales database in Filemaker when I headed the Greater Madison CVB in 1990...so I know it's capability. But, does it have the elegance I demand today? So I download the 30-day Trial in March...then got slammed with a gazillion projects all at once. Needless to say, no trial occurred.

So, here I am, months later, with a couple weeks that aren't slammin...and I'm ready to check it out again. But, FileMaker Pro Trial places code in my computer that prevents me from restarting the trial after 30 days. I e them for a workaround on Sunday...no response. I call yesterday and am confronted with a very un-engaged member of the team. "Nothing I can do," he says...except send you the last version of the software.

I don't want the last version. I tried the last version as my frustration grew with Now Contact...and I wasn't completely sold. I want to see what you guys have done to change my mind in version 10. Besides...the online tutorials in the V9 download no longer work. Like THAT's gonna help me sign a big check.

But, no. FileMaker is apparently willing to forgo over $1000 of my money (and their affiliates hundreds more) because they're convinced I'm trying to use their software to run my business for 60 days for free. Clearly, that's stoopid. But, I'm not buying their product if I can't test drive it.

As they say in the Twitterverse: FAIL.

I'm Full as Hell...and I'm Not Gonna Take It Anymore

You know how, every once in a while, you just start noticing a trend? Something you just never saw before and, all of a sudden, you see it all the time?

We’ve all heard the admonishment in pre-flight announcements that, in the issue of air flight safety, the lav in First Class is reserved for First Class passengers. And, with very few exceptions, the passengers back in steerage have followed this edict.

But in the past few weeks, at least on the flights I’ve been on, it’s been a non-stop pilgrimage from the cheap seats to the ‘spensive loo.

Do they think the First Class lav has better hand soap? Toilet Paper? Seat Warmers?

Have they, en mass, realized that it is their duty to even out the shit load on the plane so that it doesn’t become dangerously tail heavy?

Or, has the air travel consumer just decided that they’re not gonna follow the rules any more?

Guess it’s time to start using those imposing “No Access” curtains again.

Bless Her Heart

You know how people in the south temper their criticism by adding the line, “bless their heart” (e.g. “That’s the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen, bless it’s heart”)?

Former Connecticut State Tourism Director Ed Dombroskas did something similar last week as he criticized Governor Jodi Rell’s proposed torching of the State’s Tourism Budget:

"Let's give her the benefit of the doubt that she doesn't understand the full equation of tourism economics.”

Too funny...but, sadly, too true.

Kool Beanz

During my last two visits to Tallahassee, I've driven by Kool Beanz Cafe a few times. Figured it must be a coffeeshop. And, since that is one of the addictions I don't have, never gave it another thought.

Good thing my friend Lee Daniel suggested we try it for dinner a couple weeks ago. Lee is having the time of his life sampling restaurants, nightspots and attractions that are all new to him as he settles into his new position as CEO of the Leon County TDC. He'd heard good things about Kool Beanz...so we went.

And were blown away with one of the more eclectic menus either of us have ever seen. So diverse, in fact, we opted to eschew the entrees and focused our attention on the appetizers. Among the favorites you should try when you go (though, we were told, the menu changes daily): Cornmeal fried oysters with cheddar cheese grits and remoulade sauce, Panko breaded calamari with ancho chile-mango catsup and the Mideast spiced lamp patties.

When I go back (and I know I will), I'm hoping the Bayou Gator is on the menu...

Carving Up the Country

With all this talk about states seceding from the Union, the always chuckle-provoking Where's My Jetpack has developed a possible scenario for such a re-districting.

At least, as the folks in New York City and Los Angeles would design it....

A Third Party Endorsent of Meetings

A number of bloggers, twitterers and friends have hipped me to this great Ben Stein defense of the Meeting Industry.

If you haven't seen it, here it is.

South Dakota Reverses Visitor Center Decision

South Dakota's DOT has reversed its recent decision to ban welcome events at its Welcome Centers.

Originally intended to decrease excessive traffic at its Welcome Centers, the DOT reportedly got a lot of heat for its position and is bending to public pressure to continue to allow groups (like the CVB) welcome groups to the State.

Ahhh, the power of this blog.

Maybe. :)

The e-mail vs. Social Media Smackdown

There really isn't one. While video may have killed the radio star, Twitter and Facebook have not killed e-mail as an effective communication tool.

Great post from Jason Baer in which he reveals the highly unscientific (but insanely interesting) finds of a recent Twitter-based survey: “Which do you check first in the morning: Twitter, email, voicemail?”

76% check e-mail first. A stat even more interesting because the question was only posed to Twitter afficionadoes.

And more interesting still...less than 5% checked Voicemail first.

While it's not as immediate, e still rocks...and it's not a question of one or the other. It's how to manage them all.

The ROI of the TPA

The Travel Promotion Act, currently being debated in the U.S. Senate, would have a $425 million deficit reduction impact over the next ten years.

That according to the Congressional Budget Office. The US Travel Association thinks the impact will be even bigger: $321 million per year in new federal taxes.

Will they listen? Will they think? Will they join the rest of the world that understands that tourism promotion is economic development?

300+

Our friend Martin Stoll has released his May analysis of Destination Marketing Organizations that maintain (in varying states of effectiveness) Twitter accounts. Over 300 North American DMOs are using the service with over 70 boasting over 1000 followers.

Martin is quick to note something that we've feared from the start...that those without a clear strategy and an understanding of what social media means to the target consumer may well be screwing it up for all of us.

Just as spammers screwed up e-mail. As business is screwing up MySpace and Facebook. And will probably do the same to Twitter.

Unless we all get much smarter about how we are using them all.