Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Can You Say "Schizophrenia?"

It's been am interesting month so far for this nation's leaders as they take their first meaningful steps to develop a Tourism Strategy for America.

This good news, of course, is that the Commerce Department unveiled its strategy for reaching 100 million international visitors by 2021 last Thursday. And, for the most part, reviews have been favorable.

At the same time, however, the President used a mallet to address a problem with which the government had already dealt...namely, the GSA mess. Instead of moving on, the the Obama administration has placed new restrictions on federal travel and meetings. A 30% reduction from 2010 levels has been ordered to be the law of the land through 2016.

Then there was the good news that the U.S. Travel Association's Geoff Freeman has been named Chair of the Passenger Advocacy Subcommittee of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee at the Transportation Security Administration. A shorter way of saying that is what Geoff said in a prepared statement: "Travelers deserve to have a voice in Washington when it comes to the aviation screening process and entry procedures." True Dat.

At the same time, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (the what?) announced that demand for gasoline this summer will be at an 11 year low. At the same time, MMGY Global and U.S. Travel revealed that intent to travel this summer is up significantly over last year.

What's it all mean? America has a tourism strategy (at least until the Republican House takes another whack at it). Cutting federal meetings and travel is a typically hamhanded response to a media-inflamed issue. Summer travel will be up but we'll drive shorter distances.

And, there is finally a glimmer of hope that TSA might become more customer focused.

OK...not really. But, we're excited that Geoff will shake a few cages in the process.

The Ripple Effect

I recently had the opportunity to hang with a community leader that had a hand in luring a low-price airline to his destination, significantly reducing the cost of air travel there, as the previously unchallenged carriers responded by slashing their ubber-high fares.

A good thing for locals, yes? But...just how good?

Turns out that we're talking tens of millions of dollars of savings to locals in the airfares they were initially paying. Which, it would follow, would free up tens of millions into the local economy.

Exactly...and a major retailer that has the database driven capability to connect periodic influxes of cash into the local economy (e.g., IRS refunds and Holiday Bonuses) with increases in local purchases shared said data with this person during a conversation shortly after the low-cost carrier began service.

Sho'nuff...there was a direct correlation. As soon as the low-price carrier came on line, the retailer saw an uptick in local per-customer spending.

The data to prove the impact that travel has is out there, my friends (often in the strangest places). We just need to harvest it.

A Golden Opportunity

While there are those in the Hospitality space that are insanely innovative, most of us follow each other around. How else to explain the sad state of air travel in this country?

So, when the Wall Street Journal publishes a story about how some of the best hotels in the country are focusing on the first 15 minutes of interaction with their guests, you can bet other hoteliers are sitting up and taking notice. Thus, if you are a Destination Marketing pro, this could be a golden opportunity, as smart hotels step up their employee training programs.

Connect with them now and encourage them to include you in the training program to help their employees understand the informational resources you provide. A smile, correct posture and a cookie are all well and fine...but guests will really brighten when they hear suggestions for great restaurants, nightspots and cultural opportunities nearby.

If your hotel partners are training...make sure that training includes the most important things.

And, that ain't a cookie.

 

Farewell to the Cookie

It's been two years to the month that Republic Airways acquired Midwest Airlines...but swore they'd keep serving the Milwaukee-based carrier's iconic chocolate chip cookie.

Which, as we opined then, was just plain dumb.

Late last month, they announced that, as soon as their current supply runs out, the cookie is history. In its place...Animal Crackers and Goldfish.

Which is fine, really. Frontier never should have kept the cookie in the first place. It was never part of their brand...and never would be.

But, it is the end of an era. One that had its genesis when Midwest's Marketing Director Jay Sorenson was fooling around in the gally on an empty charter flight on its way to pick up the Indiana Pacers. It's a pretty cool story...and worth a read.

Farewell to the Cookie...and what it represented. As Jay said, "it was a grand airline."

Hey...at least it Keeps the Unemployment Rate Down

Really, the people that our government employs...

The New York Times nails it in a recent article on the hoops through we force international visitors to jump. Honestly...there is somebody that is gainfully employed within the bowels of our government that has decided that we must ask the following questions of international visitors.

Before being admited to this country, visitors are asked whether they are guilty of “moral turpitude." That would include lying, adultry and homosexuality. With the lying part thrown in, I'm guessing that covers just about everyone.

Visitors are also asked whether they're planning any “immoral activities.” Immoral as defined by exactly who is undetermined...but I'm guessing anyone lured by the "What Happens Here Stays Here" ads would struggle with answering this one truthfully.

Oh yeah...they also ask if you're a terrorist or a spy.

While these questions might trip up the more intellectually challenged...what does it say to everyone else?

I mean...after they stop laughing.

And questioning why they wanted to come here in the first place.

Thanks to my friend Meilee Anderson for the catch.

 

Why I Love Wisconsin

There are so many reasons. The summers spent here with my family during my youth. The sensational beauty between Memorial Day and Halloween. Touring the twisty turny roads through the countryside with the top down. The way this state parties like no other.

And bars that serve drinks in canning jars.

Hell, yeah.

And What About the Rest of Us?

This week, the TSA will no longer require those over 74 years of age to remove their shoes and jackets at a number of airport security check-points. Last year, they made a similar call for kids under 13.

Because no one under 13 or over 74 has ever tried to bring down a commercial airliner?

Last time I checked, no one over 40 has ever tried. So why 75? Why not 70? 65? 60?

And why tell the world? If you want to give old folks a day pass, just do it.

I'm Confused

OK...but where am I supposed to, err, you know?

How Considerate

Who knew that the TSA actually cared about all the St. Patrick's Day food and presents we'll all be transporting this weekend?

Seen last week in the security check-in line at DAY (click image to enlarge).

Just a Little Backasswards?

Amazing that it has taken this long...but, apparently, these mailing kiosks are starting to pop up in airports around the country.

Designed to allow travelers that screw up and wander into TSA-land with shit that is verbotten on planes to mail it back to themselves rather than give it up, this is a very cool idea.

Except, the airport in which I saw my first one? It was placed AFTER the TSA check-point.

Ummm, once you get past these guys, you got nothing to mail. Wouldn't it be better to locate these kiosks before people get strip searched?

Just a thought.