Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Moline Renaissance

I had the opportunity to work with the Quad Cities CVB earlier this year and got to know the cities of Moline, Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island...and the other communities that make up the destination.

These communities are all reinventing themselves...and the renaissance is exciting to watch. In the recent e-mail newsletter from Revitalization Online, the Moline approach to recreating itself is described...a process that has resulted in an amazing $250 million of private sector reinvestment in the city.

The inspiring story (and unique approach) are worth a read HERE.

Don't Let the Sign Department Create the Signs

Seen on I-494, approaching MSP (the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport).

And, I'm supposed to know which terminal I want....exactly....HOW?

I've been to some confusing airports before...but this one is simply beyond me.

And don't say it's because I'm not from there. I asked a friend if locals knew the difference...and she said, "no, I end up at the wrong one all the time."

Besides, signage is never for locals. It's for the visitor. And, er, the visitor doesn't understand.

The CD Turns 25

With surprisingly little fanfare, the Compact Disc turned 25 yesterday. And the idea that consumers could burn their own? What a laugh that would have elicited in the early days when DJs would introduce the next track like this:

"That was "Against the Wind" by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band...and, off compact disc, here's the latest from Howard Jones."

For those too young to remember, jocks in that era actually highlighted the music that was played from CDs as something cool, mystical and definitely different.

And now, one wonders if the CD (at least for music) will make it to 30.

The Nagging Trouble with UGC

While I merely chuckled when an Egyptian official said that academics should be the only ones to select the new 7 Wonders of the World, there are moments when the uprising of User Generated Content can (and should) result in concern.

In a story from the BBC (and captured by the Travolution Blog), a new online tool called Wikipedia Scanner can search the over 5 million edits to Wikipedia pages and ID the editors.

"The site also indicates that a computer owned by the US Democratic Party was used to make changes to the site of right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh. The changes brand Mr Limbaugh as "idiotic," a "racist", and a "bigot". An entry about his audience now reads: "Most of them are legally retarded."

Beyond the DNC, the story claims that the CIA has edited the page on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Vatican has edited the page of the Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams.

And, while I am SURE that all of these editors have vitally important, insider information that we all should know...it sadly threatens the basis of the User Generated Knowledge Base.

The Rise of the Limo Lushes

Lance Silver of California's Tobin James Cellars estimates than 10% of the visitors to his Tasting Room are "Limo Lushes."

"They're loud and disturbing because they've been to five wineries already. And they're drunk. And they try to steal a few things because they think it's funny."

Which isn't...and has caused some wineries (but not his)  to begin charging for tastings...and banning Motorcoaches and Limos.

The full story from Reuters and The Tourism Exchange is here.

Fascinating how the mind of the consumer works sometimes. Or doesn't.

Are We Getting a Little Ahead of Ourselves?

Virgin Galactic has yet to schedule its first launch...but a Barcelona-based architect has just unveiled plans for the first Space Hotel, due to open for business in 2012.

Price tag: $4 million for a 3-night stay. Of course, when the sun rises and sets on the hotel 15 times a day, that kind of calls into question just how long a night is, don'tcha think?

Biggest challenge: Bathrooms in Zero Gravity, according to the director of the company.

Biggest upside: Being able to claim membership in the 280-Mile High Club.

SUX to be SUX

Terri forwarded my flight options to the Upper Midwest CVB Conference in South Sioux City NE yesterday...and saw that the Airport Code for Sioux City is, yep, SUX.

Apparently, folks in the region have been trying to get the FAA to change the designation for over twenty years...but to no avail.

But, rather than trying to change the designation (as New Mexico did with US 666), some enterprising company is selling a clothing line featuring the SUX identifier. Smart.

As McCartney sang, "take a sad song and make it better."

The Highway to Hell

A few years ago, the State of New Mexico changed US 666 to US 491. The reasons were cited in the resolution that ended over 70 years of the Devil's Highway:

WHEREAS, people living near the road already live under the cloud of opprobrium created by having a road that many believe is cursed running near their homes and through their homeland; and

WHEREAS, the number "666" carries the stigma of being the mark of the beast, the mark of the devil, which was described in the book of revelations in the Bible; and

HEREAS, there are people who refuse to travel the road, not because of the issue of safety, but because of the fear that the devil controls events along United States route 666; and

WHEREAS, the economy in the area is greatly depressed when compared with many parts of the United States, and the infamy brought by the inopportune naming of the road will only make development in the area more difficult.

I dunno...with 666, the highway was at least known for something. Now it's known for nothing. And I'm guessing that the "I Survived the Highway to Hell" t-shirt and mug concession has pretty much dried up (if there ever was one), as have the people stopping to snap pictures.

But there's still hope, as there are three State Highways that bear the mark of the beast. And here's hoping that my friends in the DMOs that boast these beauties in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania monetize the opportunity.

Just a thought...

No Sex Please, We're Canadian Boomers

Now this is just sad.

New research from Pfizer (yes, the makers of Viagra), indicates that only 43% of Canadian Boomers have sex on vacation. In a CanWest story by Shannon Proudfoot (any relation to Rod?) and featured on The Tourism Exchange, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is highlighted as offering a variety of amenities to help fan the flames for boring visitors. Apparently, "chocolate-dipped strawberries, chilled champagne and late checkout times are popular, while the Fairmont Chicago provides personal Kama Sutra products with bed turndown."

But the most popular amenity: high-speed Internet access.

Like I said. Sad.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

Signage is crucial to a destination. And sometimes, it makes your day...

Check out these 20 amusing signs from around the world, courtesy of Travellerspoint.