Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Do It for Someone You Love

Or, at least, someone with whom you partner.

Great point made yesterday at the Southeast Tourism Society's annual Marketing College by research guru Larry Gustke that there are three main reasons to do attraction research. There are, of course, accountability and ROI.

But his third was one that I hadn't considered...that being the ability to provide a service to our attraction partners. Especially in these trying economic times, there is a very real possibility that they have suspended their research. Some may have never even considered research, blindly relying on gut feel in providing experience to a travel consumer they think they know.

Partnering with our attractions to perform research that benefits us all...that's increased intelligence. And, it's that DMO relevance thing again, too.

A Response to Federal Blacklisting

As we noted in Friday's edition of the Z-News, the Wall Street Journal has confirmed what the Administration had denied...Federal agencies are blacklisting resort destinations for future meetings and conventions.

That same day (no doubt due to our post), Florida Senator Bill Nelson filed two bills that would prevent the government from such discriminatory practices.

Since so many of our governmental leaders are taking such delight in employing class warfare tactics to further their own political interests, it should be fun to watch the debate on this one.

4.7 Back in Ohio

That sigh of guarded relief you hear?

It's the Tourism industry in Ohio. The Governor's proposed budget would have cut the Tourism budget from the $8 million range to $400,000 in FY10 and to $0 in FY11.

The budget just passed restores $4.7 million in funding, bringing the Tourism line this coming year to $5.1 million. But, still nothing for FY11.

Hopefully this gives the lawmakers in Ohio who haven't been struck with a terminal case of cluelessness time to review the incredible results coming in from Michigan, which this year dramatically increased its Tourism budget, and change their mind.

Or, it gives the industry less than a year to create a sensationally innovative Plan B.

You'll pardon me if I'm guessing it'll be Plan B.

Saving on Signs

I'm all for standardization in signage across a national hotel chain. Makes for better brand adoption and saves money.

Except, when the sign doesn't make any sense in the hotel in which it is installed. Like this one.

'Cause, ummm, there were only two floors in this hotel.

Thanks for the laugh, though.

Advertise to Increase Sales? What a Concept.

Recent examples of governments madly slashing destination marketing budgets in order to balance their own budget agendas would be laughable if not so boneheadedly backwards (and ultimately hurtful to the constituents that so blindly elected them because they sounded or looked good on TV).

But, of course there are success stories out there. Michigan's inspired $30 million campaign with those sensational Tim Allen spots that are powering big tourism spending there this summer. And, now comes word from Myrtle Beach that a new one penny sales tax that is invested in its DMO has resulted in a spike for requests for information and a dramatic increase in occupancy from earlier in the season.

But most politicians ignore these indicators. 'Cause they believe they have a better solution.

When, of course, they don't.

Not. Even. Close.

The iPod: 1979

I'm sure that you, like me, have had a really cool idea (or three) in your life that you simply never pursued due to lack of time or funding (or both). And, then, a couple years later, there it was...on the shelf in a store. D'oh.

Imagine how Kane Kramer feels today. He got a patent for a digital music player he called the IXI...before there was even such a thing as digital music. Yet, in 1979 (in the era of cassette tape and vinyl...way before CDs), he designed something that looks suspiciously like today's iPod. He let the patent lapse in 1988 when he was unable to secure enough venture capital to proceed with his idea.

Simply amazing. And a lesson to never give up on a dream.

Thanks to Twitter friend Rob McNealy for the catch.

The Hubris of Size

If you've ever been by an Apple store (especially in a mall) you're probably amazed at the sheer number of consumers milling about, trying out the most elegant of today's technology. The Apple Store has become one of the most amazing of all retail (and branding) success stories.

Word out of the Evil Empire has it that it plans to begin opening Microsoft retail stores in close proximity to Apple Stores.

I'll wait while you scratch your head furiously.

I know this strategy works well for fast food...but that's because the product is so interchangeable. Fast food is a commodity for all but the most fanatic.

Apple products vs. Microsoft products? Ummm...not so much.

The concept of Microsoft stores makes a lot of sense, if they execute the strategy correctly. But putting them next to Apple stores? Sounds like a recipe for humiliation.

A Slight Branding Problem

Brand Identity Standards are pretty important. I mean, if you go to all that trouble and expense to develop an identity, wouldn't you want the guys in the sign department to, ummm, you know, go along with the program?

Click image to enlarge...and chuckle.

Meet...but Don't Dance

They're at it again...but, at least this time they're chastising their own.

Just as the demonization of meetings drumbeat appeared to be slowing, leading members of two House and Ways Committee panels wrote a letter last week to Social Security Administration Commissioner Michael Astrue, asking why SSA recently held a retreat at the Arizona Biltmore for 675 managers.

Uhhh, probably for the same reason members of Congress meet...to decide what to screw up next.

I'm sure it's the envy factor that government workers get to stay at the Biltmore that has made some go apoplectic. But, let's remember, people, that July and August are value days in Arizona. Many meeting planners on a budget look to the south in the summer for killer rates.

But the real problem seems to have stemmed from the TV coverage. It certainly seems that some of the news operations in Phoenix have stopped drinking the Kool-Aid and now see the hypocrisy of the government flaming corporations for meetings when the government does the very same thing. What may have really set members of the panels off was that the ABC affiliate aired video of attendees dancing at one of the evening functions.

Just a word to the wise. Meet...but, for God's sake, don't dance!

The Hubris of Claiming First

It's a fairly common trait of humans to want to be biggest, best, fastest...first. It's that whole Hierarchy of Needs thing, I guess.

But, when your claim is so out in left field that you're in a completely other ballpark?

In a recent news release, the Maastricht Convention Bureau announced they are now utilizing Twitter and Facebook. They also claim that, "worldwide this is the first site of a convention bureau effectively making use of web 2.0 and social media marketing techniques."

Errr...not quite.

In my friend Martin Stoll's latest ranking of DMOs utilizing Twitter, he's tracking over 350 DMOs maintaining accounts. DMAI recently announced that roughly 150 of their DMO members have Facebook accounts. I'm fairly certain at least a few maintain both...and have for months.

Or maybe I'm reading the quote wrong. Maybe the MCB is claiming that they are the first DMO in the world to do it right.

Don't know if they're playing on attending the DMAI Annual Convention...but, if they do, I'm thinking there''ll be a throwdown.

Thanks to my friend Sharon Linton of the Meydenbauer Center for the catch.