Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

After the Long Weekend...Nothing Has Changed

Last week, the Cincinnati City Council narrowly passed an $100,000 addition to its 2010 budget to bring the World Choir Games to the city in 2012. Dissenters wailed that such a subsidy sends the wrong message.

And, just what message would that be? That a city shouldn't invest $100,000 (that will be matched by $3 million in private sector sponsorship and in-kind services) to land an international event that will generate $14 million in spending on the streets of Cincinnati? That will save jobs on the edge? Not to mention expose the city to thousands of potential future residents and investors?

That it passed 5-4 is great news (way to go Mr. Lincoln). That the vote was as close as it was makes me just shake my head in wonder at how unsophisticated some elected officials can be.

Photo by Derek Jensen

The Shat is da Bomb

Taking a few days off for the Thanksgiving holiday (though, I'm sure I'll show up on other platforms from time to time)...so, I'm shifting my "Funny Friday" post to today.

Jetpacks bemoans that he was late to the party on this one, as over 500,000 people have already viewed this great video mash-up of William Shatner (aka "the Shat"). Well, I was too...but laughed my ass off when I saw it last week.

And, dig those rad shoes he's wearing as he proclaims his lust.

Have a great weekend!

Broadway in the Heartland = Tourism

While not every touring Broadway show draws visitors into a town (as if "Oklahoma" ever needed reviving), there are those like "Lion King," "Wicked" and "Moving Out" that are not only great for the home crowd to experience...but draw visitors like fruit flies to a half-consumed glass of wine.

The latest success story? Wichita's three week run of "Wicked" that was a virtual sell-out. A three-week run? A lot of those seats were obviously sold to visitors from out of town. Some restaurant and bar owners reported business up 20-30%. With visitors.

The last success story I saw was Des Moines' hosting of a four week run of "Wicked." Estimated $17 million impact. A lot of that was...yes, visitors.

Many dismiss the impact of Performing Arts Centers as a Tourism draw. But, if your center can bring Broadway home? Yeah....

International Travel to the U.S. Continues to Decline

I had the opportunity to talk with a reporter from USA Today last week regarding the US Travel Promotion Act and why it was necessary now, after decades of this country's laissez faire attitude about tourism.

One of the reasons? Gadling shares the Department of Commerce's new numbers...and they aren't good news. Again.

It's a shame that our government isn't smart enough to just write the check to create a National DMO, rather than tax inbound visitors. But, whatever way it has to be, the need for a National DMO has never been clearer.

Alcohol-Fueled Overconfidance

The trailers for the movie Ninja Assassin portray the high-flying, high-skying acrobatic moves that have become de rigueur for the genre.

And, I'm sure, will inspire kids to try the moves much like the exploits of Spiderman has caused countless kids to think they can jump off roofs.

But adults? Ummm, yeah. News out of Seattle has it that a man who thought he was a ninja impaled himself on a fence after failing to clear said obstacle.

Best line of the story: A police spokesperson said that the man was "overconfident in his abilities," and that alcohol likely played a role.

It always does.

Thanks to Rob McNealy for the catch.

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

Earlier this week, a Senate subcommittee blasted three online companies for scamming consumers into buying something they didn't want.

Isn't that what so many politicians do?

Just a thought.

That Worked Well...Now Let's Stop

The Dickinson ND CVB has been kicking butt. Visitation is way up and so, too, are room and drink tax collections. By the distribution formula currently in place, the Bureau should be getting a nice budget increase next year to produce even more magic for the Dickinson economy.

Or not. The Mayor apparently has other ideas for the money, essentially saying that visitation levels are fine where they are. That Dickinson doesn't need to promote itself at a higher level.

By this logic, a town that was successful in curbing crime wouldn't add more police through a tax especially designed to fund police in order to keep the townspeople safe. Even when everyone can see the new gang (in this case, the recession) that has just moved into town?

As I said yesterday, we don't elect politicians because they're smart.

The Cluelessness of Some

We expect our elected leaders to bail us out of incredibly complex situations. But why? Did we elect them because of their past experience in bailing us out of incredibly complex situations? No...we elected them because they made us feel good.

Same with editorial writers. Do we believe the tripe they write because they are superbly educated and experienced in the topics on which they write? Or do we believe them because they are the only voice in print and, thus, they must know what they are talking about?

Case in point, the editorial writer for the Colorado Springs Gazette, who recently supported the gutting of Experience Colorado Spring's marketing budget by writing, "we do not need a dedicated non-profit with nearly 20 employees...to do what could just as well be farmed out for bids from an assortment of private marketing firms with diversified income streams."

The writer goes on to say that the DMO has little impact on attracting people to the top three attractions in the region...because everybody already knows about them. Like that writer KNOWS that for a fact.

Hey Sparky...I'd never heard of two of your three top attractions until I arrived in Colorado Springs for a convention last month. A convention that the professionals at Experience Colorado Springs landed on your community's behalf. A three day event in which hundreds of us enjoyed your sensational downtown, ate in your restaurants, partied in your nightspots...and wouldn't have, if not for the efforts of Experience Colorado Springs.

I'm guessing that the businesses and hotels in Colorado Springs were pretty happy to see us (and take our money)...as they are with all the other conventions and events that Experience Colorado Springs brings to town.

But now may not be able to because you think their services aren't needed.

You really need to get a clue. Your town's economy depends on it.

The ROI of Business Travel

It fascinates me to no end to watch otherwise smart people do stupid things in tough times. Like cutting marketing, slashing prices and letting customer service slide...when all the research proves such tactics are a recipe for failure.

New research out last week from Oxford Economics adds another study to the pile that smart people will likely ignore: For every dollar spent on business travel, companies experience $3.60 in new profits. And, that the average company that eliminates business travel stands to forfeit 17% of its profits in the first year.

With numbers like that, I know I wouldn't be cutting back.

The Impact of Visitor Spending

My friend Tim Morrissey posted a great "shaggy dog" tale last week, taking a poke at the economics of the new administration. That it starts with the hospitality industry earns it Friday Funny status.

Enjoy...and have a great weekend.