Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Shrimp on the Barbee

As I blogged on Paul Hogan's dilemma yesterday, it occurred to me that Australia should contract with Outback Steakhouse to handle its American marketing campaign. Because, Outback knows what Australians don't.

Australians may think that the whole "shrimp on the barbee" is trite and stereotypical. But, Outback is a hit because they know the concept still works in the States.

It's not what you think...it's what the customer thinks. And many Americans still think of Paul Hogan.

Look for more Paul Hogan Advertisments for Australia?

While most Australians apparently hated how the country was portrayed in the 80's TV ads featuring Paul (Crocodile Dundee) Hogan saying that he'd "throw another shrimp on the barbee" for us, the campaign is about as iconic as they come.

These days, Hogan lives in Los Angeles...but recently returned to the land down under for the funeral of his mother. And was promptly served with an order barring him from leaving the country until he pays over $30 million in disputed back taxes.

I wonder if, since most of the campaigns since his classic have been busts, they'll let him work off his bill by starring in ads that we Americans really want to see...and would likely respond to.

Nah...I don't think so either.

But, Can I Be Barefoot and Shirtless?

OK...I don't walk into a lot of banks, preferring the drive-up option. So maybe you see these all the time.

But I 'bout died laughing when I saw this on the front door of one of mine (click image to enlarge).

Hey, guys? I get the concept...but does this mean that, since it's not posted, the "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" rule is no longer in effect?

'Cause I'm all over dat!

Not the Way to Start a New Venture

The subject of this post shall remain unnamed...as will the destination in which it resides. It really doesn't matter where it happened...and there's no need to embarrass the Destination Marketing Organization. It's not their fault. However...there is a hospitality lesson here.

On a recent visit to said community, I attempted to redeem a coupon for $25 off a meal at a hotel restaurant. Slight problem: the hotel had recently traded hands and the new owners weren't real interested in redeeming coupons they hadn't distributed. So, the (very pleasant) waitress at my table was told by management to refuse my coupon.

I was told that there was a sign next to the door announcing the new owners' decision to reject coupons from the old management company. Of course, it was so poorly designed as to attract no notice...and, as anyone who reads this blog knows, I'm always looking for stupid signs on my travels (and can't wait to share another one tomorrow on Funny Friday).

So, there I was. Trying to get a $7 breakfast for free with a $25 coupon that clearly said that this restaurant would redeem this coupon through November 2010. And the hotel GM said, "no."

Really? Really? Because it's not like you're the best hotel in town. And, for this childish $7 game, you're gonna risk my future business for....ummm, ever?

Unless there are, like, thousands of these coupons in circulation...this is not a smart move. Not smart at all.

Because the consumer doesn't care who owns the hotel. They only know that you said "no."

OK...Maybe Not

Earlier this week, Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett announced his plan to reinvigorate the State's Tourism Industry. Increasing the budget, redirecting hospitality taxes to Destination Marketing and a couple registration-free weekends for outdoor enthusiasts made up his 3-point plan.

We commented that he was being a little vague...but that, at least, it was a start in including one of the State's largest industries and employers in the political discourse. We were concerned that he didn't exactly have a plan for increasing the budget and that there isn't exactly a "hospitality tax" to redirect. So, we weren't real sure where the money was coming from...but it sounded good.

Barrett talked with the Wisconsin Radio Network yesterday...and his plan became clearer. And murkier. Seems that he intends to reinvest all the spending that will accrue from the visitors taking advantage of the free-fee weekends back into the Department of Tourism. Except, ummm, that revenue would be sensationally difficult to identify and track. And, even if you could track it, what happens if the chosen weekends are plagued with storms?

Pinning the future of the State's Tourism Industry on the weather seems a little half-baked.

But, it's not his fault. It's ours. We clearly haven't had meaningful discussions with the candidate to help him craft a workable plan for Wisconsin Tourism.

Or, maybe we did...and his people weren't listening.

Sounds Good on the Surface

Is this the year that Tourism becomes a campaign topic across America?

It's happening in Georgia and Connecticut. And, now, in Wisconsin...as Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Tom Barrett has announced his plan to jump start the State's tourism industry.

In yesterday's news release, Barrett pledged to "revitalize" Wisconsin's Tourism Industry...but stopped short of saying exactly how (except supporting a couple registration and fee-free weekends a year to encourage out-of-state outdoor enthusiasts to visit).

He intends to partner with industry leaders to "jointly find the resources" to create a competitive marketing campaign. And, he wants to "recommit" hospitality tax revenue to its "intended purpose"...except Wisconsin doesn't have a hospitality tax. There is the locally imposed Room Tax on hotels and the State rental car tax...but that's about it.

If he does mean the Room Tax, he'll have Destination Marketing Organizations across the State solidly in his corner...and the League of Municipalities going through its storeroom looking for its bazooka. They really don't like it when people mess with their members' ability to tax.

It shall be interesting to see how Barrett's opponents respond.

The Chateau Lamothe

I don't know what it is about the suburbs surrounding Minneapolis-St. Paul...but I keep finding the most interesting restaurants. In a land that one might think would be saturated with Applebee's, Chili's and the rest of the blandness of suburban American Chains, there is an amazing selection of independents doing cool stuff.

This past week it was the Chateau Lamothe in Burnsville...a quaint, warm and rustic wine bar with an eclectic menu overseen by Doris LaMott Hoel. As is my habit, I went for two small plates to mix up the experience and was simply blown away by her shrimp, coated in crushed won tons, baked to a crisp and served with sweet and spicy chili sauce. A close second was her Jambalaya with garlic marinated chicken, andouille sausage and shrimp with diced onions and red and yellow peppers in a Cajun red sauce, served over rice.

And, while the food was simply superb, chatting with Dave Hoel at the bar was a treat...as was Doris emerging from the kitchen saying, "this is for Bill." It doesn't get much better than that. And, you should go.

Silly Signage

I think that, by now, most of us know that, in the case of a fire, one should use the stairs...and not the elevator. But, hey...I'm OK with the reminders that are de rigueur next to most elevators across the land.

Except for this one...because, ummm, it was on the first floor.

As if I'm gonna rush into a burning building and use the elevator to get closer to the flames?

Am I missing something here?

Too Good to be True

Yesterday, we riffed on how cool it was that the first face-to-face debate in the Georgia Governor's race was to be about Tourism. But, according to media reports, one of the candidates balked at the last minute, saying he thought it was supposed to be a "discussion"...and not a "debate."

According to the Savannah Morning News, while Democratic candidate Roy Barnes was on point throughout whatever the event was, Nathan Deal was non-committal and resorted to non sequitur answers to specific questions. Afterward, he claimed the two camps had agreed not to debate until October...otherwise, everybody would be asking them to (like, that would be a bad thing?). Oddly, Deal's own website says that he's debating in Columbus on August 26th. Whatever.

I'm sure there are really important, strategic, super-double-dog-secret reasons why Deal balked...but it only makes him look evasive and non-supportive to the state's 240,000 hospitality workers. And, one would think he'd want some of those votes in November.

But, that's just me...

He does, however, have cool swag for sale in his online store.

Again, whatever...

Here's Something You Don't Often See

Candidate debates are fairly common. Candidates debating the future of Tourism is not.

And yet, that's exactly what is happening this morning as the two candidates for governor of Georgia are squaring off in Savannah.

But, what's even more unusual is that it's their first debate.

Here's to the day that it won't be unusual.