Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Nailed it Again

Readers of this blog know of our affection and respect for Brad Dean, one of the brightest, most driven Destination Marketing CEOs in the country, if not the world.

In the past four years, he has led the effort to quintuple his budget, donated a kidney to a complete stranger and secured, not one but, three National Presidential Debates for Myrtle Beach SC. The most recent was last night...and, as per usual, it was a huge win for a destination that has seen record successes in the past few years under Brad's leadership.

And, while a lot of rooms were sold to candidate entourages, media from around the world and hopeful attendees during an off-season month that can always use a shot in the arm, the real success came from the visuals during the broadcast and the consistent line, "Live from beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina."

And, of course, making the New York Times, Fox News and countless other sources with pictures of a massive, 525 ton Mount Rushmore-esque sand sculpture of the Republican field?

Priceless.

Brad and his stellar team rocked it again. Congratulations, my friends.

Transparency Isn't Always Best

Like, in the case of hiring a new CEO for your Destination Marketing Organization.

And, it usually happens because government demands it. The candidate pool is revealed somewhere along the line for the sake of "transparency." Usually, a few of the finalists bow out rather than have their names revealed...and the news that they are contemplating jumping ship getting back to their current employer and industry partners. Not a good thing for anyone...and why it rarely happens in most DMO hiring scenarios.

Typically, the list is kept under wraps until the final cut is made. That's not what's happening in Daytona Beach, however, as it appears they will reveal the names of between 8-10 of those who made the first cut during meetings this week that are open to the public.

Which likely means that list will be shorter...or less experienced.

If I was an unemployed DMO pro, I'd be loving Daytona Beach for doing me the favor of artificially culling the herd of talented competitors. If I was a resident of Daytona Beach, I'd be asking the City why they are jeopardizing a pool of quality candidates that could help turn their visitor economy around.

Packers Rock

The Green and Gold begin their quest for back-to-back Super Bowl titles this weekend. Last year, the coolest Packers song came from a couple of the guys from Garbage, masquerading as The Six Packers.

This year, it has to be Madison's Lucas Cates (who looks a lot like Aaron Rogers) and Danielle Robay doing Packer Rock Anthem.

Put your hands up!

Magical Mystery Tours

While lots of entrepreneurs have created "Magical Mystery Tours" of Beatles sites, wouldn't you rather experience a tour of Liverpool designed BY a Beatle?

Paul McCartney has announced that he'll do just that...design a sightseeing tour of his favorite paths through the city.

What a wonderful lead in for other destinations to capitalize on their favorite sons and daughters' haunts. It's one thing to mimic the route...and quite another to know you're on THE route.

The SoMeT Story

Faithfull readers of this blog know that I'm a big fan of SoMeT (the Social Media Tourism Symposium). And, I've been evangelizing about this event to just about anyone in the Destination Marketing industry that I meet.

An article about the event dropped on the Tuesday before Christmas on MidwestMeetings.com. Because so many of us are so distracted on the ramp up to the Holidays, I wanted to make sure you didn't miss it...as MM Editor Serenity Banks nailed why this is THE Social Media Conference of the year.

And, oh yeah...there's a picture of me in it :)

Not What They Had in Mind

Driving home from the airport last night, I wanted to check in on the progress of the National Championship Game. As I couldn't find a Madison station running the coverage, I switched to New Orleans' WWL 870.

I listened to the halftime synopsis and, as the studio announcers threw it back to the stadium, they intoned, "Now, back to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome...and the Mazda Broadcast Booth."

It was all I could do to not swerve into the ditch through my laughter.

And, it is so not what I'm guessing Mercedes expected when they signed their naming rights agreement for the stunningly rennovated Superdome...for some serious coin (and some beads).

Missed it By That Much

That was one of the famous lines from the '60s TV Spy-Spoof "Get Smart."

In my file purge over the Holidays, I came across a page I had saved from a 2001 edition of Midwest Meetings that identified what was going to be "in" and "out," according to a couple prognosticators.

On the way out in 2001? Deejays, Spa Resorts, Italian Food, Comfort Food, Single-Malt Scotch and Cigar Bars.

Missed it by that much.

Tonight It's You

As I noted last Thanksgiving, I had the chance to hang with Cheap Trick one afternoon back in the '80s (and sped around Madison's Capitol Square with Robin Zander and "Wheel" in a golf cart after the '91 Taste of Madison), so...there is a connection here. Great guys all.

They don't remember me from Adam...but I've always enjoyed them. And, mine was one of the first radio stations in the country to put their breakthrough "In Color" into power rotation.

That I haven't featured them in a Music Friday yet is a crime (especially after last summer's kick-ass performance at Rock USA)...but where to start? I could fill hours on my iPod with faves.

But...Tonight, it's You.

Enjoy....

Always Wait til it's Baked

I tell all my friends that are considering updating their brand to TELL NO ONE. And, just do it.

Telling the world invariably pins you in a corner, produces consumer and media flames and is, thus, counter-productive.

This mantra also extends to promising something that management has yet to approve.

As in the case of the Japan Tourism Agency, which announced the availability of 10,000 free flights to reignite visitation after the devastating quake/tsunami/meltdown of last year.

Except, it wasn't approved in the 2012 budget.

While they got lots of fabulous press and the fallout from the pullback will likely be less (thus, a plus in the PR world), it's still not a good idea to over promise and under deliver.

A Fundamental Conundrum

Not that sex and alcohol are requirements for a successful vacation...but, I'm pretty sure a majority of humanoids would pick destinations where these two activities would be available.

And, that's the conundrum facing Egypt. Beyond the fact that last year's revolution severely dampened international tourism, the new composition of its Parliment could shatter its already weakened Visitor Economy.

Egypt depends on Western Visitor dollars to underpin its economy. Islamists are expected to control Parliament...and some are calling for a ban on alcohol and segregating beaches by sex.

Tourism officials warn that four out of five visitors come for to Egypt for its beaches (and not for the pyramids) and such a move would be devastating.

Proponents say that there are enough Muslims in the world that would enjoy an alcohol and sex free vacation to pick up the slack.

And so it goes when politicians think they understand the Tourism Industry.