Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

You'd Think the Phone Companies Might Be Concerned

I've often considered where a company's responsibility lies when a product it sells and services is used improperably. Of course, it's fairly easy when bodily injury results. Government steps in and makes the company fix the defect or stop producing the product.

But, when the government fails to step in and stop (and, instead, encourages) the wrongful use of a product...what then? And, what if that wrongful use actually threatens the company's future profitability on one of it's legacy product lines? What if Congress actually causes the company's former flagship product to fail?

Outside of very lonely people, nobody likes to be robo-called. And, my friend Debbie Monterrey posted this telling line on her Facebook page yesterday:

"I am so close to canceling our landline. It rings all day with robo-telemarketing calls that I can't make stop!!"

Phone companies and candidates alike should know that the future viability of both enterprises is tied to stopping this kind of rampant abuse.

But, I doubt Congress will let them.

Stop the QR Insanity

QR codes rock for connecting consumer to product or service...with a meaningful offer or interaction.

But, as the old adage goes, when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail...and QR codes are just not appropriate in e-mail, on interstate billboards and...ummm, ad boards placed on an airport people mover.

Like this one (click image to enlarge). By the time someone sees it, fumbles for their mobile device, finds the scan app...well, they're in the next concourse.

Don't just do because all the cool kids are.

THINK, people.

Two Good Guys Gone

Last Friday sucked.

The events of last Friday hurt even more in the cold, hard light of Saturday morning. Our industry lost two Destination Marketing pros from the same state within 24 hours. One name was "household" in our industry, the other, not so much. Regardless, losing either one sucks. Losing them both sucks more.

Destination Marketing was in Orlando's Gary Sain's blood, as his Dad set the stage for Las Vegas becoming the iconic destination it is today. And, yet, it wan't his pedigree that earned him the top spot with the DMO with second largest budget in country. Instead it was that he had sensational marketing chops...and, he was a truly good guy.

OK, I may be biased on that one...'cause I still think good guys should win. Especially in a world that seems to honor cut-throat, ethically challenged narcissists. But, yeah...Gary was one of the good guys. And, he will be sorely missed. The world is a less cool place today, with his passing.

I was contemplating Florida Tourism's other loss when the news of Gary's passing arrived. Emerald Coast CVB CEO Mark Bellinger may have done a lot of unusual things over the past year...but he saved the most unusual for Thursday night. He committed suicide.

When the story broke earlier last week that he had purchased a $710,000 yacht with DMO money...and then allegations that he bought his $750,000 house with BP funds hit, the media (and the DMO world) was abuzz. There was laughter. There was head-shaking...both of the WTF variety.

That all stopped Friday afternoon when police announced that he was dead.

The comments on the Florida-based online news stories generally villified Mark, who by most accounts had done an outstanding job for the Emerald Coast during the BP disaster. By contrast, the comments in the Palm Springs-based online media (he had been their DMO Director a few years ago) were shocked, saddened and supportive. That he was such a great guy. And, how could this have happened?

Of course, it wasn't their money. But, it begs the question...how can a good guy so lose his way? And then, when called out, believe that suicide is the only viable path?

I struggled with that all weekend. We all should.

Two good guys gone. One taken. The other by his own hand.

We'll miss them both. I'll miss Gary more.

New 'Massa

Most of our Music Friday posts harken back to tracks that are faves or have been sadly overlooked (or both). Today, it's fresh meat, babies.

Joe Bonamassa posted the title track to his upcoming album release on YouTube on Tuesday. Since then...over 36,000 views.

If you haven't caught his latest treasure, we have it for you right here, my friend.

And a live version he tried out on a crowd in England a few months back...with a hilarious intro.

Happy Happy Weekend!

Honestly?

Is this what it has come to?

Win a date with the President?

Of the United Stares?

Sigh....

It's Called Hubris

Really. The shit that comes out of some politicians' mouths. They can't be that stupid, can they?

Well, not stupid...'cause they managed to figure out how to get elected. Maybe the word I'm looking for is "unsophisticated."

And, next to that word in the Zeitgeist Dictionary would be a picture of the Carbondale IL City Council, which, last night, ended its longstanding investment in its Destination Marketing Organization on a 6-1 vote.

Not just cut the budget...eliminated it. And, then clucked about how the Bureau's website is "useless" (from our trained eye in Destination Marketing, it's far from) and "we won't miss a beat" because they are a University town.

That sound you just heard was me spitting out my Diet Pepsi as I tried to supress a laugh. Because, you see, the Carbondale City Council is too unsophisticated to understand that there are several case studies out there that conclusively prove just the opposite. Without a DMO, communities lose way more than a beat. They lose jobs, visitor generated taxes and businesses.

The City says it plans to contract with a third-party to handle destination marketing over the next few months (leaving the all important summer season for this university town to chance...and forfeiting tens of thousands of dollars in Illinois Tourism Grant funds, possibly for years until a new DMO is certified by the State).

On second thought, I was right the first time. It's more than unsophisticated.

It IS stupid.

Greener than Green

I recently stayed in an exceptionally green hotel in an even greener community. I mean, they take this whole sustainability thing to a whole 'nother level.

As I returned to my room after a great day with my client's partners, I noticed that the housekeper had unplugged all my chargers (computer, mobile phone and headset). S/he did it again the second day of my stay.

The next day, I asked the Rooms Manager if this was a green policy...'cause I thought it was pretty cool. After all, there are some studies that seem to indicate we unnecessarily burn through a lot of electricity by leaving unused chargers plugged in all the time.

He said that it wasn't...and that this green housekeeper was clearly freelancing further than she had been instructed to. I quickly shifted gears and encouraged him to not come down on this employee, because I thought s/he was clearly onto something.

Like the A/B testing we do to gauge the effectiveness of our marketing efforts, I think this hotel should do a similar test to see how much electricity (money) they save by unplugging all chargers one week and returning to the status quo the next. Of course, they'll need to advise the guests at check-in on the test week so that the anal ones don't get all weirderd out by having someone touch their stuff.

But, I think this would be a fascinating experiment. And, if it plays out like I think it might, my housekeeper should get a big ass bonus.

Just a thought.