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I'm not sure what it is...but this song from Rival Sons feels like Summer.
Early Summer. Not Late Summer.
Like...right now.
Turn this Music Friday track up loud. And, if you're in the Midwest, catch these guys live tonight in Detroit, Sunday in Rockford, Monday in Madison and Tuesday in the Twin Cities before they head to Europe.
Growing up in the Great Depression, John Q. Hammons swore he would never be poor.
But, the billionaire hotel developer did more than live that dream. He revolutionized the way meetings and conventions evolved in the '80s and '90s, giving meeting planners what they had always wanted: connectivity of sleeping rooms and meeting space. And, by doing so, he changed the expectations of planners across the country.
Talk about a disruptive force...he was one of the biggest in the hotel and meetings space. He certainly shook Madison up shortly before my arrival in 1990, electing to build a hotel conference center combo in a suburb after growing weary of the way City officials were jerking him around. When asked why he built his hotel a few feet outside the city line, he reportedly said, "so I can stand in my parking lot and spit into Madison."
I never had the honor to meet the man...but those that did would hear that story and say, "yeah...that sounds like Mr. Hammons."
And that development, successful in its own right, was a significant catalyst in Madison's realization that it needed to quit screwing around on the topic of a Convention Center and get serious. The result: the simply sensational Monona Terrace.
And, while there are many that had a hand in one of the City's most successful ventures, no one can deny that John's impatience helped my city realize its future.
He departed terra firma Sunday at the age of 94 with a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.
Thanks, Mr. Hammons. Thanks for eveything...
It's a tactic that is found in more and more toolkits that encircle reporters' waists. It's called innuendo...and it has the power to completely shift a story's ultimate meaning from reality to the world view of the reporter.
Case in point: the recent story that the New Orleans CVB's budget could see a substantial increase if State lawmakers vote today to allow area hoteliers to enanct an assessment.
An opponant to the measure is quoted as saying: "The state of Louisiana gives the CVB $7 million of taxpayer money every year, and as you can see...over half of that money has gone to salaries."
Whoa! Stop the presses! Hold the phone! No shit? They're paying half their budget in salaries?
Scandalous!!!
Except, Destination Marketing is a people-to-people business. It's about salespeople, services personnel, welcome center staff, marketing professionals.
Imagine if I opposed a pro football team getting tax revenue for a new stadium...and I complained that half the money the team spends goes to player salaries.
No one would bat an eye. Because...that's how the game is played. With, ummmm, people.
Same thing with Destination Marketing Organizations.
A responsible journalist would make that point...or ignore the innuendo offered up as gasoline to the fire.
Just saying...
UPDATE: The bill passed the House 79-18. It's now back to the Senate for some technical clean-up and onto the Governor's desk for his signature.
Word on the street is that there may just be a second life for the short-lived '80s supergroup known as HSAS.
Sammy Hagar (at the time, coming off his run with Montrose and building a solo career), Neil Schon (Santana and Journey), Kenny Aaronson (Stories and Rick Derringer) and Michael Shrieve (Santana) came together for a brief moment in time to produce a blistering LP of power rock in 1984. But, it couldn't last. Neil had his ongoing commitment to Journey. Sammy was becoming a big deal in his own right. Still...HSAS cooked.
Neil and Sammy recently reunited in the studio with the rhythm section of Hagar's new band, Chickenfoot. And, by the sounds of this video, could actually put the band back together...kind of...with Michael Anthony (ex-Van Halen) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers). Kind of, because Anthony and Smith are the "AS" to Hagar and Schon's "HS." HSAS again, indeed.
On this Music Friday, it's a two-fer with the original line-up on "Top if the Rock" and "Missing You."
Spin around, baby!
We're increasingly a society that does its business virtually...when that's the last way that business should and needs to be done.
Research from Oxford Economic shows clearly that every dollar invested in business travel resulted in $2.90 in profit.
It also validates one of the most compelling spots ever created on the subject of business travel.
And thanks to my friend and co-conspirator Harvey Briggs for the link.
Research indicates that 30% of us "forget" to turn our mobile devices off upon liftoff. Add to this that virtually all pilots are utilizing iPads for take-offs and landings.
Can we stop the insanity that our mobile devices will bring planes crashing down?
Please?
You don't see it as much today as we all did a number of years ago. Governor's starring in their State's Tourism ads was never a great idea. And, whether it was vanity or an unabashed attempt at publicly funded face time on the run up to an election (assuming the spots ran in-state), the results were predictably unimpressive.
Nobody chooses a state for a getaway because of its governor.
Except when that Governor is a bonafide celebrity. And, while not quite on the level of an Arnold, Chris Christie is a personality. With guest spots on SNL and the very funny viral video (which features Jon Bon Jovi, Alec Baldwin and the Ragin Cajun), the New Jersey Governor attracts attention.
I get that Jersey Democrats are wound into knots because he's starring in the new TV spot encouraging visitors to return to a post-Sandy New Jersey. After all, if you can't be pissed off at something every week, you're not doing your job.
But, on this one? It's a great spot that will attract visitors and their much needed money.
So, sit down and shut up.
It wasn't much of a hit...but I played the shit out of it on our deep track-formatted rocker. And, to this day, still think it is one of Jackson Browne's most painfully beautiful love songs.
Pain has always been his muse...and his voice has always plucked that heart string like no other.
I'm doubting that he does a lot of the pain/love thing when he opens for the Jimmy Buffett Tour on a couple dates this summer...but on this Music Friday, it's a sensational live version of "Shape of a Heart."
My neighbors acquired a 6-week old puppy last weekend.
On day one, it basically sat in place, shaking and totally overwhelmed by its new surroundings (it's a big yard).
On day two, it strained against the leash that was so foreign.
By day three, it was following the lead of the older, more experienced canine in the household. On day four, it was chasing it.
Yesterday, it was proudly prancing through the backyard with a chew toy in its mouth. Master of her world.
At one pound and six inches high.
Why is it so easy for dogs to figure out how the world works...and so hard for humans?
Just a thought...
Great article in this month's issue of Convene (which, sadly isn't online yet...so dig through that stack of magazines in your office that you swear you'll get to someday) that explores the movement of Destination Marketing Organizations away from the traditional "Convention & Visitors Bureau" moniker to "Visit," "Explore," Experience," "Choose," "Meet," etc. Hunter Slaton nails the commentary as well as I've ever seen it done. Complete, in-depth, good quotes...and even puts a fork in dot travel (thank you).
A couple quotes stood out for me...and should for you, if you're in the DMO world. VisitPittsburgh's Craig Davis nailed the reason we all started moving down this path. But ATME's Kristen Zern hits it on the head when she calls the move "counter-intuitive." Indeed, the new names better communicate what we do to the masses...but, have we inadvertently made it harder for our traditionally best customers (event planners) to find us by sticking a word in front of the destination name? After all "Experience Arlington" isn't easy to find in an alpha list if one is looking for Arlington.
Craig thinks not...and believes event planners are sophisticated enough to understand the "Visit" thing. Colorado Springs' Amy Long isn't so sure...and they've gone back to being known as the CVB.
Like I said...great article (and definitely worth your read). And, methinks there might be a middle ground out there. As Choose Chicago's Warren Wilkinson suggests, a lot of us are now working as DBAs because it's easier than all the legal hoops of a true name change.
Maybe it's business cards (and listings) that say "CVB" for those clients for whom those letters connote an experienced DMO, "Sports Commission" for those DMO staff that work the competition market...and the myriad of other verbs for local constituents and the masses.
What think you?
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