Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Best Line of the Summit

For Destination Marketing Pros, the Simpleview Summit is one of the best conferences of the year. A great mix of DMO Leadership and front line troops makes for sensational conversation and even better networking.

Best line/concept of this year's Summit came from one of our 'Sconnie friends, Stevens Point Area CVB CEO Sara Brish. During Monday's Executive Leadership Workshop, we were discussing the transition that many DMOs are making from pay-to-play representation of destination businesses to listing every business regardless of investment. Sara shared that she provides "free" listings to her business community...but only after they sign an agreement with the CVB.

"We need to know they have a pulse," she said. Or, what's the point?

Smart concept...on a number of levels.

Ya Coulda Bin a Contender...

The man who has steered the amazing transformation of Michigan as a Tourism Brand was feted last week at an event in Lansing. People from all over the State came to wish George Zimmerman well as he steps down from the post he has held for over a decade.

During that time, of course, the "Pure Michigan" campaign has become the one about which virtually every State's tourism industry says, "why can't we do something that cool?"

I chuckled yesterday as I saw an article on Skift that suggested that the new TourismOhio will look to Michigan for inspiration as they begin to build their brand.

You see, George headed up Ohio Tourism before a regime change made him expendable and Michigan snapped him up.

Ahh, Ohio...it could have been you that we all adore.

Honestly?

There are those times that the shit that comes out of politician's mouths is simply beyond belief, reinforcing how unqualified so many are to lead us.

The newest comes from Lafourche Parish (LA) Councilman Lindell Toups, who is supporting an increase in the hotel tax there to help pay for a new jail because, as a news story relates, it's time for visitors to "pay their fair share."

Ummm, for the fact that you need a new jail? Really?

The people that visit and spend money in your community to take in your heritage and culture don't seem to be the people that cause you to need a new jail. My guess is it's your residents.

On a recent interview on KLRZ, Toups is reported to have said, “I think (the sales tax) is going to have a hard time passing. I think people are paying enough taxes, and if we can save us (sic) some money, we can go another route. Why not do it? Tourists are going to pay regardless.”

No. They're not.

Todd Rundgren

Those that follow my non-Music Friday posts and newsletters know that I often break out with a quote from the masters.

You know...Lennon, Seger, Dylan, Steinman, Peterik, Stone, Simon, Browne and the like.

And, Todd Rundgren.

While not nearly as ubiquitous as he was in the '70s with such masterpieces as "Something/Anything" and "A Wizard...a True Star," Todd still gets out from time to time. We saw him a couple years ago, performing with the Rockford Symphony Orchectra and he released a new album last year.

From an appearance on "Live From Daryl's House," here's Todd and Daryl's updated version of "I Saw the Light."

New Tourism Words

The Tourism Industry is famous for mashing words. "Staycation" is probably the most famous of them all.

And, we're clearly not immune, having coined the term "destinational," which only appears in our dictionary...but it makes perfect sense when we encourage DMO Boards to think Organizationally and Destionationally.

But, there's a few relatively new ones that DMO pros should add to their working vocabulary, as featured in a recent article in the Detroit News:

Bleisure: Combining Business and Leisure Travel

Honeyteering: Volunteering while on a Honeymoon

Glamping: Combining Glamour and Camping

What are your favorite new words?

Note to Convention Center Advocates

According to a recent study by the Convention Industry Council, 85% of all conventions are held in venues that include lodging.

I'm not going all Heywood on you (because his "proof" is so suspect).

What I am saying is that stand alone convention centers without an attached or adjacent hotel seem to only work in major markets where people will be willing to walk, cab and shuttle. The future for second and third tier convention centers is clearly that of the John Q. Hammond model.

And, I'm so waiting to see who steps into his shoes.

The Atlas of Prejudice

Remember the famous New Yorker cartoon that depicted America from a New Yorker's point of view? It showed 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue, New Jersey, a few mountains and the Pacific Ocean?

A fun and fascinating pair of books from Yanko Tsvetkov (recently featured on Wired.com) takes that concept a step further and labels parts of the world from a number of countries' prejudiced viewpoints.

While Americans see France as "Smelly Armpits" and Russia as "Commies," Sweden views them as "Very Crappy Cars" and "Evil People."

Yeah...it's called judgemental prejudice. And these "Atlases" attack it with humor, suggesting that we really should know better.

Humor and satire is what will set us free.

If we let it.

Proving Impact

For Destination Marketing Organizations, it's the hardest thing we do. And, increasingly, the most important.

A new service called Arrivalist says it can track the movement of visitors in a destination after their devices have been exposed to marketing messages, whether by email, website visits or banner ads, for example.

Cool concept. Kinda creepy...but cool.

Let's Dance Tonight

Funny...it was a year ago that we featured a Poco track on a Music Friday.

There's clearly something about Spring and Poco for me...they've gone together since college.

It's kinda like Jimmy Buffett music in February. It works if you're on a beach...but, not so much here in Wisconsin. I like Poco anytime...but it makes my heart soar in April.

Last night, one of their minor hits shuffled forward as I was driving home...a song that contains one of my favorite lyrics of all time:

"Only a few can do what you can sure do...and only a few do it right."

It's Richie and the boys with "Let's Dance Tonight."

Hell yeah...

 

The Anatomy of Room Demand

Cities across the world vie for the "big" ones. Olympics, World Cups, Super Bowls and Final Fours stir the competitive juices in every Destination Marketing pro.

Such was the case with the DMOs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex when they fought for, and landed, this year's NCAA Basketball Final Four Tournament at the house that Jerry built.

A complete sell-out of hotel rooms during the tournament's final weekend was, of course, the dream. But, as teams were eliminated, (and unexpected teams advanced), the elasticity of hotel room availability and rate varied wildly.

Check out this article from Skift that shows, by round, how hotels balanced demand and pricing during this year's March Madness.

Fascinating.