Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

When Traditional Economic Developers Get Religion

It certainly isn't the first time that an accomplished Economic Development pro said it out loud. The Economic Development czar of Michigan famously admitted that, when the "Pure Michigan" TV spots run, inquiries regarding investment in the State spike.

But, it still catches me by surprise when I hear other people use "tourism" and "economic development" together in the same sentence.

It happened last week as I was sitting in on the Livable Roanoke Valley Summit in Salem VA. Regional Commission Executive Director Wayne Strickland was kicking off the morning, sharing some case studies of other communities that had garnered success in the livability arena.

And he said it. He said that the best part of a strong tourism strategy is that it exposes Quality of Life and generates outside interest in investment opportunities.

True dat...and we look forward to working with the Commission and the Roanoke Valley in the months to come to see that vision come to fruition.

And, "Hey Joe" is OK?

With all the bruhaha over racist owners and logos in professional sport, I had to chuckle as I drove through the simply sensational Virginia Blue Ridge last weekend. Listening to a classic rock station, I heard two big hits, back to back, that seemed incongruous in today's over-sensitized world.

First up, it was the Jimi Hendrix classic, "Hey Joe."

"Uh, yes I did, I shot her.
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town.
And, I gave her the gun...I shot her!"

Which is not a rationale response in today's world (as if it ever was). And, certainly not one that we want our kids to believe is correct...though they may sing along in our car as we drive them to school or to the mall.

Following up, it was Steve Miller with "Take the Money and Run."

"They headed down to, ooh, old El Paso.
That's where they ran into a great big hassle.
Billy Joe shot a man while robbing his castle.
Bobbie Sue took the money and run.
Go on take the money and run."

It's such a happy little song. But, again...glorifying murder and theft?

Hey...I love both songs. Sing along mindlessly in the car when they come on. And, through the links above, I am furthering their pollination into the world on this Music Friday.

But, somewhere along the line...aren't our censorship priorities kinda screwed up?

Smart Design in a Dumb World

Traveling this great country, I am consistently amazed by the significant design flaws that confront me in this nation’s hotels. 

Most of them are in the bathrooms.

So, imagine my surprise as I prepare to step into the shower at the sensational Wyndham Gettysburg. Like a lot of recently developed hotels, the designers have eschewed shower curtains and sliding glass doors for a single pane of floor-to-ceiling glass to keep water from splashing all over the floor.

Plus, it’s a pretty cool look.

But, just so utterly wrong from a functionality aspect because there is no possible way to turn the shower on without stepping into the line of (cold water) fire. It’s clear that the designers of these hip new bathrooms have never actually showered in their creations...or they’d quit designing them that way.

Except at the Wyndahm Gettysburg, where the designer was actually thinking about the end user...and designed this glass differently (click photo to enlarge).

Bravo. Well played. I so want to shake your hand.

And, because that’s not all that’s cool about the Wyndham Gettysburg, I look forward to my next visit.

The Waste

Not that it'll ever happen to you or me...but, those that get appointed to really super important positions in the Federal Government (like head of the EPA or the Secretary of Energy) get their portaits painted.

For an average of $20,000 a pop. And, as high as $40k.

And, this has been going on for years.

Another reason I wanna puke everytime I pay my taxes.

We're Nothing but Cheap Sheep

A new survey of American travelers "overwhelmingly" dislike airline fees for checked bags, meals, priority boarding and other services. 84% say they hate being nickeled and dimed by the country's air carriers.

But only a shade over half said they'd be willing to pay higher airfares to eliminate their pain.

Which is why the airlines know they can keep piling new fees on wherever they like.

Because we're sheep.

The Enemy is Passivity

While it seems as if Brand USA (this country's late but sensationally effective foray into destination marketing) was just created, legislation to ensure it survives is being debated this summer. And, while a number of those in Congress are sophisticated enough to understand the multi-level impact of Brand USA, there are still some (who should know better) that have yet to get on board.

Peter Welsh (D-VT) is co-Sponsor of the Travel Promotion, Enhancement and Modernization Act that would extend the Travel Promotion Act until 2020 and reauthorize Brand USA. And, he nailed it last week in a conference call with members of the American Hotel & Lodging Association: 

“The biggest obstacle is not the ideological divide,” he said. “The enemy is passivity.”

 

True dat. Contact your representatives now. Impress upon them how this is an investment in our economy...and not a special interest cost center to be negotiated.

 

Every other country in the world understands the importance of Tourism to their economies. It's time that American leaders do too.

 

Especially when the funding for the program doesn't come from resident taxpayers...it comes from international visitors.

 

Yeah...whatever.

 

Call now.

Is it Supply and Demand?

All generations look at the ones that come after and shake their heads. Since Greece was the shining light of the world, that is how it has been...and will likely always be.

On our last Music Friday post, we referenced a TV show that aired through the 1970s called The Midnight Special. Those that lived through that era never missed a show. You couldn't. Recording it to a "video cartridge" was pretty much only available to the rich at that point in our evolution.

There was no internet. There was no satellite radio. Only a few communities had terrestrial radio stations that would experiment with new, unproven music (and I, luckily, had the chance to work at one). In those days, The Midnight Special and Rock Concert were pretty much the only way we saw new bands in concert.

Is that why music meant so much more to those of us in the '70s? Because it was so rare? And, while I know that Millennials love their music...I just don't sense the same passion. Is it because it's so easy to find and free as well?

Just wondering...

Remembering The Midnight Special on this Music Friday, here's another great clip from a painfully young Aerosmith with the kick ass "Train Kept a Rollin'."

The Unintended Consequence of Minimum Wage

I'm sure that some of the people pushing for a Minimum Wage over $10/hour in the United States are intelligent. Hell, some probably even went to Harvard.

But, my guess is that those individuals never set foot in the Economics Department.

A new study by the head of the Hospitality School at Pennsylvania State University offers a decidedly dire prediction for the City of Los Angeles, should it hike its Minimum Wage to $15.37/hour ($32,000/year):

1394 Hotel Jobs Lost, $106 million lost in guest revenues, equalling $16.4 million lost in hotel occupancy takes and almost $3 million lost in corporate taxes.

And, that's JUST the hotel community in Los Angeles.

Say what you will about Ayn Rand...but we get closer to "Atlas Shrugged" every day.

The Music Video as a Destination Promo

A few months ago, we offered the Destination-centric music video of Dan + Shay, celebrating young love in Myrtle Beach. And, we've seen a number of DMOs begin to move down this path.

Our friend Anthony Haag shot us this video the other day. It's a cover of the American Authors' song "Best Day," including loads of Lake County IL shots with cameos from DMO staff, partners and some guys that look like they might play for a football club in the NFC North.

As video is increasingly the medium that moves us all...these innovators are blazing effective trails in consumer awareness and preference.

Well done, my friends.

Marriott & MIT Make Hook-Ups Easier

Marriott has reached out to the braniacs at MIT to help them re-imagine their lobbies to enable more interaction between guests.

According to Fast Company: “A lot of times when you’re on the road, all of the sudden you find out it's a very small world. You’ll sit across the bar from someone and find out they went to your school or were in the same fraternity,” says Paul Cahill, Marriott’s senior vice president of brand management. “The idea is, how do we bring social media into this public space and make it easier?”

Ummm, make "what," exactly, easier? Enabling people with lousy social skills to hook-up?

An app called Six Degrees has been developed that works off LinkedIn profiles (Facebook was considered too creepy) to alert people in the lobby and the hotel staff of potential connections. Hotel staff could organize jogs or whiskey tastings if they see connections that would otherwise be missed by these business travelers passing in the night.

And, individuals could share a beer with a fraternity brother or...ummm, yeah.

TMI...or a cool innovation?