Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Loss of Mellow Soul

News of Prince's "transition" (as I heard a Baltimore DJ refer to it last Thursday) bumped to today our originally planned Music Friday tribute to two of the pioneers of mellow Soul whom we also have lost this month to that next great adventure we all take alone.

Percy Sledge charted 17 singles in the late '60s and early '70s...but nothing could top his very first, "When a Man Loves a Woman."

Billy Paul wasn't as prolific, but his work in genres as diverse as jazz, blues, funk and pop spanned some 50 years. His only Number One, "Me and Mrs. Jones," was huge in 1972.

Soul On, guys. RIP.

 

DMAInext, Part 2

For readers in the Destination Marketing world, the flurry of activity that accompanied new CEO Don Welsh as he took the reigns of Destination Marketing Association International at the beginning of the month certainly signaled that there was a new sheriff in town. As I criss-crossed the country on speaking and consulting gigs these past few weeks, those clients and friends that didn't attend the association's CEO Forum were quick to query, "what do you think is coming next?"

I would chuckle, wink and say, "I certainly don't know...but, I know it's gonna rock."

The reason I could be so sure? Don was going to go out and land people with DMO experience to revitalize the organization. As I said a number of months ago, there was a time where professional association management was clearly needed at DMAI. But, that day has passed.

Skift's Gregg Oates scored an interview with Don while at IMEX last week in Frankfort in which the picture is becoming clearer and the impetus to become part of the DMAI family more obvious. If you're in the DMO industry, it's a must read, as it goes well past the title subjects in providing a marvelous insight into how the organization is poised to evolve.

Even if you're not, yet interested in a view of how the CEO of one of the largest DMOs in the country evolved in his attitude toward Airbnb? That's in there, too. 

Bigger is Better

For someone whose passions, in no particular order, are live music, heritage, eating, drinking and water, how the hell had I never experienced Annapolis?

Just back from a whirlwind visit to headline a pre-National Travel & Tourism Week presentation for Visit Annapolis at the very cool Rams Head On Stage (and on the stage where, hours before, Vince Gill had performed)...and wishing I had built in a few more days to immerse myself in this simply superb destination.

DMO CEO Connie Del Signore shared her 300+ year old downtown with me on a glorious Monday afternoon and I was so hooked with the boutiques, bars and brick-paved streets winding around the State Capitol and hugging the harbor. And, on the obligatory visit to the Visitor Center, saw a truly great idea. It's not the first time I've seen such a concept...but the execution by Visit Annapolis was fabulous.

While most Visitor Center ambassadors are forced to point out attractions on paper maps that are impossibly small, Visit Annapolis encourages guests to the Center to take in the full scope of the destination and get a better feel for the community (click image to see)...by blowing the map up to wall size.

Nicely played, Visit Annapolis. And, I'm so looking for an excuse to get back out to the Capital Region to more fully explore one of my new favorite American destinations.

And, score another bowl of the sensational crab soup at Harry Browne's.

Punch a Higher Floor

And if the elevator tries to bring you down,
Go crazy, punch a higher floor.

Yesterday, Prince punched a higher floor.

On this purple Music Friday, the coolest Super Bowl performance in 50 years.

 

Three Sides to Every Story

It's one of my favorite rock lyrics of all time:

"There's three sides to every story, baby. There's yours and there's mine and the cold hard truth." - Don Henley / The Long Way Home

That's kinda how I feel about our friend Chris Fair's defense of Golf in the release of Resonance Consulting's new research into whether the sport is dead. 

The research makes clear that a super majority of the one percenters of luxury travelers have an interest in golf when on vacation. And, that kind of money is nothing at which to sneeze. But, when the general population is asked whether golf is a motivation in choosing a destination, only 11% of the general population agrees.

So, there's yours. There's mine. And, the cold hard truth?

Visual depictions of golf in videos that we have tested in ten North American markets with DMOvizion universally score at the bottom of all images with all audiences...except avid golfers.

The takeaway: Golf is far from dead for a select number of destinations and DMOs. But, as a mass appeal strategy in videos and commercials, it fails every time with consumers.

Golf spots on the Golf Channel and during the Masters work. Golf spots on The Voice and The Blacklist? 

Not so much.

The "Experts" on Destination Marketing

It never ceases to amaze me how most people believe themselves to be experts at Destination Marketing when the only experience they possess is having been a tourist. This is akin to thinking oneself an expert at Surgical Ventricular Restoration after having a routine physical at the neighborhood clinic. Or, knowing how to perform a chandelle after having flown to Vegas.

It sure didn't stop a couple of television talking heads from providing their "expert" (and sensationally dismissive) opinion on a new logo developed for Visit Stockton (sadly, the video is no longer available online). Note, I didn't say "reporters," because most aren't anymore...they are entertainers. And, they are rarely experts on anything other than taking fashion direction from media consultants and being able to read a teleprompter without looking like their eyes are moving.

Wes Rhea and his team at Visit Stockton did everything right. They did their research. They tested the new logo and tagline. They even did a soft launch (which I encourage everyone to do). But, a couple of complimentary columns in the local newspaper caught the attention of some TV anchors...who were all to quick to attempt to prove they were smarter than everybody else in the room.

Which then prompted a retired art director to weigh in with, as a newspaper called it, "a professional pummeling." He even offered up two other potential logos, explaining one as having "built-in symbolism for the city, like the horizontal break which suggests a drawn line separating problems of the past from a rising new optimism for the future. The ‘K’ is a graphically complex letter offering a convergence of elements that could relate to the convergence of cultures that define our city, its descender reflecting the downward effects of the recession and bankruptcy and the up-turned arrow the promise of better things ahead.”

Say Wa? (sorry...couldn't help mice elf).

If you have to explain a logo, you've already lost the battle. Because a logo is instant; it doesn't come with Cliff Notes.

But...I digress.

The experts in the room aren't a retired art director or a couple of TV anchors. It's the professionals that have years of experience and miles of research at their disposal to hit the right notes to trigger a visit.

To Wes and the team at Visit Stockton...Keep Rockin!

Qualifying Prospects

Qualifying leads is crucial to the longevity of every salesperson (regardless of sector) if that individual expects to be successful. And, taking a cold database of 2000 contacts can be a daunting task...if addressed with old school tactics.

Tom Martin (author of The Invisible Sale) offers up a stunningly smart process for turning blind leads warm without a single cold call in his latest blog post.

And, if you haven't...be sure to grab a copy of his The Invisible Sale for even more insightful concepts to make your sales efforts rock.

 

Thunderclap Newman

The rest of the band's core already departed, Andy "Thunderclap" Newman has also vacated his space on this rock.

He, the namesake of a band that produced one of the seminal counter-culture hits of his era, at the urging of one Pete Townshend.

While steeped in the upheaval of the late '60s (not unlike "For What It's Worth"), there is the kernel of truth for today in this Music Friday tribute to Andy Newman..."Something in the Air." 

RIP.

DopplegangUS

Research commissioned by Skift has indicated that a stunning 41% of Americans didn't take a vacation last year.

It certainly didn't take Mexico long to turn that research into a sensational campaign to shame us into visiting their spectacular destination in 2016.

Click HERE to see the video.

Well played. So incredibly well played.

The Easy Lie

You know it the minute you hear it. When a company lies, it's so transparent that it's laughable.

But they keep on doing it.

Seth Godin recently nailed it with this post.

What if?