Careful with that Room Tax, Eugene

As I posted up in the Z-News Commentary last Spring, successful tourism is rapidly sowing the seeds of its own destruction.

The other day, my friend Amir Eylon shared an article that highlighted Amsterdam's recent moves to halt new hotel construction, limit Airbnb and reduce its investment in its Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).

But, don't think this is only a movement in big, international cities. The California town of Ojai is in the midst of its own little midlife crisis, with the Mayor calling for reconsideration of a 3-2 vote to continue to allow hotels to voluntarily assess themselves to provide Destination Marketing funding.

Sadly, the local newspaper keeps its content hidden...but, it certainly looks like he was successful in keeping the conversation in play. 

Destination Marketing Organizations (and the DMO pros that lead them) need to pay close attention. Not unlike the media in the Presidential Election...stop listening to your peers and supporters and start paying attention to the real people you serve.

Your residents.

Comments

[Lee T]

"But some speakers said the bureau’s efforts had been too successful..."

"Councilman Paul Blatz said he thinks tourism in Ojai is “self regulating” because there are a limited number of hotel rooms available. Nobody can turn a blind eye to the fact that this is a tourism economy, and that’s what drives this city,” he said. “You have to maintain your level of advertising in order to just stay where you are. If you don’t, you’re going to lose ground.”

Point taken, but how odd to be tarred and feathered for being "too successful".