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And, not just because I'm quoted.
Skift's Hannah Sampson does a masterful job of comparing and contrasting all sides of the argument...as there appears to be a ray of hope for the continuation of Visit Florida.
Read and weep? Nah, read and take action.
Honestly...where has the time gone.
30 years ago this month, Living Colour appeared on Saturday Night Live and simply tore it down.
While it doesn't seem like yesterday, it certainly doesn't feel like 30.
On this Music Friday, we go back to that searing SNL performance of "Cult of Personality."
We've watched this circus twice before. You know, the one where the Florida Speaker of the House sets his sights on eliminating that State's Destination Marketing agency. Says that money is being misappropriated and that marketing Florida really isn't necessary because of its beaches, attractions and high consumer awareness.
It's the tired "high consumer awareness" crack that makes me shake my head every time. Apple has high consumer awareness. Nike has high consumer awareness. They spend billions on advertising because not everyone has yet tried their product. But, there is one product that every single person on the planet has tried.
Milk. Every one of us is a past or present user. We know what it tastes like and whether we'd like some more. And yet, the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (formerly known as the Milk Marketing Board) spends over $20 million a year to convince consumers to use more of a product they already know.
There is one difference this time around, however. There is a new Speaker of the House...and he is the CEO of a highly successful corporation that produces an award-winning product. When he's not trying to jam a spike through Florida's Travel and Hospitality industry, Jose Oliva runs Oliva Cigars. I could be way off, here...but, I'd be willing to bet that his company advertises in cigar magazines, works with media outlets to promote all the awards they've won and offers co-operative promotions with retailers around the world.
So, when he says, “In a trillion-dollar economy, a few million dollars put towards advertising a few different places cannot possibly have a direct correlation with tourism,” one can't but involuntary snort one's drink through one's nose.
With little more than a week left in this legislative session, prospects for saving Visit Florida have never been more tenuous. Several Florida DMOs are blanketing their stakeholders with urgent e-requests to contact their representatives to attempt to put an end to this dangerous legislative recklessness.
Since he apparently doesn't believe in the efficacy of advertising, someone should ask Mr. Oliva how much his company spent on promoting his family's line of cigars last year.
Evolution is a fascinating beast, eh?
When I entered the Destination Marketing field, I was told we were in service to our hotels (that whole "heads in beds" thing). That slowly transformed into our Members/Partners (including restaurants, attractions, nightspots, etc.).
Then we were in service to the customer; the client...because everything that makes them happy serves our Members/Partners.
And now, here we are where we should have been all along. We are here to serve residents.
Fresh off Destinations International's CEO Summit, Don Welsh offers an interesting take on our true customers.
It was another one of those moments that I'll always cherish.
I told Terri that I had scored great seats for Martin Sexton at City Winery in Chicago. The response was one of those arched eyebrow, WTF reactions. Though Martin's music occasionally shuffles forward on my playlist, she didn't instantly recognize the name.
We, as they say, "marinated" in his soul, warmth and truth last Friday night. Her grateful hug after the encore (which, as pictured, he did on the floor amidst the audience) was magical. And, that's what matters most.
Today's Music Friday offering is from his TedXBigSky performance last year. It's 22 minutes long and worth every one. If you are pressed for time, jump to the 15:00 minute mark.
You'll probably double back :)
He's playing with the very cool Chris Trapper tonight in Nashville and tomorrow evening in Birmingham.
If you're near, go.
Those of us old enough to remember the old EF Hutton commercials ("When EF Hutton speaks, people listen"), know that there are just those individuals that seem to cut through the bullshit or the conventional wisdom to inspire change and innovation. I am honored and humbled to be asked to speak at Destination Marketing conferences around the world (thanks again to the Mississippi Travel Association's warm welcome yesterday)...so, I guess I'm one of those voices.
But, who do I listen to? The list is long and diverse. But, one of my favorites is Jake Steinman, founder of the eTourism Summit. One of my favorite Jake-isms (and I'm probably getting this slightly wrong) is that Travel is a Toy Store for adults. So true.
Jake was featured in the Travel Verticle today.
Yeah...like he said.
Rock on, Jake.
Community excellence occurs when we collaboratively develop a really cool place to live and visitors agree. Sophisticated community leaders know the power of tourism (which I'll be speaking on today at the Mississippi Tourism Association's Spring Conference in sensational Meridian). But, there are still those that refuse to accept that supporting a Visitor Economy is a pre-requisite to community exceptionalism.
That wasn't the case in McDonald County MO in 1961. Apparently, the highway leading to the lakes and attractions was omitted from the State Map. Within weeks, a movement to secede from the State was mounted. "Adjoining counties in Arkansas and Oklahoma were invited to create a 51st state. Stamps and passports were printed and, most importantly, the news hit the national press. A border guard of volunteers formed. They delighted in toting muzzle-loading rifles and black powder revolvers. It made for great photos," according to Joplin Globe writer Bill Caldwell.
"Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus stirred the pot by inviting McDonald County to join Arkansas as its own bootheel on the west. Joplin’s Chamber of Commerce invited the territory to have an embassy in Joplin for passports and visas."
Cooler heads, of course, prevailed. But, isn't it fascinating how important tourism was to a county in the 1960s.
It's just as important today.
Image Credit: Missouri Life
Over a decade ago, we began issuing "Air Laws" (not unlike Miller Beer's "Man Law" series of commercials) in a (vain) attempt to bring civility back to air travel. The very first Air Law addressed the habit of some self-absorbed passengers to recline their seat without considering the person behind them.
Now, we've all seen the heated "Tastes Great / Less Filing" debates ("I paid for the right to recline," some sputter indignantly) both in print and in person. And, I'm not here to debate it again. But, Delta Airlines has just announced that it will be converting roughly 10% of its fleet to feature seats with half the recline. The reason for the test: "Ensuring an optimal experience." I feel oddly vindicated.
This should be interesting...
As I watched the Music Friday video from last week, I was surprised to see two of the original members of REO Speedwagon as part of the entourage. Which, of course, got me to thinking about one of Illinois' most iconic bands.
Interestingly, most don't think of Illinois as a hotbed of rock talent. And yet, my '80s era rock radio station would program "Illinois Rocks" weekends a few times a year; weekends where we played nothing but Illinois Rock. Think it can't be done?
Chicago, Cheap Trick, Styx, Survivor, Dan Fogelberg, Richard Marx, Head East, Off Broadway, Shoes, the Boyzz, the Buckinghams, the Ides of March, the Cryin Shames, the New Colony Six, the American Breed, Sam Cooke, Earth, Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Koloc, Tantrum, Mason Proffit, Wheatstone Bridge, Brian Stevens, Bob McCall, Aliotta Haynes & Jeremiah...and that's just the stuff we played before I jumped to Destination Marketing.
I saw REO live before they had a record deal, in a High School gym where they made you take off your shoes (which is where the term "sock hop" came to be). Ultimately, the band co-mingled two disparate forces: the romantic folk of Kevin Cronin and the searing rock sensibility of Gary Richrath. Their early albums cooked...but failed to sell. The Hail Mary was the rock ballad "Keep on Lovin' You." Gary hated it...but went along, insisting on the power chords that made the song soar with anger and anguish.
It saved their record deal...but sowed the seeds of Gary's departure.
As I look back on my affinity for the band, it started with Gary's guitar prowess and was solidified by Kevin's vocals. And, before "Ridin' the Storm Out" became the band's de facto encore song, it was "Golden Country."
Which, sadly, is just as relevant today as it was in the '70s.
Watch Gary shred...
And, if you want an insight into the Chicago Music Scene in the '60s, click here.
Yeah...click everything. You didn't want to work today, anyway.
Great interview with our friend Brian Matson from TwoSix Digital in the Travel Vertical.
No additional words needed. If you work in a Destination Marketing Organization, click HERE.
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