Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Chris Farley

Yeah, I know it's a Music Friday. But, Adam Sandler's turn as host of SNL last weekend has me thinking of the song he closed with about his friend Chris Farley.

Chris was a Madison boy...and that sensibility was a big part of his appeal on the international stage. While we hate how it all ended, we couldn't be prouder of the kid from Maple Bluff, who was chronicled so well in the documentary "I Am Chris Farley."

Somewhere, in the boxes upon boxes of video and audio cassettes I've yet to unearth after a succession of moves, I have a video I shot of Chris and Tom Arnold jumping on stage, totally unplanned and unannounced at the Taste of Madison in the early '90s, tearing through an R&B classic with Madison's O'Bros (and WJJO's Johnny Danger on bongos). I will find that video and I will share it...but, gimme time. There are a lot of boxes.

In the meantime, you may have seen the SNL performance of Adam's tribute to Chris. But, this compilation video from Netflix is so much better.

Hard to believe it's been over 20 years. RIP Chris...and, thank you Adam for such a touching salute.

Travel Jobs Matter

It's National Travel & Tourism Week in America...and permit me one more shout out to the industry that has provided me such a rich career over the past 30 years.

One of the aspects of the hospitality industry that has always irked me is how those jobs are so frequently dismissed as somehow "not worthy." During the referendum campaign to build Madison's Convention Center, a City Council member used to rail on how this was the "wrong" kind of economic development for the City to be pursuing. That it was "low-pay, no-benefit."

While I countered that every job should be valued (as it should), I wish I would have had the data recently released from the US Travel Association that underscores the power of jobs in the hospitality sector.

Travel industry jobs lead to higher wages and financial success, more so than jobs in manufacturing and health care. Those of us that score our first job in hospitality go on to earn more than those who start in most other fields, as we learn skills, confidence and experience that are essential to successful careers in a broad spectrum of occupations. And, a third of Americans re-entering the workforce (see yesterday's post) do so through a job in the travel industry. And, honestly, who would you rather hire?

And, while not included in the research, let's be honest. Hospitality workers create a backdrop upon which we all create some of our most precious memories. And, isn't that the most important aspect of a job...having a meaningful impact on those you serve?

It's all about quality of life. Smile warmly and thank a hospitality worker for improving yours this week.

And, every day.

 

Breakthrough Thinking

McDonald's is launching an initiative to attract older workers. Long the land of first-jobs and young workers, it has become increasingly clear to the fast-food mothership that Boomer workers are an answer to its workforce challenge.

Younger workers either don't want to work service jobs (what a shame) or can't because of school commitments. Empty nest Boomers can and, in many cases, want to.

Best line of the article from CNBC: " They bring a unique skill set that we're very excited about." Calm under pressure, experience in problem-solving and dealing with difficult customers are cited as reasons that older workers are often more desired than their younger cohort. They also can mentor those younger workers who choose a hospitality path.

Something to consider, as our industry partners struggle with finding a quality workforce. How do we reach out to retired Boomers to provide the quality experiences we strive to offer? 

 

You Know You Want This App

Unfortunately for you...this is a parody.

Travel Matters

It's National Travel & Tourism Week in America, a time during which we celebrate the power of the Travel Economy.

If you're not directly in the travel or hospitality sector (for we are all connected indirectly), take a moment to consider how your quality of life might decline if not for the non-resident taxes generated by visitors, the restaurants, nightspots and attractions you enjoy and your friends that enjoy a regular paycheck thanks to the hospitality and travel industry. And then, take a moment to consider the importance of your community's Destination Marketing Organization.

Travel Matters for all of us. Still a non-believer? Check out this video from the US Travel Association.

And, join us this week as we recognize the people who make it all happen.

Molly Hatchet

When we heard the news that we had lost Molly Hatchet's Phil McCormick, it was with the "big sigh."  It also reminded us we had never featured the band on this weekly platform.

With no disrespect, Phil was, up until recently, the victory lap vocalist of the band. And, we honor him with this video.

The voice that most of us remember from the meteoric arc of Molly Hatchet was Danny Joe Brown, who died in 2005.

On this Music Friday, we remember them both. 

Here's Molly Hatchet in their prime with "Dreams I'll Never See" and "Flirtin' with Disaster."

Hell yeah.

Compromise is in the Air

As we begin to close out the week before those in the Destination Marketing world begin to celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week, two of the most high-profile political stand-offs appear to have found a sense of common ground.

The now-annual battle between the Florida House of Representatives and Visit Florida appears to have been mitigated with a compromise agreement to keep the DMO's doors open...but with a 33% reduction in State investment in the program. Sadly, you can be sure this won't be the last time this battle erupts again in Tallahassee.

And, in New Orleans (where the Mayor channeled the donkey in Shrek when referring to her disagreements with DMO Chief Stephen Perry in a State hearing), it looks like a deal is also in the offing.

In both cases, Destination Marketing loses ground...but not the war.

I was honored to be a presenter at this week's summit of the Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, where I heard a DMO pro sigh that it is so hard to tell our story to government because what we do is not a "core service."

Destinations International's Jack Johnson quickly retorted, "but, Destination Marketing is a core service." And, minutes later, took to the stage to prove it.

Let's make this the year that the conversation of our importance and efficacy shifts from defense to offense. Our communities deserve no less.