As Destination Marketing Organizations come under attack, we hear a lot of the same, tired, unsophisticated tripe. Loose ROI, visitors will come regardless, we need the money for police and fire...you know the drill.
The conversation coming from Dallas government officials is significantly more pointed. To the sophisticated, understanding that suburban attractions can make an urban destination more magnetic is a no brainer. That a DMO would include such cool new attractions as the Toyota Music Factory in Irving or the Dallas Cowboys' Training Camp in Frisco has made at least one City Council member apoplectic: “VisitDallas wasn’t put in place to promote a region,” he said. “It was put in place to promote the city of Dallas. It’s time you realized who your boss is. Your boss is the city of Dallas.”
Wow...just wow.
But, that is where the conversation is going in this country. It's the easy path for those that intend to curry favor with those that feel left behind.
We need to respond with the reality of the importance of collaborative regional marketing.
Because, let's be clear...I have no interest in visiting Dallas. Been there, done that. But, I love the experiences I have at the Music Factory and Cowboys HQ. And, I might just stay in a Dallas hotel to experience it all. As will a lot of potential visitors.
Just sayin'
Yes, Bill there are worrying signs around the country in this regard. Is it that these people don't travel themselves? Don't want to learn anything? Or is it that they are just getting dummer?
Posted by: Bill Baker | October 18, 2019 at 13:14
They're not dumber. If anything, smarter...playing off what they believe will inflame their constituents.
Posted by: Bill Geist | October 19, 2019 at 00:10
This argument can be dispelled by basic visitor research. Most visitors head downtown after visiting what they came to an area to visit in the first place. That is not to say, they won't come up with something else to use as an issue...
Posted by: Lee T | October 21, 2019 at 09:57