Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

25 Years

It was 25 years ago tomorrow that this grand journey began. 25 years since I handed the reins of what is now known as Destination Madison over to Deb Archer and hung out the shingle for what is now known as DMOproz.

As I sat on my back deck that afternoon with a celebratory cigar and a rocks glass of bourbon, I looked out on a world in which I had no client visits on the calendar. Hell, I had no clients. Just a vision that I could make a difference in communities around the country with the truths I had learned (and the missteps I had survived) in my decade of leading DMOs.

Tomorrow, I will sit on my back deck with a celebratory cigar and a rocks glass of bourbon, and look out on a world in which I, for the first time in 25 years, have no client visits on the calendar. But, I have clients. Nay, I have friends. And, I trust that soon, we'll be back together again, causing some form of destinational mischief.

Until that time, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to all who have made our lives so rich in experience and camaraderie.  It has been beyond exciting to see so many of our client destinations kick ass. And, in these dark days, you inspire us as you move to provide aid to industry partners. We'll continue to cheer you and, hopefully, return some inspiration from the sidelines through this blog, DMOU and the Z-News.

We are, indeed, blessed to call you friends and to work in an industry that is increasingly being understood as crucial to our economy and Quality of Life. Hell yeah...

A George Bailey Moment

Funny that I've often used a slide of George Bailey staring at the "Pottersville" sign in the classic It's a Wonderful Life in my presentations when I talk of the often invisible impact tourism has on a community's Quality of Life and economy. You never know...until it's gone.

Leave it to our friend Brad Dean (CEO of Discover Puerto Rico) to tie it up in such a perfect package in a recent post: 

"Like George Bailey, we’ve been given a glimpse into a world with no travel & tourism. And it isn’t pretty."

This is an essential read...not just for those of us in travel industry, but everyone on the planet.

Brad Dean...you rock.

 

Still Work to Do

You hear it. We hear it. The hushed conversations at City Hall and at County Board meetings.

"We don't need to forward last quarter's room tax to the DMO; they're not marketing anymore in this time of COVID."

Au contraire, mon amie.

You wanna know what today's DMOs have been doing? Check out this op-ed piece from Visit Sarasota's Virginia Haley.

Uh-huh.

And...thank you.

Breaking Through the Clutter

Those first few DMOs that came to market with videos that encouraged us all to stay home...but dream about visiting down the road were feature-worthy. And, we did.

Today, while obligatory, they are starting to be too formulaic. Like this send-up of the whole "we in this together" meme.

So, when a DMO breaks through, we gotta share.

This is the latest from the Fayetteville NC Area CVB...where they don't just express their hope for a future visit. They live their brand.

Nicely played kudos to John Meroski and crew. Nicely played, indeed.

More Songs About COVID-19

The creativity of musicians and artists of all stripes is on display during the shelter-in-place era. On this Music Friday, we offer three more COVID-19 songs:

An original, with Anthony Gomes and the "Containment Blues."

A rework of a hit, with Michael Rose and friends doing the "Friends Theme."

And, here's a rework of "My Favorite Things" from the The Sound of Music.

Enjoy...stay well.

That Fine Line

As governments begin to consider the relaxation of restrictions on business and gathering, Destination Marketing Organizations, as they are financially able, will begin to re-enter the arena of competing for the visitor economy.

In our discussions with DMOs across the nation this past week, several are preparing for that moment to launch new initiatives to restart travel to their communities. When a State or City says the economy can restart, their DMOs will be ready.

But, should they? There is a new balance that must be weighed between our job and our residents. While government may say that our communities are open, will our residents feel the same? Will our natural urge to market be viewed by locals as a threat to their health? 

I totally get that we need to bring visitors back to our hotels, restaurants and attractions, stat. Our economies require no less. But, we need to balance that need with the fear our residents may feel about inviting outsiders into our towns. 

I don't have the answer...only the knowledge that we need to get this balance right.

Playing Fast and Loose with the Truth

It shouldn't surprise anyone that has been paying attention to this guy, but Michael Hicks really doesn't like the notion of Destination Marketing. He co-authored a "study" a few years ago that took aim at the Pure Michigan campaign using exceptionally flawed data, later debunked by some of the top tourism researchers in North America.

But, allow me to channel Poltergeist's Carol Anne by saying, "he's back."

In a piece that recently ran in Muncie IN's Star Press, the Director for Business & Economic Research at Ball State University calls for the "creative destruction" of Destination Marketing and Economic Development Organizations, saying that they provide "zero value to the nation."

As his "proof," he claims that "over the past 20 years, Indiana’s hotel and motel industry shrank relative to the nation as a whole and as a share of state employment." Which is exactly the point (if it's true), as Indiana has operated with one of the smallest State Tourism budgets in the nation. If Indiana's tourism industry isn't thriving and everyone else's is...wouldn't that be because they haven't been visible in the marketplace? If travel consumers aren't coming to Indiana, wouldn't it be fair to reason it's because they don't know of the cool experiences that await them? Or, does Michael think the State in which he lives and works is a lame destination?

I mean, really. I love hanging on the South Shore. I get excited every time I get to experience Downtown Indy. And, I marvel at how Fort Wayne has become so hip. But, that's because (until very recently) I travel for a living. If business travel hadn't exposed me to these locales (as well as Marion, Evansville, West Lafayette, French Lick, Dekalb, Elkhart, Porter and others), I'd never know...because the Indiana Legislature has chosen to ignore that every State around them outspends them in spades to attract visitors to enhance their economies. Face it...most people have no idea of why they should experience Indiana (and shouldn't someone with a doctorate in economics understand that?)

Michael also suggests that the Little League and YMCA provide more community value than DMOs. Honestly? These fine institutions provide value to those who choose to participate and generally strive to improve quality of life amenities for our communities. But, seriously...DMOs help keep property taxes lower for every single homeowner in a community by inducing visitor spending (which is locally taxed so residents aren't the only ones paying for city services). And, during the economic shut-down of the hospitality community, DMOs have helped countless independent restaurants, hotels and retailers keep their doors open by promoting delivery and takeaway options as well as helping to set up online commerce opportunities. Keeping business open that employ thousands in a community vs. providing recreational opportunities for a few? Mr. Spock, the floor is yours.

I don't disagree with the author that some local DMOs and EDOs should regionalize...and that may well happen amidst the carnage ahead. But his view that Destination Marketing adds nothing to the national economy is sensationally uninformed. Instead of suggesting that DMOs are no longer relevant, he should attempt to acquaint himself with the DMOs of 2020...as he clearly doesn't understand that they have repositioned themselves from the organizations of the '90s he so loathes.

The Other Side of Recovery

Terri and I work in the Destination Marketing space, advising DMOs on governance, management, strategy, funding and development. Thus, a lot of what we post on this blog focuses on this side of the hospitality business.

Spero Batistatos (President of the South Shore IN Convention & Visitors Authority) is one of the top DMO CEO minds in our sector. Unlike me, he actually started his career in the "back of the house" at a hotel/theatre complex (where I'm quite sure we met years before we became comrades in arms because I used to introduce a number of acts at the theatre during my turn in FM rock radio).

Over the weekend, my friend penned a fascinating piece on how hospitality businesses need to be planning to successfully emerge from quarantine...from a decidedly "back of the house" mentality.

It is definitely worth your read.

The COVID Blues

Leave it to being cooped up in isolation to inspire musicians around the globe to collaborate on pandemic songs to mark this moment in time...and bring a smile to our face in a time of darkness.

On this Music Friday, we offer 3 songs for the day. We know there are way more out there...and we hopefully won't feature them once we've emerged on the other side. But, until we do...we will.

Most of the coolest songs we've seen are reworked covers...but, this one is an original. From the Live Sound Guy comes the "Lockdown Blues."

While not exactly a cover (since he wrote the original), it's cool to see Neil Diamond update "Sweet Caroline." Bop Bop Bop.

And, then there's the cool acapella rework of "Yesterday" from The Kiffness.

Not to be a downer...but I'm guessing we'll have more next Friday.

Smile today and stay well. 

COVID-19 as a Convenient Excuse

Not like we didn't expect it...but some corporations are using COVID-19 as a convenient excuse for past bad business decisions. We saw it in the aftermath of 9/11...and last month, Playboy announced it was killing off the print edition of its iconic magazine.

Nevermind that it was reportedly losing $1 million an issue. This was an easy out for the once lofty brand.

Speaking of magazines, I've gotten three notices to renew my subscription to Men's Journal in the past three weeks. Didn't they lay off their entire staff last month?

Magazines...another casualty of the new reality.