Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

On Artificial Intelligence

Each year at the Annual Convention of Destinations International, we roam the halls asking a single question. This year, that question was how DMOs were beginning to utilize Artificial Intelligence (or AI). On this episode, you'll hear from a handful of DMO pros on how they are using AI to jump start ideation and save time in the composition of written communiques. And, as you'll hear, this is just the beginning for our sector.

They Come in Threes

At least that's what people say. And with the number of people I have personally lost over the past few months, now juxtapositioned with three music icons this past week, I can't stack 'em and rack 'em on Music Friday. We need to honor all three today.

First up, the inimitable Tony Bennett. A mid-century crooner that so should have been relegated to that era, he continually remade himself with duets with more contemporary artists such as k.d. lang, Lady Gaga and Billy Joel at Shea. Honestly...don't skip over these links.

Then, there is the enigmatic Sinead O'Connor, who captured the world with her evocative and haunting music video cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U."

And last night, the word that another Eagle has departed terra firma. Randy Meisner was a founding member of one of the biggest groups in American music...but decamped to do his own thing. You probably know him best for "Take it to the Limit."

They all deserve their own posts...but I fear this may become more common as we move through the next few years.

Here's hoping it's not.

On the Radio

For a guy who started his post-collegiate career as a rock jock on FM Radio, it's always a treat to be on the other side of the microphone.

Thanks to the team at WOSU for asking me to opine on the importance of community brands last week.

And...yes. A DMO-curated destination identity is critical to a community's competitiveness and success.

One More Moment

Of all the moments from this year's Destinations International Annual Convention last week in Dallas...there is one I will never forget.

It happened in Julie Hart's CEO Lounge in a panel facilitated by our friend John Lambeth entitled "What Keeps us Awake at Night." Politics, funding and destination development initiatives consumed most of the panel discussion...but, when John went out to the audience, the room grew silent when Lviv's Olena Pavlyuk stood and held out her iPhone.

"This is what keeps me up at night," she said quietly, as she pressed the replay button...and the room was filled with the sound of air raid sirens from the ongoing conflict in her home country of Ukraine.

That pretty much put everything else in our world into perspective.

Summer Vacation Reading

As I noted yesterday, I had the privilege of sitting in on a couple CDME classes last week in Dallas. The assembled DMO pros skewed younger, as many are early in their careers, seeking education and certification.

So...I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise when less than 10% of the hands in the room went up when one of the instructors asked how many in the class had read "Rise of the Creative Class."  After all, Richard Florida's breakthrough book was released over 20 years ago. But, that it helped get DMOs to where we are today by opening up the minds of this sector's thought-leaders to consider that we are more than Destination Marketers, I wonder if we shouldn't all go back to see if there are even more nuggets that we may have missed on our first read.

And then, there are other books that may have fallen out of view that deserve a fresh look. Like "Start With Why?" from Simon Sinek (published in 2011). The original "Race for Relevance" (published in 2013), "Blue Ocean Strategy" (originally published in 2004) and the "500 Year Delta" (published in 1997).

I know I'll be going back to these classics (especially 500 Year Delta) in the weeks ahead. Join me?

Looking Back

Honored last week to be a guest lecturer in two CDME classes at Destinations International's Annual Convention in Dallas. For those not in our sector, CDME stands for Certified Destination Marketing Executive and it is one of the top professional development designations one can earn. But, just because one earns it doesn't mean they have earned it for life; one must re-certify from time to time.

Funniest one-liner from the sessions I was privileged to attend was from Visit Bath County's Mark Shore, who shared that, in preparation for his re-credentialing classes, he went back to some of his past course materials to review.

"One of the chapters was on how to maximize our MySpace pages," he smiled.

What a long strange trip it's been...

Everything is Different Now

When one emerges from an impossible darkness and sees the light that so should illuminate a life...it sounds like this.

Thank you Terri for an amazing 12 years. And, while we have a treasure trove of "our" songs...on this Music Friday, this is the one that rings truest.

It's Don Henley and "Everything is Different Now."

And it so has been.

Can't Get More 'Sconnie Than This

Seen in the parking lot of a Wisconsin butcher shop.

Gotta love it.

4 Days? Really

A new Northstar/Cvent Meetings Industry PULSE Survey indicates that professional meeting planners, on average, expect a response to their RFP within 4 days. And the reality is fewer than half are seeing that expectation met by hotel sales staffs.

Now, I get that the 24-48 hour response rate in which DMOs used to pride themselves is tougher these days, as many hotel sales staffs are still smaller than pre-COVID levels and response times aren't what they used to be.

But, isn't that the golden opportunity for DMOs that have a focus on securing meetings and events? An opportunity to over-deliver in a present world in which planners are waiting more than 4 days for a response?

Talk about relevance... 

Maximizing the Night

Unless you're on a serious afternoon shopping spree...when you you spend the most money? Before 6p or after?

For many consumers, it's after 6p...and yet, that part of our economy is so often overlooked by city leaders. And for law enforcement, it's the part of the day were more vigilance is expected.

This recent article from the VOA should open eyes and suggest that second and third tier communities consider appointed a Nighttime Mayor.

And, if you want to go deeper, check out our DMOU Podcast conversation with 24-Hour Dallas Project Coordinator Bryan Tony.