Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Is it a Swedish Thing?

There are two destinations that can always be counted on to take current affairs...and turn them into Tourism Marketing Gold. And, oddly enough, they both bear Swedish roots. Of course, there's Sweden...and then there is Rockford IL, where their Swedish immigrant roots run deep.

Rockford has had a run, capitalizing on Wisconsin Senators fleeing to the city across the Illinois border to block a Senate vote. And, then there was the time that Forbes magazine called Rockford miserable. Classics both.

And Sweden has had their share of moments...best exemplified by their current video. When President Biden confused Sweden with Switzerland...it was just t0o delicious an opportunity for Sweden to point out the differences between their two destinations.

Is this a Swedish thing? Because it so works.

RIP Cursive

When iconic brands such as Eddie Bauer and Johnson & Johnson reject their decades-old logos because today's new consumers can't read the letters? A sad day for typography, to be sure.

Because our schools no longer teach cursive, who can blame them? But, after a weekend at my fraternity's annual reunion, where I saw examples of exquisite handwriting from the mid-1800s (where, seemingly, everyone's penmanship was a work of art), the story out of Eddie Bauer struck me as sad.

The script logo is out...and block letters are in.

I get why...but we've sadly lost a piece of American culture.

Ford? You're up next.

Brilliant...or WTF

Word out of Baton Rouge is that the Louisiana Office of Tourism is going to deploy a $10 million appropriation in a highly innovative set of initiatives:

$300K for local recording artists to go birdwatching with writers from Rolling Stone.

$650,000 to "takeover" the Sphere in Las Vegas for two hours...plus off and on for a week.

$200,000 for a Visitors Guide (ostensible online) based on users' Zodiac signs.

$500,000 for Super Bowl advertising.

A million dollars for floats in the Macy's and Rose Bowl Parades....and a bunch more.

And, you know what? Given the obligatory State TV ads that all pretty much look the same (except Michigan, North Dakota and California)...I think this strategy of changing the narrative might actually work.

WTF.

 

Owning Your Space

You show me a record store in any town...and I'm there.

But I've never seen a record store own their brand essence like Black Hills Vinyl in Downtown Rapid City.

Most record stores use standard dividers between artist collections. Black Hills uses old LPs (click image to enlarge).

Yeah, I know. It may be a little thing. But we absolutely loved it.

Well played, Black Hills. Well played.

Jimmy

There are always haters...but of Jimmy Buffett?

Honestly? WTF?

A friend shared a TikTok video the other day of a guy going off on the Parrothead Culture because Jimmy was a white guy who appropriated island culture to satisfy his own quest for fame and greed. Needless to say, I'm not linking that video because nothing could be further from the truth and he needs no more views. Jimmy was a son of a son of a sailor and grew up on the Alabama Coast, where "Island Culture" is strong. And, he could turn a phrase like no other. And his philanthropy, while rarely on display, was considerable.

He encouraged people to kick back, enjoy what's left of our lives and love each other. To not take life too seriously, even when being shot at by Jamaicans. What is to hate about that, regardless of how much money he made?

As so many of us have locked our radios on Radio Margaritaville since the news shook us all last Saturday morning, there is one song that I have yet to hear...and it is one of my favorites, especially this time of year, as beach and resort towns begin to shut down. It's the mournful (yet uplifting) song called, "The Coast is Clear," celebrating the moment we get our destinations back.

Now, we've seen Jimmy several times at Alpine Valley with many of our dearest friends (see just one image above). And, Facebook is clearly having a moment because they are hitting us all with desperate "Memories" alerts to get us to come back...and this past week has been nothing but images of those halcyon days, as Jimmy typically played Wisconsin on and around Labor Day Weekend.

But, the moment that solidified my respect for his persona, his passion and his authenticity was when he changed the words to that song during a benefit he staged for the Gulf Coast during its Oil Disaster (let's be clear, it wasn't a "spill").

On this Music Friday, we offer the other "When the Coast is Clear."

And, oh yeah...

Thanks for the memories, James. We'll miss your reverie and bacchanal.

New on the DMOU Podcast > True Ambassadors

I was honored to moderate a panel at a PRSA event this summer in Madison...and it was a pleasure to reconnect with my friend Kelly Barbery, VP of Marketing and Communications at ExperienceColumbiaSC.

I was just the moderator...and was not responsible for the content. So, I was unprepared and mesmerized by the story Kelly and Director of Communications Charlene Slaughter shared regarding their "Ambassador Program."

Trust me...this is not your garden variety Ambassador Program.

A cool conversation that also touches on their Pimento Cheese Passport and their first steps into NIL.

Check it out...and over 120 other conversations in the DMOU Vault.

New on the DMOU Podcast: Cannabis Tourism

Almost half of American States have legalized the recreational use of cannabis...but many DMOs in those States struggle with ways to promote the advantage they possess against States that don't. On this episode of DMOU, we talk with Brian Applegarth, the foremost expert in the intersection of cannabis and tourism, about how to escape the stigma...and focus on the health, wellness and inclusionary aspects of this amazing community asset. A fascinating episode.

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.

Blind Faith

This is not an indictment of marketing agencies. Most do exceptional work. But, when one trusts them implicitly, shit can come unglued pretty rapidly.

A few years ago, Rhode Island Tourism fell victim to an agency that used video that was not of the destination (hell, it wasn't even from this country.)

It happened again last week to the Philippines Tourism Office. Already being attacked by some for the new campaign "Love the Philippines," it now turns out that several scenes in the new promotional video are stock images...and not from within country.

Hey, this stuff happens, I guess. But errr, DDB? You had one job.

We shouldn't hafta double check your work.

And yet, we must.

The Dream Team...Live on Stage

One of my favorite facets of this incredible gig as a consultant to one of the most dynamic and impactful community development sectors that exists today, is the opportunity to preach the gospel of Destination Marketing to audiences across the globe. I love sharing stories that open the eyes of those that previously had not considered the importance of a visitor beyond their transitory spending. Those are among my favorite days.

But, just back from the DMAwest Leadership Conference in Rapid City...I gotta say, I have never had so much fun on stage as I did riffing with my friends Berkeley Young and David Holder earlier this week. Visit Rapid City CEO Brook Kaufman cooked up an idea a few months ago to bring three "competitive" sector consultants together on stage at an industry conference...something none of us believe has ever been done.

What a freaking blast. The three of us played off each other (as only friends can do) for two incredible hours, shared truths about horror story assignments (though not by name) and offered tips on how to get consultants to respond to DMO RFPs. I wish we had recorded the session.

Brook and DMAwest...thank you for the opportunity. And, I hope other sector conferences bring this dream together again...if for no other reason than I love hanging on stage with the best of the best.