Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Winners and Losers

That's what the news is all about anymore. Who wins? Who loses?

And, the Mexican government's decision to disband its Destination Marketing program? The loser is Mexico.

Who wins? Puerto Rico...as I explained to Skift's Hannah Sampson.

On Destination Leadership

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to guest on a travel industry podcast hosted by Nicole Mahoney called Destination on the Left. Beyond the honor of being asked to riff about the state of our industry, the conversation with Nicole was a blast.

But it's a great reminder about paying it forward. Not unlike the daisy chain that Tom Martin recounts in his book, "The Invisible Sale," that ultimately resulted in a great friendship (and inclusion in his book), this opportunity had a similar genesis. 

A few months ago, Saint Paul's Adam Johnson was the featured guest and he mentioned me in one of his stories about how the DMO there is rockin' it. Nicole made a subtle note to add me to her list of future guests, which spans all facets of the travel sector (not just DMOs). And, I'm guessing some of the protagonists of some of the stories I told will be getting a call from Nicole down the line. Just paying it forward.

If you want to listen in to my thoughts on the evolution of Destination Marketing (or any of her amazing 100+ episodes online), click HERE. 

And, thanks again, Nicole. It was an honor and a pleasure!

The School Start Date Conundrum

I know I'm too close to this debate, having fought this battle in Wisconsin years ago (and consulted other States over the years)...but, honestly, it's a pretty black and white question.

When the majority of parents (and, in many cases, teachers) support a post-Labor Day School Start AND it benefits the State's economy...what is left to say? Local control zealots (who are in the distinct minority) cry out that we are sacrificing our children's education to benefit tourism businesses...but not a single study has shown that Post Labor Day School starts result in lower test scores. Indeed, here in Wisconsin, the schools that started post-Labor Day scored higher than those that started school in August before we legislated a uniform start date.

The debate has shifted into high gear in Maryland, where the Governor mandated a post-Labor Day start and the legislature is now pushing back.

Last week, Governor Hogan opined, "inexplicably, they are attempting to reverse this policy, but we simply cannot and we will not allow misguided and misinformed legislators and special interest groups to turn back the clock and ignore the will of the people of Maryland."

Opposition party Senator Paul Pinsky questioned why people are afraid to give local officials a choice.

Which I find delightfully absurd. State politicians always think they are smarter than local officials...except on this issue.

Hey, Paul? It's time to look out for the State's economy AND the interests of the electorate...and not the School Board Association lobby.

A New Role for Today's DMO

I can't remember the first time I said the words, "it's not just about heads in beds." Hard to believe, but its likely been 15 years...maybe 20.

It wasn't because I was prescient. It was because I was given the gift of working for a Destination Marketing Organization that chose to dive into leading a community-wide effort to build a Frank Lloyd Wright designed Convention Center. That wasn't what DMOs did in the '90s. But, I knew that what we accomplished in Madison was the future for DMOs.

Today, the most effective and innovative DMOs are intimately engaged in destination, community and economic development. And, as we suggested last month in the Z-News, hunger and homelessness need to be next on our agenda.

Here's a sensational article from the Northstar Meetings Group on how leading DMOs are addressing this increasing social crisis.

We all need to join them.

 

 

The New Way to Negatively Position DMOs

As we've noted previously, Destinations International's white paper on The New Tourism Lexicon is a critical guide on how those of us in the Destination Marketing space should explain our work and defend against unsophisticated and agenda-fueled attacks.

Over the past couple weeks, I've been picking up on a new tactic being used by those that seek to redirect tourism taxes to other uses. Instead of referring to a DMO's annual budget, they are beginning to utilize cumulative totals to encourage outrage among a populace that can be goaded into anger over the most minor of slights.

While I've seen it in no less than 5 destinations over the past three months, I'll direct you to Stillwater OK, where the City has recently put its Destination Marketing contract up for RFQ. After suffering the slings and arrows of community discontent with that decision, the Mayor there wrote an op-ed piece to defend the City's action. And, rather than saying that the City invests an annual sum each year into its award-winning DMO, he doubles down and says "Visit Stillwater has received more than $3.5 million in fees to provide marketing services (at least he didn't say "given," which we normally see).

This is an intentional move on the part of public officials to cause Joe and Jill Public to respond, "Say what? The City is giving an organization millions of dollars for something I don't care about?" Joe and Jill wouldn't be outraged at $800,000...but millions? Now you have their attention.

If critics begin quoting cumulative numbers in your town, your response need be swift and direct. And, the necessity to establish more effective ROI measurements has never been more immediate.

It's Simply a Matter of Time

For every exceptionally successful tourism destination, there comes the seed of resident discontent. Nevermind that it was likely their own turn as a tourist that compelled those not indigenous to the locale to make it their home. Communities are for the residents that infuse time, talent and investment in a place. And, their voice needs to be heard.

As it has been in Venice, where the City plans to charge an $11.50 "day pass" to visitors that aren't spending the night. And, that's reportedly 4/5 of the over 30 million people who visit the famed destination each year. Just how they will enforce the tax is still a little hazy...but electeds there are under mounting pressure to do something.

It's only a matter of time before other communities consider similar measures. So, as we look ahead to 2019, we should do so (even in destinations that are not yet overrun) with an eye to managing the impact our work as Destination Marketers produces.

N'est-ce pas?

Image Credit: LivingNomads.com

A Voice of Reason in a Sea of Insanity

Wisconsin taxpayers are on the hook for $4.5 billion to bring a plant to the Badger State that may employ 13,000. New York City promised $3 billion to Amazon to get half of its HQ2. The arms race shows no sign of slowing...that is unless Mayors and Governors begin to more carefully judge the public blowback to such subsidies on their own tenure.

Richard Florida recently opined on the practice on CityLab, calling on this nation's Mayors to grow a spine and just say "no,"

It's worth a read...

Growing a Community Conscious

For the past decade, news outlets across the land have doubled down on the old adage of "if it bleeds, it leads." In the era of Facebook, stories about crime became delectable clickbait, driving advertising revenue. Nevermind how it positioned a community on a global stage that could now read articles from anywhere in the world. And, nevermind the damage that was done to a community's image in the economic development space. Stories about crime equaled short-term revenue to the media highlighting it.

It's why media is so vilified today in community development discussions. Exemplified in the callous quote by the now disgraced CBS President Les Moonves ("it may not be good for America but it's damned good for CBS"), media has forfeited the long-term good for short-term profits.

So, it's refreshing to see a newspaper shift gears, as Southern Mississippi's Sun Herald did last month. No more will they play the clickbait game, instructing their reporters to ask questions such as, "do our readers really need to know this?"

As the Editor says, "what is good for us may not be what is good for South Mississippi. We need to re-evaluate."

Kudos, Mr. Kaplan. Here's hoping you initiate a trend in which local media serves the best interests of its community...and not just itself.

 

Trust Us...it'll Qualify

For every really cool story in DMO-land (like yesterday's)...there are the bone-headed, the politically devious and the sensationally unsophisticated tales that make one wanna scream.

One of the latter occurred last week when the York County SC Council voted to purchase 1,900 acres for a recreation site along the Catawba River for $21 million. Part of the funding package being proposed will see the budget of the Destination Marketing Organization there slashed by 43%.

Now, one must always be cautious when working off of media reports. There could be an agenda on the part of the writer. The reporter could be clueless as to what they are hearing. But, what I see in this story is purposeful political misdirection and a calculated belief that the State laws restricting the use of Tourism-related taxes can be bent to the Council's will.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole and read the sad tale, your links are here (the DMO issue) and here (the residents' take).

But, here's the Cliff Notes version: The land is being purchased for conservation purposes. That does not qualify it for Tourism Taxes.

1,900 acres, however, is a lot of land. If thoughtfully designed, the parcel could become a tourism draw. Thus, Tourism Taxes could be utilized.

But...and, it's a big one. There are no plans for the land other than acquisition. At least not publicly shared. And, that the County does not have a Parks and Rec Department, the chance that even a part of the tract evolves into a tournament-grade sports complex appears remote. Indeed, work is already underway for a Sports Park in another part of the county.

The Assistant County Manager says, "I don't have any guilt about a drastic cut to the CVB."

And, that speaks volumes.

Sigh.

Fighting Homelessness for the Holidays

As I noted in today's edition of the Z-News (subscribe here if you'd like to stay up-to-date with the world of Destination Marketing), DMOs need to play a part in fighting hunger and homelessness in our communities.

Jack Berry and the Team at Richmond Regional Tourism recently stepped up to the plate with an e-mail holiday greeting that doubles as a fundraiser for Homeward, an area non-profit that’s working to prevent, reduce and end homelessness. They've made a donation in the name of the people in their database and ask recipients to open their hearts to donate as well.

It is a sensational move...made all the more perfect because it's the right thing to do.

And, this is an idea that I'm sure the Richmond Team wouldn't mind you copy-catting.

Congratulations to Jack and his Team. You make us all proud.