A lot of attention is paid to the 6a to 6p economy...but that has been a disservice to its 6p to 6a sister of the night. 24 Hour Dallas intends to change that...and we talk with the organization's Coordinator, Bryan Tony, on the most recently released episode of the DMOU Podcast.
Chick here to listen...or find us on your favorite podcast platform.
Sensational news out of Illinois last week that their State Legislature has, on a bi-partisan vote no less, approved one of the best pieces of Tourism Improvement District legislation we've ever seen. Aided by our friends at Civitas Advisors, which recently assisted the launch of their 200th TID in Louisville, Land of Lincoln DMOs will soon be able to work with their local hotel communities to increase resources for Destination Marketing and Development.
Hey, Wisconsin? Your competitor to the South already has a sensationally better DMO grant program than you do (and has for almost 40 years). Gonna let them get even further ahead by continuing to sit on your hands?
Just sayin'
There are a number of reasons why Destination Marketing Organizations need to build and maintain a high level of engagement with their partners. Those relationships generate great content for marketing, enable the DMO to more effectively choreograph the visitor experience and build esprit d'corps and can lead to increased private sector investment in the agencies work.
It also ensures that, when someone decides to take a run at your DMO's public sector funding, there will be a cadre of influential business people at your side to help explain why your organization is critical to the future success of both their businesses as well as the community at large. Which is exactly what happened this week in Tuolumne County.
County Board Supervisors there had proposed capping the DMO's budget. A public hearing was scheduled...and began with one of the Supervisors calling for a contract extension to give the Board more time to consider the proposal:
"We’ve had a lot of emails, a lot of phone calls, obviously this room is packed full of people… But it was apparent for me that for me to make really a truly informed decision, I want to know what the visitors bureau budget is, I want to know what their business plan is, because to me this is more of a business-plan-projection type of decision and I didn’t have access to that or time to review that before today’s meeting.”
And isn't this how so often it goes. An idea is floated, sounds reasonable at first take...and then is enacted with precious little critical thought as to the ramifications of the action. Only when there's a roomful of people looking on and ready to challenge do many elected officials take a step back to more fully understand an issue. Without an engaged partner base, this proposal may well have sailed through unimpeded. But, it won't.
Visit Tuolumne County has clearly fostered such a partnership with its business community...and now has the attention of its County Board with which to tell its compelling story.
Partner Engagement...because you don't want to hear this at the Barricades.
The arguments surrounding Short Term Rentals are as varied and nuanced as a Pantone Color Wheel. Even more so for me, as I often choose these accommodations based on my need and circumstance. So, I am definitely not anti-Short Term Rental.
But, I come down squarely on the need for licensing, inspection and tax policy that mirrors the requirements government places on traditional lodging. It's only fair. And that extends to enforcement...which apparently isn't happening in Los Angeles.
A recent study suggests that nearly half of the city's Short Term Rentals were in violation of L.A.'s home sharing laws...opening up the opportunity for the City to collect over $300 million in fees and fines. They collected less than $40,000 last year.
C'mon guys...I know that local governments often fail to think like entrepreneurs. But, do the freaking math. Isn't the promise of $300 million worth hiring 10 or 15 compliance officers? Even the most arithmetically challenged among us can see that.
Just saying...
The State of Illinois is a hot mess...why else would a majority of the residents of almost a quarter of its counties vote to initiate succession proceedings? And many of those votes were overwhelmingly supportive of the concept. People in Southeastern Illinois are pissed that they are so often overlooked in a State that concentrates the majority of its support in its urban cores, especially Chicago. They even have a name for their region: Forgottonia.
The movement isn't likely to succeed...but you gotta love what the Macomb Area CVB has done to capitalize on the movement, claiming their county as the hub of Unforgettable Forgottonia. And part of that is exclusive merchandise highlighting their iconic first Asian restaurant, the water tower and a T-shirt commemorating the three night run of a Marx Brothers movie at Macomb's Lamoine Theatre.
Not for everyone? Maybe...but I think an increasing number of us would love to escape to Forgottonia for a weekend.
Well played...
Imagine a world in the Destination Marketing space in which there was absolutely no public funding made available to your agency. Could you make that work?
That's exactly how Maine's Visit Portland operates...and CEO Lynn Tillotson joins us on this week's edition of the DMOU podcast to share how she does it AND survived during the Plague.
I certainly don't recommend it (just imagine what she and her team could accomplish on behalf of their community if public investment were added to the mix)...but what they've done without it so far is powerful.
That's what Business Events Canada says: The combination of Canada's brains and beauty, and everything else that makes up this unique country, make it a truly unparalleled event destination.
And, like the smartest destinations courting conventions and events, Canada is suggesting the availability of the best and brightest speakers on industry-specific topics is a compelling reason to meet in the Great White North.
And, doesn't that make a ton of sense? One of the biggest cost centers for any meeting planner is the talent they'll place on stage to inspire their attendees. And, when you boast some of the smartest minds in the sector in the host community, there can be a significant cost savings. I know I'll speak locally for a lot less than I charge when I hafta get on a plane...plus, there's no travel charges to the planner.
Intellectual Capital...if you're not considering the opportunity to step ahead of the competition with possibly the most important competitive asset you have, why not?
Just saying...
Let's be clear, some of our best and most memorable overnight stays have been in short term rentals. But, STRs are strangling workforce development in several communities around the nation by taking full-time housing off the market. That's a dilemma.
Outside of the gobs of money that STR companies are funneling into political candidates, how does a State say to its municipalities that they do not have the authority to regulate the voracious consumption of housing stock that is creating existential harm to residents and workforce?
It's like an issue we've struggled with for decades here in Madison. Because there are so many State and University owned buildings downtown (that are exempt from local property taxes), city residents are forced to pay significantly more in property tax than those in other cities. To make up for this, the City has asked for the ability to enact a half penny sales tax (which most thinking Madisonians would approve) in order to reduce property taxes. But the State blocks this because legislators want to be able to say they are holding the line on taxes so their re-election chances improve.
Municipalities should have the option to do what they believe is right for their residents without State intervention. If taxes get too onerous, residents will turn out those responsible. We really don't need the State to tell us how to run our communities. But they can't hep themselves, apparently.
Kudos to Akron for jumping ahead of a State bill that would prohibit requiring STRs to play by the same rules as other lodging businesses. And, by a 13-0 vote.
I mean really, cosmetologists and hairdressers must be licensed. Someone renting out their home as a business shouldn't be?
Sigh....
It was 30 years ago this evening that we made our way to a side meeting room at Madison's Downtown Concourse Hotel (Senator Scott Klug's Victory Party was in the main ballroom that night). Dog-tired after an over 2-year public campaign to prepare Mad City voters for a decision that could change the city forever, we knew that polling showed we owned a razor thin edge...but we were exhausted at the months of combating innuendo and lies from a small but highly vocal minority.
It came down to the final few far westside precincts around midnight before the outcome was final...with an eighth of a percent of the vote clearing the latest hurdle in building one of Frank Lloyd Wright's last, great unbuilt masterpiece, Monona Terrace.
Sadly, a number of those that played a crucial part in the referendum win aren't here to raise a glass to the herculean effort to get this project to fruition, most notably George Nelson and Morris Andrews. But, I'll be raising my glass to them tonight, remembering the camaraderie and mentorship of those days and nights as we changed Madison forever.
30 years ago tonight...and, yeah, our polling was a little off.
Interested in more of the back story? I was honored earlier this year to be interviewed by Andreas Weissenborn of the Destinations International podcast "Architects of Destination Advocacy." Listen in here.
I've been pondering this quote almost every day since I heard it this summer at the Annual Convention of Destinations International. And, we included it in our DMOU podcast episode in which we asked DMO pros about new positions and titles they were considering that they never would have in 2017.
Well, we decided to go deeper. And, on the just dropped 100th episode of DMOU, we talk with Ottawa Tourism's Catherine Callary about how Canada's indigenous story is being told through an increasingly authentic lens...and learn about the Ottawa Indigenous Tourism Entrepreneur Training program.
Good Stuff.
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