Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Most Cost-Effective Path Forward

This just in...the Destination Marketing Organizations in Manitowoc and Two Rivers WI have announced they will be collaborating on a joint Visitors Guide next year.

According to the Interim Director of Explore Two Rivers, such a collaboration “provides the most cost-effective path forward for businesses to market themselves to tourists with the distribution plan and the power of a joint visitor guide.”

Ummm, tell me again why y'all thought breaking up the DMO that represented both communities last year was such a great idea? 

Because it never sounded like a cost-effective path forward.

Just sayin...

Keep, Cut and Add

In last week's edition of the Z-News (you can subscribe here), we talked about some of the Scared Cows of Destination Marketing that are being eyed by some in the aftermath of the Plague. In our commentary, we cautioned that some of those tried-and-true strategies may still have some life in them.

Our friend (and former guest on DMOU), Savannah's Joe Marinelli, reached out to say they've been printing 500,000 Visitors Guides each year for over a decade and go through virtually every one by year's end because demand is so strong. They've just opened their fifth Visitor Center and have found great success (and foot traffic) in selling Savannah food and merchandise. And, as to the website, Joe says they'd never compete in the marketplace without one.

Are any of those sacred cows still on your extinction list?

Game Time is Money Time

For those of us that have worked in the Destination Marketing field in University towns with a high-end football fanbase, this is as second-nature as walking down the street. But, for many outside our world, they have no idea how much the time of kickoff dictates how business thrives (or suffers) on game-day weekends.

Great story from the Lincoln Journal Star on how an 11am kickoff produces a completely different result on area businesses than a 2:30 start, featuring our friend Derek Feyerherm from the Lincoln CVB.

And congratulations on a great Husker win last Saturday, my friend. 

On Destination Entry Fees

Interesting article from a decidedly European point of view regarding the recent increase in destination entry fees and taxes designed to generate revenues to counter the effects of too many visitors and deter some of the hoards that descend on communities in such numbers as to negatively impact Quality of Life.

The article does provide a counter argument that such taxes, if they do reduce visitation, can have a negative impact on local businesses that are desperately trying to claw back from the effects of the plague. But, the one aspect the article fails to address is whether such taxes will deny the life-enhancing experience of travel for those of modest means; making some tourism destinations only available to the upper class.

There's always the unintended consequence. Here's hoping these destinations can strike a balance.

Image Credit: From our friend Josh Schamberger, CEO of Think Iowa City, on a recent trade mission to Europe.

The Intangibles

Every once in a while, I stumble upon post on Social Media that elicits a "hell yeah."

That happened earlier this week when I was blessed with a 2nd level contact on LinkedIn named Stephen Eastridge, the Executive Director of the Jasper County IN Economic Development Organization:

"Economic development in rural communities is tricky. It often means focusing on 100 other things that have nothing to do with the metrics our board members or elected officials measure success by. Last week success looked like this. 6 artists from all over the country breathing vibrancy into our community. I’m grateful to be a part of this each year and excited to work with Cameron Moberg to continue to spread art throughout Jasper County."

And ain't that the truth for all of us in community development? Prove it, they say. Prove that you're moving the needle.

And you can't...but you know you have.

The Next Chapter for Roger Dow

When Roger Dow took the helm of the U.S. Travel Association in 2005, he propelled the organization to hyper-drive; from one that few would have missed if it had folded (except maybe for its research) to one that helped chart the amazing trajectory for America's Tourism industry. 

That's why many of us were so jazzed when Roger teased us at Destination's International's Annual Convention in Toronto last month with the suggestion that he was going to focus at least some of his retirement years on addressing the workforce issues that are plaguing the hospitality industry. And, last week, he made it official. He and Searchwide Global's Mike Gamble are launching "Future Work Solutions" (FWS), a company that will connect vetted and pre-qualified workers with hotels and convention centers through an app.

In an interview with Travel Weekly, Roger said, "there are a lot of apps out there, but they don't understand our industry. They don't have people in the industry. So what we want to do is go city-by-city, work with the convention bureau, the convention center, the mayor, the economic development associations, the Hispanic Chamber, the Black Chamber and say, 'Let's all work together on building the workforce.'"

You guys rock...and let us know how we can help.

Encouraging the Night Economy

As Destination Leadership Organizations have increasingly focused on the culinary aspects of their communities as a defining magnet, the logical next step would be to focus on what's next; when the dining experience is complete. And yet, one of the most frustrating aspects of a DMO's website is often the lack of a meaningful list of after-hour club dates and activities.

I get it. The owners and operators of our nighttime economy don't work the same hours we do...so it's hard to source the information we need to build out our event calendars. But when did easy define us? Nighttime entertainment is crucial to both increasing overnight stays and creating sharable moments online.

Chattanooga was one of the first DMOs to address this issue. The City of Philadelphia just hired a Director of the Nighttime Economy.

If there's action in your town after 8...you should. too.

Better TravelMobility

We all have people in our families that struggle with mobility. And, just maybe, these entrepreneurial firms don't have the bandwidth to ramp up faster. But we need them more than ever.

DMOs that understand their role in destination development should learn more about these firms. Because we all need to make our destinations more accessible . 

25 Years Ago Today

While it doesn't seem like yesterday, it certainly doesn't seem like a quarter century since Madison opened the doors on the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Monona Terrace Convention Center. Seven years almost to the day when then-Mayor Paul Soglin unveiled plans for adapting Wright's design into a convention and community center, during which the first two were consumed in a ferocious referendum battle that resulted in a 50.8% win. Walk downtown today and ask people if they voted for it and I'm pretty sure 4 out of 5 would say yes...that is how important Monona Terrace has been to Madison's renaissance.

I was part of the team that strategized and led the effort to get that referendum passed. In the process, I was mentored by two individuals that will, sadly, not be in attendance when those of us that moved this civic project to the goal line gather later this week. They are also, outside of my parents and a handful of professors, the two individuals that taught me life lessons that made me who I am today. Both Morrie Andrews and George Nelson departed terra firma in the past few years, but they were the men that made Monona Terrace happen. To be sure, there were hundreds of us that contributed and the Mayor got the ball rolling...but without George and Morrie, it never would have happened.

As we prepare to celebrate 25 years (and salute these two men), I went back and re-read my eulogies. You should, too.

George Nelson and Morrie Andrews...two guys that changed Madison forever.

The Pledge

Lots of destinations have moved to pledges to engage visitors (and residents) to respect the culture and environment of their special place.

This one touched my heart.

Door County is where I spent a few weeks every summer from the age of 7 to 34 (when parenthood broke the streak). It's where I learned about nature, great books, the joy of a summer rain and the coolness of small towns (and goats on the roof).

Door County is a magical place. I often tell clients that I wish they could be seen as Door is. When someone says they are going to Door County for the weekend, the inevitable response is, "Really? Where?"

Because every town is so different. Tell me your town and I know who you are. If you say Bailey's Harbor...I'll know we're gonna party all night. If you say Ellison Bay...we're just gonna chill.

We haven't been back for too long. COVID was a part of that, to be sure. But the congestion and lack of respect by new visitors was part of it, too.

Congratulations to Destinations Door County for reminding us all to take care to preserve this sensational place.

And...we'll be back soon.