Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Next Round is Open

Earlier today, the U.S. Commerce Department unveiled how it will invest the $3 billion it was awarded in the Administration's American Rescue Plan. Within that pot of resources, $750 has been earmarked for "Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation." That's the good news.

Far from bad news (but not ideal), Destination Marketing Organizations are, again, not specifically named among the eligible entities to apply for funds through the Economic Development Administration (I mean really, WTF?). However, smart DMOs that have built mutually beneficial relationships with their Economic Development Agencies and local and State governments should be on the horn this afternoon (tomorrow at the latest) to outline how these funds can be most appropriately invested. After all, who knows better what our destinations need than DMOs?

And, don't limit your recommendations to the Tourism Fund...the other 5 funds underneath the $3 billion umbrella can easily be imagined to assist our communities build back better within a tourism lens. Just because it doesn't say "Tourism" doesn't mean we can't also recommend joint-venture projects that bring back jobs or provide planning assistance for our communities.

DMOs that don't have a relationship that permits that phone call and meeting by week's end? This is the wake-up call that you need to build that relationship by year's end.

Ready. Set. Go.

20 Voices

Just back from Destinations International's live, in person Annual Convention in Baltimore. Over 800 gathered last week in the Charm City...and suffice to say, it was good to be back. And, Al Hutchinson and his team at Visit Baltimore were the consummate hosts.

We'll do a recap of our take-aways in the Z-News later this week. In the meantime, we roamed the halls and meeting rooms asking DMO pros what they did differently during COVID that they will keep post-pandemic. And, you can hear those conversations in the latest episode of the DMOU Podcast.

Enjoy.

The Future of Tourism > DEI

Honored to be interviewed (along with my friend Mike Gamble of SearchWide Global and Tourism Diversity Matters) by David Peacock on Simpleview's Future of Tourism podcast.

You can find the video here 

You can listen to the audio here.

It's an important conversation on the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Destination Marketing.

Thanks David, for the opportunity and for all you do for our sector.

DMOU: Getting LGBTQ+ Right

Authentic. It's the word we often hear when Destination Marketers attempt to develop messaging for consumers. But when reaching out to a market that doesn't look or live like you, achieving authentic is often elusive. Last month, HospitableMe's Billy Kolber and Kenny Porpora joined me on the DMOU Podcast to break down how DMO pros should approach the LGBTQ+ market. From working with the local community to determine whether your destination is ready to designing and executing authentic messaging, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Plus, they revealed details on their new Master Class, with a discount for DMOU listeners that expires at midnight tonight.

Check it out!

Forfeiting an Opportunity

OK...I don't live in Providence. And maybe it really, really needs free internet in its parks.

But, the businesses there need WaterFire, the simply amazing animation of the city's riverfront each summer. Pre-Plague, tens of thousands would flood the downtown on WaterFire evenings, filling restaurants, night spots and retail establishments. And the Providence City Council just denied American Rescue Plan funding of $300,000 to bring the event back this summer.

Yeah, anybody with half a brain knows the road to recovery runs through Tourism...and this City Council believes that their $42 million should be invested in “key priorities" like free public internet access at city parks and recreation centers, street sweeping and homeless intervention. Like that's going to help local businesses recover.

WaterFire makes Providence a magnet for people to spend money. How is that so hard to understand?

The Folly of Fair

I support the notion of a level playing field in virtually everything. I say "virtually" only to cover my butt in case there is a situation I have yet to experience where it wouldn't make sense. But, I'm hard pressed to imagine such a situation.

Unfortunately "fair" is increasingly seeping into community conversations regarding contracts for Destination Marketing. Visit Duluth is in the midst of an RFP process with their City...and news out of Juneau AK indicates that its DMO will be facing a similar gauntlet.

Don't get me wrong...Cities have every right and responsibility to demand accountability for the revenues they invest in any endeavor. Unfortunately, those that go down this path haven't considered that their DMO is a classic example of a "Sole Source Provider." There are simply no other entities that provide the breadth of services that a local DMO does and can. Saying that we must be "fair" and let competitors state their case is flimsy, at best.

If it's an ad agency, they might have cooler creative...but they don't have a running relationship with a database of thousands of meetings and event planners across the country. If it's a Chamber of Commerce, they might have good relations with the region's business community...but they won't represent those cool businesses that make a destination magnetic if those businesses aren't members. And handing DMO responsibilities to a Convention Center that may have a database but no expertise in brand and social media? There are more examples of where it doesn't work than where it does.

It's called a Sole Source Provider for a reason.

And, let's not even go to engaging a vendor from out of town. This past year has shown how vital boots on the ground are. Would a vendor from Wichita have worked 70 hours a week to help save businesses in Duluth during the pandemic? Doubtful.

Again...I get that this might seem like a lot of money for Cities to invest (it's really not when one understands the true impact of Destination Marketing in Economic Development and Quality of Place) without a competitive process. But, when DMOs are the only entities with the experience, database and dedication to successfully (and singularly) market a community...these are RFPs that should have a pre-determined outcome.

Unless it's political...or about price. But, consider this...would a City contract with a road construction company that doesn't have graders and pavers just because of price?

Then why consider such a move with your DMO...if it isn't price or politics?

There They Go Again

In 2018, community activists in Sedona came uncomfortably close to shutting down funding for Destination Marketing. The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau responded by developing a sensational Sustainable Tourism Plan and resident anger subsided, with most being satisfied that their concerns had been addressed. We featured then-Chamber CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff on an episode of the DMOU podcast that you can hear here.

The anger and frustration is back...and the Sedona City Council spent 4 and a half hours last week going over every single line item in the Chamber's proposed budget, with the intent to strip anything that smelled like marketing from the budget. The ultimate goal: to hit the pause button on all consumer marketing for a year to see if visitation slows.

Seems like a mighty big risk for a City that depends on visitor spending to make up 80% of their sales tax receipts.

New on DMOU: Getting LGBTQ+ Right

Just up in the DMOU vault is an insightful conversation with our friends Billy Kolber and Kenny Porpora of HospitableMe into the world of LGBTQ+ travel. From ensuring that your community is ready...to hitting all the notes perfectly in your messaging, this podcast is for any DMO pro that recognizes the opportunity to welcome a vibrant and growing market to your community.

You'll also hear about their new Master Class...and score a DMOU / DMOproz discount code, just for listening. And, yeah...their Bonus Round questions are pretty fun, too.

Join us.

Like That Will Have a (Positive) Impact

Not to throw shade at the head of the Hotel Association of New York City, but his recent support of Mayor Bill de Blasio's summer-long waiver of Hotel Room Taxes is perplexing, at best, and reckless, at worst.

Don't get me wrong, there are some destinations where $18 a night might influence a potential visitor to choose another city. But, honestly? This is freakin' New York City. A destination that isn't up for debate on haggling over price. It's also a City with a pandemic-induced budget hole that could use those revenues to shore up other parts of the economy or infrastructure. To forfeit an estimated $30 million of tax revenue on a feel-good gimmick that's simply not needed to jump start the hotel sector is amazingly short-sighted.

The consumer tax savings on a $300/night room is roughly $18, it's $12 on a $200/night stay and $6 on a $100/night stay. So, don't call me elitist when I say people wouldn't let $18 blur their desire. That's a drink in the hotel bar for people willing to spend $300 a night...and a hot dog for those attempting to be frugal. 

If the powers at work here really want to help, don't waive the Room Tax. Use it to subsidize a portion of theatre tickets so the theaters and their crews and companies are made whole...but that tickets are more affordable to the tight-fisted (but culturally sophisticated) consumer this summer. That will capture people's attention. Broadway on Sale for one Summer only? That will cause theatre goers that might fear an unmasked city to take a chance and return. The same with admissions to sporting events and museums. And, let's find a way to help our restaurants come back.

The Mayor deserves huge props for dedicating $30 million in recovery funding for the work of NYC & Company. But, forgiving a fee that hardly anybody notices when there are so many ways to maximize this revenue? Unforgivable.

The Future of Officing

In destinations as diverse as Kankakee County and Kansas City, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) have made the decision to ditch their physical offices after experiencing a degree of success working virtually during the pandemic. Other DMO CEOs have planted their feet firmly in the "back to the office" camp to preserve staff culture and creativity.

Visit Omaha has elected to do a hybrid approach, leaving its Downtown location in favor of virtual officing...but utilizing some of the $250,000 it would have sunk into lease payments into renting meeting space at destination hotels when it needs to meet face to face. Smartly, they'll keep their sensational Visitors Center open and use it as their administrative hub.

How is your DMO evolving when it comes to the future of its Office and Visitor Center?