Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Room Immersion

Themed hotel rooms are nothing new. The Sybaris chain of hotel suites for amorous couples was launched in the mid-70s. A couple years ago, Travel & Leisure featured 20 such rooms around the world including homage rooms to 007, Batman, Star Trek and more. In Fort Wayne, home of pro music gear supercenter Sweetwater, select rooms in one of their hotels are tricked out in various music motifs and genres for visiting musicians. And, I've raved before about a '60s-looking hotel on the outside doubling down on being a '60s hotel on the inside, complete with shag carpeting and lava lamps.

My new fave is a collaboration between our friends at VisitLEX and the simply sensational 21c hotel. Based on "The Queen's Gambit" (if you've yet to stream this gem, treat yourself), you can now immerse yourself in chessmaster Beth Harmon's world...right down to imagining chess moves as you lie in bed.

Simply brilliant. And, channeling Samuel L. Jackson, "what would make sense in your town?"

The Next Step for DMOs

As the 'VID began to surge across America in March, Destination Marketing Organizations executed the ultimate pivot; one that was unthinkable just weeks before. Before the pandemic, DMOs helped restaurants, hotels, attractions and retail by promoting their destinations to add more potential customers to the community than just residents.

Within days, after governments shut down their hospitality economies, DMOs were racing to assist these businesses (primarily restaurants) by marketing their revised hours of operation, delivery and take-out options and more...to residents, as travel ground to a halt.

In my mind, the next step for DMOs was to find a way to assist local retailers...not an easy initiative. But, Visit Fort Collins may have cracked the code. They've just launched a new service to let residents and consumers across the country buy goods and services from local vendors from one centralized website and payment system.

Bravo...and we can't wait to see more of this type of innovation as we move into the new year!

These Are the Drones You're Looking For

Holiday Lighting installations have become major destination drivers over the past couple decades...but, in the year of the 'VID, what is a community to do?

Last week, Milwaukee's Holiday Lights Festival added 200 drones to the show...and, it is absolutely amazing and mesmerizing.

Culinary Ghosts

As we shared last Thursday, the impact of the government's ham-handed response to the 'VID has hit restaurants and hospitality businesses especially hard. Here in Madison, a number of iconic restaurants have closed for the winter...and some have sadly closed forever.

An hour or so south of the Mad City, a number of Rockford restaurants have taken a different tack, creating what they call "Ghost Restaurants." These are eateries that exist virtually and often offer fare that isn't on the menu at the host kitchen but is still prepared there. Like a Mexican restaurant selling pizza and an Italian restaurant selling wings.

In an article in the Rockford Register-Star, restauranteur Paul Sletten said, “I had staff who needed hours. I had our hog farmer Joe at McKenna Farms who needed to sell pigs. It was less about making money and more about helping our staff...we have about 19 employees, and we have made work for all of them.”

And isn't that what people in the hospitality industry do? Look out for each other? So sad that some of the most noble business people around are being left adrift by our elected officials.

This is How Government Should Work

You gotta love the entrepreneurial spirit in the face of a global crisis. Three friends from the Twin Cities are planning to open a brewery in Burnsville MN next month called the Ineffable Brewing Company. As with any such venture, there is typically a staggering gauntlet of regulatory hoops to traverse. But apparently, the economic struggles brought on by the response to the 'VID has the City of Burnsville reassessing how it works with local businesses.

Dan Gustafson is a Burnsville city council member (and Board member of Experience Burnsville). In a recent interview on KSTP-TV, he said, "We've gone from 'these are the rules' to 'how can we make this work?' And that's how we're operating out here these days."

Bravo Burnsville. And here's hoping that more communities realize that going back to "these are the rules" isn't nearly as effective in Place Making as "how can we make this work."

Congratulations to the crew preparing for their grand opening. We can't wait for our next visit to Burnsville to experience Ineffable.

Shakespeare on the Zoom

One of the delights in living in South Central Wisconsin is American Players Theatre. Shakespeare (and other classics) are performed each evening under the stars (and the bats) and weekend afternoons, on a stage nestled into a hillside near Spring Green (Frank Lloyd Wright's former Wisconsin haunt). It is one of the blessings we look forward to as Winter gives way to Spring, and Spring to Summer.

Alas, poor Yorick, there will be no outdoor season in this year of "the VID." But, that's not stopping APT from "playing in the woods" (albeit virtually). Tomorrow evening, they'll be performing "Julius Ceasar" via Zoom on Wisconsin Public Television and their own American Players Theatre Facebook page.

And yes, I know tomorrow is also the premiere of "Hamilton" on Disney+. Luckily, both will be available to stream on your schedule...and Wisconsin Public TV is waiving its geographic restrictions so anyone can see all of APT's Zoomy productions through July 26. 

Thanks APT...this will make this season's parting a far less sweet sorrow.

That Fine Line

As governments begin to consider the relaxation of restrictions on business and gathering, Destination Marketing Organizations, as they are financially able, will begin to re-enter the arena of competing for the visitor economy.

In our discussions with DMOs across the nation this past week, several are preparing for that moment to launch new initiatives to restart travel to their communities. When a State or City says the economy can restart, their DMOs will be ready.

But, should they? There is a new balance that must be weighed between our job and our residents. While government may say that our communities are open, will our residents feel the same? Will our natural urge to market be viewed by locals as a threat to their health? 

I totally get that we need to bring visitors back to our hotels, restaurants and attractions, stat. Our economies require no less. But, we need to balance that need with the fear our residents may feel about inviting outsiders into our towns. 

I don't have the answer...only the knowledge that we need to get this balance right.

Sweet Lemonade

As we at DMOproz exist in the travel space, the impact of COVID-19 has been pronounced. But, just as we talk about those being impacted that are not in the frontlines of our hospitality world (like butchers), there are countless other businesses impacted that we rarely consider.

One of Terri's acquaintances is a professional photographer...who is likely getting a raft of wedding postponements. But, Samantha Cole isn't about to curl up in a ball. Check out this recent post from her:

Since we are all sticking this out together, and most of you are home with your family, this might be a great time to capture some (distance) family photos.

How is this done? You step outside on your porch quick for a family photo and I stay in my car or just outside of my car and shoot from a distance. I have a great lens to get close from a far distance.

This might be a great way to capture some family moments and also keep our safe distances.

If interested let me know. Email: scolephoto@gmail.com

$35/Family :)

Plus, I would LOVE to donate $5 of each session to our local food banks.

I love the ingenuity of us all...and the care for those that hurt.

We are so going to beat this.

And, yeah...the image is one of her creations.

You Can Check in Anytime You Like

Alas, the Night Man in the Eagles' classic "Hotel California" said that to a guest over 40 years ago...and it's just becoming a thing.

We've all been there, especially those of us that red-eye or fly internationally. But, even those of us that hit town at Noon have had to wait until the obligatory 3pm check-in time at most hotels. And, of course, short-staffed hotels are increasingly missing that mark.

But a movement has begun in the smaller, upscale, independent hotel groups around the world to allow customers, upon room availability, to check-in at any time of the day or night. While it could become an additional revenue stream, several of the hotels interviewed for a recent Skift article maintain the move is an opportunity to build loyalty among clients that have many choices in where they lay their head.

And, implementation is deceptively simple. Rather than having a morning and an afternoon crew to clean and prep rooms, these ingenious hotels are scheduling housekeepers on an hourly-rotating schedule.

Brilliant...and it only took 40 years.

A Virtual Destination Marketing Summit

Excited to be presenting at The Destination on the Left Virtual Summit, a new kind of conference for the travel industry - one without registration costs or travel time. My friend and podcaster Nicole Mahoney has gathered 17 industry experts (and past guests on her show) that are ready to share their knowledge with you December 9th through the 11th.

The best part? You don't have to hop on a plane or book a hotel because you'll absorb hours of content, all from the comfort of your office or home. The second best part is it's free. Check out the lineup of speakers at the link above and reserve your free ticket.

And, you can get a sneak peek at some of the topics I'll be covering by checking out Nicole's interview with me earlier this year.