Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

What Hoteliers are Thinking Today

Prior to the Plague, the best Destination Marketing professionals had a pretty good idea of what their hoteliers were thinking. But today? 

The DMOU podcast is back from Holiday Hiatus with STR's Vail Ross, talking about the new demands, pressures and opportunities facing today's hotel executives. And, it's one of over 100 conversations waiting for you in the DMOU vault.

And, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts to ensure that you're notified the moment a new episode drops. Because we're looking forward to a great 2023.

The Insanity of COVID Directives

Honestly, on the day this country requires vax status for Chinese travelers...is this is where we've arrived?

The world eagerly awaits the return of Chinese tourists.

Chinese tourists are ready to travel abroad again. Here's why some countries are hesitant.

Canada to require negative COVID-19 test for air travelers coming from China.

Lack of Info on China's Covid-19 Surge Stirs Global Concern.

Chinese families 'start burning bodies of their loved ones in the streets' amid Covid explosion as corpses pile up in crematoriums and funeral homes.

IATA urges governments to avoid ‘knee-jerk’ rules for China travelers.

Again...Honestly? The country with the highest COVID surge in the world is saying their citizens can move freely about the globe, infecting others? And countries are taking shit about zenophobia?

This isn't about ethnicity..this is about public safety.

Sigh.

New on DMOU: Lynn Tillotson

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.

The Evolving DMO Workspace

Honored to be a guest of the Travel Vertical podcast last week, discussing with Laurie Jo Miller Farr and Adam Stoker how the Destination Marketing and Leadership Organization world is evolving with new job titles and responsibilities that were generally unheard of five years ago.

As I suggested during our conversation, one of the hardest parts of the Plague was saying goodbye to DMO veterans that have since transitioned to other jobs or industries. While we miss them, it also has provided the opportunity for DMO CEOs to re-evaluate their Org Chart and deployment of human talent.

Not a topic on which I traditionally riff, but a fun conversation all the same. Thanks, Travel Vertical!

The Return of Conference Swag

In keeping with our theme of what to Keep, Cut and Add to our program of work, we turn our attention to Sales Swag.

Now, to be sure, our firm isn't above providing gifts to past guests on DMOU...but we've always draw the line at passing out swag at trade shows and other appearances. We know what we do with the "premium items" that are often shoved into our hands and welcome bags (see image at left).

During the Plague, the amount of swag Destination Marketing Organizations bought and distributed clearly declined...because face-to-face events were few and far between. But, now that meetings and trade shows are returning...so is the swag. But, at what cost?

According to this article from Fast Company, the environmental cost of both producing and the discarding this stuff is substantial. And, then there is the cost to a Destination Marketing Organization's budget.

Is there another way to stay top-of-mind with potential customers you met? A follow-up phone call, maybe? A hand-written card?

Just a thought...

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?

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.

Zucchero

As we huddled around our TVs, nervous to venture out in those first few weeks of the then-unknown that was COVID, we began to see musicians creatively utilize streaming technology to entertain and assure us that there would be a better day. While it's taking a lot longer than many of us expected, I think back to a televised event in April of 2020 called "One World: Together at Home" in which Lady Gaga helped curate a fundraiser to support frontline health workers with hours of performances from artists around the world.

It's where Terri and I first experienced Zucchero. It was a moment that we looked at each other and exclaimed, "he's been out there for 50 years. How did we not know this amazing voice?" The song that enraptured us was "Everbody's Gotta Learn Sometime."

Since then, we've been diving into his amazing catalogue of work, including this sensational duet with Sting.

On this Music Friday, we share another duet...this time with Eric Clapton.

Hey Man? How did we miss you over all these years?

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.

The Dilemma of Housekeeping

As we all struggle to rebound from the carnage of the 'VID, travel has changed in ways that many consumers can't begin to understand unless they work in the industry.

While there was a heightened fear of having housekeepers in hotel rooms during the height of the pandemic (for all of us), hotels cut back on housekeeping...which, of course, slashed hours for hundreds of thousands of housekeepers. And, while fears of infection are lessening, most hotels are keeping with the "on demand" housekeeping strategy...which continues to sideline housekeepers as other hospitality jobs return.

The housekeepers that are back, however, are now facing rooms that take significantly longer to clean because, as one said in this article from Travel Weekly, "it's scum on scum." And, the way revenge tourists are now trashing rooms makes the job even harder for the individuals that have some of the hardest and most disgusting jobs in the sector.

All the more reason to add another buck or two to your standard housekeeper tip when when you check-out.

N'est-ce pas?