Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

America's Top Cities

The latest edition of America's Top Cities is out today and DMOU had the opportunity to talk with Resonance's Chris Fair on how the rankings are determined and why they matter. It's no surprise that big cities dominate the top 50 because they have more assets than smaller cities. But, there are some surprising cities in the bottom 50 that point the way to how DMOs can elevate community brand and magnetism to increase awareness and interest. Chris breaks it all down in this exclusive interview on how the rankings have evolved post-COVID. Cool stuff.

Next on DMOU: Peggy Williams-Smith

How does a very Blue City land a very Red Convention? Visit Milwaukee’s Peggy Williams-Smith joins DMOU to share the story of how her Team and City landed the 2024 Republican National Convention. We’ll also discuss how Milwaukee was named one of National Geographic’s Top Destinations and how Visit Milwaukee has expanded the organization’s community awareness, visibility and support. Plus a Bonus Round question on her deep Beer City roots.

Join us.

That's Bold

Every year seems to favor a new word...intentional one year, paradigm the next, pivot during the plague, etc.

In virtually every interaction I've had with community leaders in the destinations with which we've been working, this year's word is "bold." As in community leaders looking to their Destination Marketing Organization to "be bold." While DMOs are under fire in several destinations, there are many other communities that are looking to their DMOs to step up and lead. Which is exactly what we should be doing. As I've said before (and will to my last breath), our sector is less DMO than DLO: Destination Leadership Organizations.

And, there is no other DLO that has been bolder this year than the Sedona Chamber and Tourism Bureau. Readers of this blog have followed with us the dumpster fire of a community that lost their shit 5 years ago. Listeners of the DMOU podcast have heard former CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff explain how the Chamber moved aggressively to mitigate issues that residents found onerous.

On Monday, the Sedona Chamber cut ties with the City and called upon it to rescind the portion of the Room Tax that historically funded tourism promotion. In doing so, the Chamber took a bold step to support local business and the community's economy in ways in which elected officials are unable...doing what's right without fear of retaliation or retribution by people who are singularly motivated by what will get them re-elected and not what's right for the community.

Bold kudos to you, Sedona Chamber/Bureau. Here's to doing what's right, regardless the cost.

3 Years After

It was three years ago yesterday that I sat across the desk of a County Commissioner who was railing about the $250,000 that sat in a reserve account of his DMO. I remember suggesting that such a reserve account was appropriate, especially given the unknown we were facing with a little understood virus called COVID.

Three years ago today, I was facilitating a Strategic Planning workshop with that County's DMO, the day after it was announced that the NCAA was cancelling March Madness. The spectre of the unknown was clearly in the air.

As I climbed into my rental car to head to the airport, I received a text message that my flight to DTW was running late and that I would likely miss my connection to MSN. Delta was suggesting I fly to ATL to make a different connection home. However, if that connection also failed, I'd be much farther from home.

It was at that moment I sensed what was ahead. I called my rental car company and asked if I could just drive home instead. They said yes.

I didn't fly again for eight months.

Ahead of the Curve

Three years ago this week, Longwoods International published the first of what would become the American Travel Sentiment Survey. They, like many of us, were sensing a sea-change in the way we all would live our lives with this "thing" called COVID. Aside from being assured it would magically disappear by Easter, those of us with half a brain knew this was going to be a serious blow to our way of life.

That said, we also didn't think it would last this long...but Longwoods has just released Wave 71 in the series of studies to help us all traverse the landscape. And 30% of Americans still monitor COVID while making travel plans. But, there's lots of good news in Wave 71, which you can find here.

And thanks to Amir, the Team at Longwoods and Miles for keeping us in the know lo these three years.

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...