Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

A Day of Hope

I'm not blind to the fact that roughly 50% of Americans voted for the other side. And, I'm not blissfully unaware that a large number of those that voted for the former President were likely not watching the coverage of this Inauguration Day. But, that's a shame.

Because what was on display today in the nation's Capital was a breath of fresh air. An Inaugural Address that offered inspiration and hope; almost Kennedy-esque and, in retrospect, a stark contrast to the darkness of the last address. An evening devoid of balls and parties in which mere mortals could never picture themselves...but instead, a televised celebration of America to which we were all invited with front line Americans featured alongside some of our favorite performers. And, an evening that concluded with the most bad-ass fireworks display I've ever seen. And, here's to future inaugurations continuing this tradition. Tonight, I feel empowered to be inspired.

Those who know me well, know that I am fiercely independent in my political views. I believe the two-party system is the axis of evil. I believe it prevents us from what we could be as a nation...and that the media prefers the two-party system because it makes their narrative easier, not our country better. Thus, other points of view don't get the air they deserve.

Put another way...do you want Coke and Pepsi as your only choices in life, or do you occasionally hanker for a Mountain Dew?

So here's the deal. As a nation, we test-drove the Trumpian model and found it to be good for the economy but bad for a boatload of other things. So, all I ask is that we test-drive Biden-Harris. A majority of this country's citizens wanted a change. Let's see if they can deliver.

I hope to God that they can...for all of us.

Image Credit: NBC

 

Best Analogy Ever

As we look out upon the uncertainty of 2021, we see hope and fear. Quoted today in the Northstar Meetings Group's e-newsletter, former DMO CEO and current CEO of IAEE David DuBois nails exactly where we are:

"Imagine you're driving through a snowstorm and all of a sudden it's getting brighter on the horizon. The next thing you know, you see sun — and you're thrilled — but you’re still scared to drive on the snow and ice that’s on the road. That's the deal. Sunshine is in the future. But we still have a lot of snow and ice on the highways that we need to drive on.”

Spring is Coming.

Auld Lang Syne

On the last day of a truly horrible year, we have nothing but hope as we look to the next. And, Terri and I wish you a new year full of truth, promises kept and generosity to all.

On this final Music Friday of 2020 (a day early), this adaptation of the classic New Year's toast rings particularly sincere. It's from the Hudson WI-based band called Yam Haus...with stunning videography of this year in the Twin Cities by JayBird Studios.

This is a 2020 version of "Auld Lang Syne."

What a gift to be alive, indeed.

Angels in the Snow

It goes without saying that we have lost so many loved ones this year...and so many that shouldn't have been lost. There are so many families traversing this Holiday Season grieving the loss of a parent or grandparent that meant so much...and should be around our tables this year.

While not exactly a Christmas song...it involves snow. And, for all of us that have lost fathers and mothers that encouraged us to live our lives with childlike abandon, this song is somehow perfect.

It didn't get the recognition it deserved when it was released almost ten years ago...but, in this Holiday Season, it may resonate just a bit more. 

This is Erica Lane and "Angels in the Snow."

The Chilling View from the Cliff

I'm sure that our political leaders believe this is all a case of Chicken Little. And sadly, they likely believe the data coming from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is being manipulated to paint a darker picture than reality warrants. Of course, that begs the question: If the AHLA isn't surveying its members, who would? 

The latest intel is scary as shit. 71% of hotels will be forced to shutter in the next 6 months without immediate assistance from local, State and Federal governments. I'm quite sure that the release of the vaccine is causing our elected officials to believe that they've dodged a bullet. Surely, impacted businesses can hold on until Spring, they likely think.

No. Every day that this industry is forced to wait is a death warrant for some of those 71%. The study shows that 71% will fail by June...but how many will close in January and February, typically the slowest occupancy months of the year in North America? 20%? 25%? 

And how many restaurants and retailers, hoping against hope that they'll score enough revenue over the Holidays will wake up on New Year's Day and say "we're out?"

If action doesn't come swiftly, I wonder how many elected officials will have challengers in the next election that have lost everything because of our government's ham-handed response to the virus, have a compelling story to tell and knowledge of what it takes to make an economy hum...and will kick their uncaring partisan asses to the curb.

While it's the last thing I want to see...we'll likely all be better off in that scenario.

We'll Make Our Own Decisions, Thank You

The most recent edition of Destination Analysts' Pandemic-related Travel Sentiment Index dropped earlier this week and, while long-range travel planning has ticked up with the arrival of the vaccines, the interest in short term travel continues to dim, likely based upon the post-Thanksgiving spikes around the country. And, it's about to happen all over again as governments start loosening restrictions. Which, as we look at the last month, is simply insane. But, elected officials clearly believe that, while they may be forgiven for banning Thanksgiving gatherings, they'll be skewered if they touch Christmas.

They really shouldn't be that concerned, of course, as Destination Analysts has found that less than 30% of those altering Holiday travel plans are doing it because of government edicts. Over the past nine months, consumers have deduced that the government simply can't be trusted...which is a true shame for our future.

No, we are basing our decisions on fear and science. 68% say they are changing plans for their own safety. 62% are concerned that they might infect another. And, 56% are concerned about the safety of their family. Me thinks there is something unsettlingly backward about those three numbers...but that just may be me.

What ever your decision this Holiday season, Mask up (and Vax up, whenever you can)...and let's get back to traveling once again.

Abandonment

It's a pretty powerful word: Abandoned.

But that's what millions in the hospitality industry are feeling. We've shared op ed pieces and communiques from restauranteurs on this blog that encapsulate the pain. But the message fails to motivate those that we have elected to take meaningful action.

So, we try again. This time, the missive is from Edward Lee, who has been forced to close 4 restaurants during the government's response to the pandemic.

From his piece in Bon Appetit: "Unfortunately for restaurant people, our skill set doesn’t translate well to other industries. We’re hyper-focused on one thing: hospitality. And when the industry crumbles, you have an entire population of people not equipped to do other jobs. I’ve devoted 29 years of my life to this; I can’t just go sell neckties or insurance. Yet the people in power don’t see that. They don’t see restaurant workers as a valuable sector of our society. Their attitudes are, ‘Well, they can go find other jobs.’ That’s just not the case."

So True. And, so sad that we have de-evolved into a culture where partisan politics ignores human suffering.

9 Out 10

In the 60s and 70s, advertising claims for products that might be considered questionable in their health benefits, would often resort to the fantastical "9 out of 10 doctors agree." Consumers weren't exactly clear on what the doctors agreed upon...but the inference was that the product was safe.

Well, here's a "9 out of 10" we can believe. New research from the US Travel Association indicates that 9 out of 10 Americans want another COVID Relief Bill. 

So, why is Congress continuing to fiddle at meaningful relief for the hospitality industry? The ability for an incumbent to secure future support from the electorate in those kind of numbers is gold, n'est-ce pas?

Nah...these rival gangs don't believe we'll vote our interests, only our Parties.

Let's reach out to them now...and suggest that they've never been more wrong. 

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!

Hey Ma...I'm on the Radio

If you are from the Destination Marketing world, you likely know (or know of) Kurt Burkhart. He spent over a quarter century helming DMOs in Charlottesville, Carlsbad and Flagstaff along with other high level tourism related posts in the Northern Mariana Islands.

He's just added radio talk show host to his impressive resume and I'll be his guest on this Sunday's show at 11am EST...along with Dave Bratton from Destination Analysts, Ryan George from Simpleview, Esra Calvert from Entrada Insights and Justin Kerns from the Winchester-Frederick County (VA) CVB. For our segment, we'll be discussing our recent position paper on the future of Community Marketing & Development.

Join us online.