Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Suffering Congress Ignores

Few have been spared from the pain wrought by the 'VID. But, it's the small business owner that has been impacted the most. And, when one recognizes that roughly 95% of tourism-related businesses are classified as "small business" by the SBA, you have your proof that travel and hospitality have been hurt the worst. Yet, Congress fiddles while small businesses close, wiping out hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs and millions of jobs.

A restauranteur in Minocqua recently closed his business until next season, citing the lack of State leadership in an insane, partisan-fueled stop-start-stop dance that has been Wisconsin. His closing line in a Facebook post announcing the close was "Please join me in voting against everyone who hurt us on November 3."

You'd think that, in the less than 50 days to election day, our elected leaders would be focused on voters over campaign contributors and political ideology. But, I see no such evidence as scores of business owners shutter their dreams and the livelihoods of so many. Think they're pissed? Think they'll vote?

Maybe what our elected leaders all need is to read this open letter from one of the owners of the now-shuttered Mermaid Inn on New York City's Second Avenue. I dare any member of Congress to read the owners' story and not be galvanized to do something NOW to assist these businesses who were forced to close in March. 

Because, if action isn't taken, I dare say that there will be a sizable portion of the more than 15 million people that were employed in the restaurant industry in this country in March that will give voice to their disgust at what Congress has become on November 3rd.

Or, one must ask, does Congress even care?

An Archer Hits Her Mark

Those of us in the Destination Marketing and Tourism field have been left adrift in the Federal response to the 'VID. With legislation that would bring some relief stalled in Washington over philosophical differences that just simply don't matter anymore, DMO pros are writing impassioned missives to urge action.

Our friend Rick Antonson penned one a week or so ago that hit a nerve. And, Destination Madison's Deb Archer so nailed it last week in her op-ed piece in the Wisconsin State Journal.

There are people that are surviving these times...and for every one of them, there is someone who isn't:

"For every local resident who glides across Lake Wingra in a kayak, there is an out-of-work tourism industry worker who is swimming in debt. For every group of friends who picnic in a shady park shelter, there’s a family headed by an unemployed hospitality professional who doesn’t know how much longer they’ll have a home. For every restaurant striving to survive by serving outdoors, there’s another that’s permanently closed its doors."

The full column is here.

Your job? Try to beat Deb's words. And then, get them heard.

We are all depending on you.

How We View Ourselves Differently

When the 'VID began to rear its ugly head, Destination Marketing Organizations pivoted on a dime and came to the aid of their business communities. DMOs went from Destination Marketers to Destination Leaders overnight.

Not that what recently happened in Cedar Rapids IA wouldn't have happened before the pandemic (because that's just how the CEO of Think Iowa City is wired), but it's a wonderful example of DMOs that are increasingly being understood as a vital agency to the lifeblood of the community.

The destruction that whipped through Cedar Rapids during the recent Derecho left tens of thousands of people without power for days, grain silos crushed, millions of acres of crops destroyed, homes and apartment buildings damaged and destroyed. 

Cedar Rapids is 20 minutes up the road from Iowa City...but that didn't stop Think Iowa City CEO Josh Schamberger from quickly assembling a crew of University of Iowa athletes, coaches and other volunteers to make that drive to help strangers recover.

That's what Destination Leaders do...even for other towns. Even for competitors.

Josh Rocks.

The Path Forward

In the years since he departed Tourism Vancouver, our friend Rick Antonson has traveled the world, spread the gospel of "Cathedral Thinking" and written several sensational books (To Timbuktu for a Haircut is a joy and Route 66 Still Kicks is a blast). He is one of only a handful of authors that I can say I slide their newest book to the top of my often very long queue of books I want to read when one is published.

So, it's no surprise that his recent op-ed piece in the Vancouver Sun would be just as eloquent...and is probably the most engaging and influential analysis of the travel industry's present situation as I've seen.

Regardless of whether you work in the Destination Marketing space (but especially if you do), this read is a must.

Thank you, Rick.

 

Who Do We Believe

It's not the CDC. It's not State Health Officials. And, it certainly isn't the White House.

In their just-released American Traveler Sentiment Study, Longwoods International finds that trust in those that we should, ostensibly, trust is dropping like a stone. Trust in the CDC has dropped to 45%. And, how wouldn't it...after urging us all to physically distance ourselves but recently shifting gears to say schools should re-open? And trust in the White House Coronavirus Task Force is now at 17%? Why does the media even bother to cover the daily briefings? Nothing better to do?

It's a sad moment indeed when people believe Social Media more than those that have been elected and selected to lead.

Winter is coming.

It's Go Time

The vast majority of Destination Marketing Organizations were blocked from receiving any support from the CARES Act. Yeah, that makes no sense whatsoever...but it is what it is. The newly introduced HEALS initiative will rectify that, assuming it gets through Congress and the President without any tampering.

And, that's where you come in. Congress really doesn't understand the power of Destination Marketing to revive the economy (hell, most people don't). So they need to hear from all of us...right now...before they recess in a week. 

Don't know what to say or who to call (besides Ghostbusters)? Click here. The US Travel Association has gotcha.

Every voice is needed to make sure this effort doesn't come off the rails or die on the rocks. Let's all do our part to save our Visitor Economy...and, by doing so, the Nation's.

 

Naming Your Own Fauci

As Clean and Safe is the new Black for Destination Marketing Organizations, two DMOs (and possibly more) have announced that they have appointed healthcare professionals to advise their work in welcoming visitors back to town.

The Philadelphia CVB launched its Health Pledge and named Dr. David Nash as its Chief Health Advisor to provide direct advice and guidance to meeting and event planners as they re-envision the meeting and convention experience.

And, Discover Long Island has named Dr. Michele C. Reed as the organization's Official Health & Wellness Ambassador. In this newly created role, Dr. Reed will act as an advisor on health and safety-related protocols to tourism industry leaders, provide safe travel tips to visitors and share her recommendations on how to enjoy Long Island's tourism attractions and vast outdoor experiences.

Beyond reassuring prospective visitors that the destination takes their safety seriously, this move also sends a strong signal to residents that the DMO is dedicated to their health and wellness, too.

Smart.

Mask Chaos

It has been fascinating to witness the pushback by some regarding the wearing of face coverings during this pandemic. No one seemed to have much of a problem with "No Shirt, No Shoes = No Service" over the years. But, asking people to wear a mask in stores has resulted in violence. It's as if this is the biggest affront to liberty facing us in this country (it's not).

Like Longwoods International and Destination Analysts, our friends at H2R are performing regular research into the intent of consumers to resume traveling. And, in their most recent study, Jerry Henry pointed out that the most willing to travel right now are also largely against mask enforcement. But, that most would wear a face covering if required.

It's "Mask Chaos," he said.

Too funny...except, it's not. Not really.

Mask up, y'all.

Welcome Back Videos

Over the past few weeks, Smart Meetings magazine has been running a contest to select the best DMO or Hotel "Welcome Back" video for meeting planners.

And, the winner is...Gretchen Hall and our friends at the Little Rock CVB.

But, if you've got a moment...check out the creativity of all the DMOs that participated.

Smiles On...Masks Up!

A DMO Joins the Cause

Following the lead of hundreds of major corporations that have suspended their advertising on Facebook to send a message to Mark Zuckerburg that the toleration of hate and misinformation must stop, the Charlottesville/Albermarle CVB has pulled its advertising as well.

As Eldridge Cleaver said, "you either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem."

Well played, Charlottesville. Anybody else?