Last week, we shared the story of how Visit Tulsa had transformed a drive-in movie theatre into a venue for their Annual Meeting. No sooner than we posted, we saw that Darien Schaefer had a similar idea for the Visit Pensacola annual meeting. But, rather than be on the silver screen, his program was staged from home plate at the baseball stadium where the Blue Wahoos play.
Who else has gotten creative with their DMO's Annual Meeting?
Photo Credit: Gregg Pachkowski / Pensacola News Journal
While weddings, concerts and large events have been shown to be potential super-spreader events, we have been excited to see a number of larger conventions and meetings that have been staged without any transmission of the ‘VID. And, that’s because these events are run by professionals for professionals…in other words, people who take safety protocols seriously.
Greg Edwards and his crew at Catch Des Moines recently released a promotional video, assuring meeting and event professionals that the DMO is just as serious about health and safety as they are. And, it carries with it that conspiratorial wink for which Catch Des Moines (and, more specifically, Greg) is known.
Nicely played.
Destinations International staged the first day of its annual Advocacy Summit as a virtual event last week...and the early returns are two thumbs up.
There were a ton of takeaways during the day long idea-fest...but one resonated most with me.
Gary Sanchez, Director of Public Affairs for Visit Dallas, shared some of the trials and tribulations his organization endured after an external audit excoriated the agency last year, putting its contract in jeopardy with the City. While many of the findings merely showcased that the auditors didn't understand how Destination Sales and Marketing works, there was enough smoke to capture the attention of the City Council, some of whom were demanding a split with Visit Dallas.
How did it come to this? Gary said, "We sold Dallas...we never sold Visit Dallas."
And, ain't that the truth? We are often so busy doing our work that we forget to let our investors know what and how we do.
As we emerge from this tragic crisis, we must vow to never lose sight of the fact that we are in service to our communities. And, that means copious communication until we are sick of communicating.
Because, at that moment, we will have just cracked the surface.
Day Two of the Advocacy Summit is November 12th.
With no disrespect to those behind all the graphics and ads that have been developed, encouraging people to Mask Up, we simply love this ad from Visit Berlin.
A spokesperson said that they could not afford to moralize from on high...but, instead, celebrate the country's "coarse but hearty" culture in their messaging. The translation: "A finger wag to those without a mask: we stick to Corona rules."
It may not sway the malakas that believe their "rights" supersede the common good...but, let's hope it emboldens those of us that do care about our neighbors to mimic "the wag" when we are confronted by those that don't give a shit about those around them.
I've always been fascinated that nobody seems to care that the two most important jobs in the land are simply ignored for two months every four years. Indeed, the jobs of those running for re-election at any level are pretty much abdicated as incumbents turn their focus solely on keeping their jobs.
In a normal year, I suppose we could let this slide...but, this is far from a normal year. There are initiatives on the table that require immediate attention. Not after the election and not after the inauguration. Now.
And, as the Senate turns its attention to confirming a Supreme Court Justice (when the ranking Party blocked the previous administration's attempt to fill an empty seat on the grounds that an election was nigh), forgive me for my short-term view of the world. In the hotel world alone, the absence of another round of Federal relief will force 74% of hotels to lay off additional staff and 67% would face closing their doors and moving into foreclosure.
And, the Administration is tinkering with another round of aid to the airline industry because they've got a bigger lobby.
Every hotel in the land should ensure that every employee is registered to vote. And, every hotel should provide transportation to the polls next month for those that choose to vote in person.
Because this Congress and this President have failed you all.
Saying that he can no longer wait on the Federal Government, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers yesterday announced $100 million in relief to the Tourism and Hospitality industry and small businesses within the Badger State...and, yes, Destination Marketing Organizations will be part of the package.
“Small businesses, including the tourism and lodging industries, are the backbone of our Wisconsin communities,” said the Governor. “The ongoing pandemic, combined with a lack of action at the federal level may force many of these businesses to shutter their doors for good. That’s why we’re investing another $100 million in businesses and communities across our state. Our communities are in desperate need of additional federal support, but we can’t wait a moment longer to do what we can here in Wisconsin.”
Bravo, Mr. Governor. And, thank you.
The President has directed that Republicans discontinue negotiations on a Coronavirus Relief plan, essentially meaning that there will be no relief until sometime next year, if ever. And, for tens of thousands of us...that will be too late.
I get that people have their reasons for supporting a man whose only redeeming quality is that the stock market has bloomed during his Presidency or that he is going to stack the Supreme Court...but, honestly? A President that effectively says "fuck you" to thousands of small business owners and puts millions of jobs in jeopardy to score political points with his base and Party? Who the hell does that but a narcissistic game show host that doesn't have this nation's good as a goal? If you lose your business or job, does who sits on the Supreme Court really matter?
And, don't parrot back that the Democrats aren't negotiating in good faith. The mark of a true leader is to keep trying to find a solution regardless of the tactics of the other side. Sadly, we don't have a leader in the White House. We have a divider; someone who thrives on conflict.
It's time to vote to save our economy, our hospitality industry and our nation's promise.
If all those who have been hurt by this President's cavalier attitude toward the pandemic, racial equity and this country's future could just abandon their misplaced belief in a failed philosophy of nationalism...could we actually return to American greatness?
It's time to take our government back. Unless you have a really strong argument in opposition (and, I'm so ready to listen to your retort), isn't it time to vote a different "party-line?'
Next month, vote against every Federal incumbent. They are all complicit in the dumpster fire in which we find ourselves.
Vote "no mas."
A coalition of over 200 travel-related businesses, municipalities and associations is demanding that Congress act on a relief plan before the November election. It's hard to believe, but that last relief plan Congress provided some segments of the economy was in March. And, that plan didn't focus on the segments of the service economy most impacted by the government's response to the 'VID.
But, as I mused earlier this month, members of Congress must be reminded of the sheer number of voters who are incredibly pissed off at their inaction...and will likely vote against any incumbent, at this point in time. The clock is ticking for a lot of voters.
For others, it's already over.
Here is COVID Relief Now's open letter to Congress.
Check out the signatories. While nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to Washington politics, I sure wouldn't want to be standing for re-election and know that I have been complicit in the carnage that awaits.
The team at the Cabarrus County CVB has been masterful at their use of video during the pandemic. Their "Pit Stop" video early in the crisis was one of the most hopeful and heartfelt videos we saw last Spring.
I know that many of us in the Destination Marketing sphere believed that the unimaginable carnage that descended on the travel and hospitality industries during the second and third quarters of this year would result in a newly sophisticated appreciation of our role in the economies and quality of life in our communities. While many people supported their favorite businesses by stepping up their patronage of those that could deliver product virtually, distantly and/or take-out, so many of our community leaders have yet to fully understand the acute pain.
With all due respect, they have been dealing with their own struggles and, unless they knew someone from the hospitality and performance sectors, they haven't yet experienced the pain.
Donna Carpenter and her crew are back with two new videos. One encourages area businesses to get certified as safe and healthy with the voices of local partners spreading the message. Which, of course, is the most effective way to get viewers engaged.
But, it is the second video that is so amazingly powerful. "The State of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry" peels back the happy face we typically show the world to showcase the pain our partners experience as they are forced to layoff staff and potentially close their doors. It puts a face to the pain; it gives voice to the agony so many feel.
And, we can surely hope that it will resonate with Local, State and Federal leaders that there are so many of their constituents crying out for their help.
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?
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