Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

New on DMOU > Detroit's Claude Molinari

This year’s NFL Draft was a stone cold win. The biggest first day crowd in history. The biggest global television audience ever. And, it placed Detroit on the world stage for three sensational days. Ummm, Detroit? On this episode of DMOU, we meet Claude Molinari, who describes the philosophy behind recasting the Motor City’s narrative and the tactics Visit Detroit is employing to set Detroit up as the new American renaissance city. And, in the Bonus Round, one of the more interesting side hustles we’ve heard. Join us.

Owning Your Co-Creators

Macomb IL. Recently marketed as Forgottonia. You know the drill. Small town looking to attract visitors. Uphill climb for most. 

I know all too well...my first DMO fit squarely in that category.

But every small town has a hook. For a number of years, Macomb hosted Summer Camp for the then St. Louis Rams. It's always been a cool downtown with unique retail and dining. But there wasn't that one thing.

Last week, that changed. Macomb is now the largest Monopoly board in the world.

The creator of of Monopoly lived in Macomb...and the DMO there decided to own that. The new destination game requires an app, and the Town Square is used as the game board. Like traditional Monopoly, you start on “GO,” on the southeast corner of the Square. On the app, you roll the dice and play the game, which leads you around Downtown. The game has many of the same elements as Monopoly, but along the way you can earn coupons to local businesses. Macomb and Lizzie Magie (the creator) trivia is also a part of the game.

How completely freaking cool is that?

We're working to have CVB Director Jock Hedblade on the DMOU Podcast soon.

Love, love, love it.

It's in the Words

When someone with an agenda gets to write the survey questions, the results are often dubious. That's what has happened in Durango for the past couple years as the County has surveyed residents on their opinions regarding the investment of Room Tax revenue. And, as expected, the vast majority 0f respondents agree that at least some o0f those revenues should go somewhere else.

According to the Durango Herald: The survey question informed respondents that the lodgers tax revenues are used “for advertising and marketing for tourism,” and asked whether they would support “shifting more funds … to other purposes related to the impacts of tourism, such as housing and childcare for the tourism-related workforce, including seasonal workers, and for other workers in the community, with less funding for tourism marketing.”

But, as Visit Durango's Rachel Brown counters, the set-up for the question is all wrong. As we featured on our conversation with her on DMOU, Visit Durango's program of work is far more than "advertising and marketing," easy marks for any community dealing with concerns about congestion. Indeed, Visit Durango's work in sustainability and stewardship is among the best in the country.

But, somebody with an agenda wrote a survey question that makes the DMO look out of touch. Here's to the Herald for attempting to balance the conversation.

Next Up on the DMOU Podcast: Tampa's Santiago Corrada

Destinations International has long held that boycotting States over legislation that runs counter to an Association’s values has the unintended consequence of hurting the very people we purport to support. And, Tampa Bay’s selection as this year’s Annual Conference site certainly raised some eyebrows in some quarters. DI has countered by saying this year’s event will serve as a Case Study in showing how destinations can support communities that would otherwise be negatively impacted by a boycott.

On this episode of DMOU, Visit Tampa Bay’s Santiago Corrada joins us to share how his DMO has been connecting convention attendees with unconventional experiences, the kind attendees will be glad they didn’t boycott. Join us.

Next on DMOU: Denny Edwards

One would be hard pressed to identify a destination with more assets in the pipeline than the Greater Raleigh Region. $400 million Convention Center expansion, $75 million HQ Hotel, $300 million in Arena Upgrades, $75 million Sports Complex…and more. Visit Raleigh’s Denny Edwards joins us to tell the stories behind how so many projects came to fruition. From Conventions to Sports to Major Events…you’ll hear it all.

Next on DMOU: Esports

Mystified by the explosive growth of esports? Prepared to be de-mystified as PLAYHRDR Advisors’ Ed Tomasi joins us on the latest episode of the DMOU Podcast. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ed explains how both large and small destinations can break into this growing market and shares the steps DMOs need to take to understand their opportunities in the esports ecosystem.

And PLAYHRDR has just released a study on trends in the esports tournament arena. You can find that report HERE.

Next Up on DMOU: Maura Gast

The philosophies that underpinned the art and science of the Destination Marketing world changed 15 years ago this Summer. That’s when Maura Gast first uttered those now famous words, “If you Build a Place…” On this edition of DMOU, Maura shares the backstory of how her “Building Blocks” came to be and how the entire community development sector is coming around to recognize that “it all starts with the visit.” Plus, she shares her thoughts on additional ways to explain the value of DMOs and her take on highlights from the Board Leadership for Destinations Symposium.

Next on DMOU > Sarah Miller

One of the newest marketing opportunities out there is NIL (Name / Image / Likeness)…and we touched on it briefly in Episode 122 with Experience Columbia SC’s Kelly Barbrey. On this edition of DMOU, we sit down with Destination Ann Arbor CEO Sarah Miller to hear how they have entered this arena and what they believe the future holds for them and other DMOs in this space. We also discuss her experience as a relatively new CEO...and talk about our shared experiences at the A&W. Join us.

Sister Cities Maximized

Sister Cities. Many communities maintain such relations but how many maximize the opportunity before them? On this episode of DMOU, Mary Kay Wydra (Explore Western Mass) and Carline Poland (Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance) share their sensational experience of developing a bi-continental relationship that drives culture, heritage and significant visitation to their respective destinations.

New on DMOU: Sophia Hyder Hock

On this very special edition of DMOU, Destinations International’s Chief Social Inclusion Officer Sophia Hyder Hock shares the evolutionary shift from EDI to a more inclusive platform in which DMOs can move beyond silos to develop truly welcoming initiatives. We talk about how this concept came to fruition and how DMOs can successfully utilize new resources through the Social Inclusion portal of the DI site. And, you’ll hear how Sophia’s parents elegantly reacted when, as a child, she asked for a baby elephant.

Join us.