Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The ROI of Stimulus Money

Amidst all the finger pointing regarding squandered CARES money...this is how it's done. And, yes...it was a Destination Marketing Organization that made it rain.

Visit Spokane was awarded $200,000 in CARES funds. To be fair, it was a pretty modest investment and one could expect modest returns.

But Meg Winchester and her team took that modest award and turned it into $3.8 million of hotel bookings.

It's another example of how stimulus money in the hands of a DMO has a greater impact than many of the recipients of federal funds can claim.

Just sayin...

They (Mostly) Like Us!

Yesterday, Longwoods International & Destinations International released the 2021 Resident Sentiment Study, revealing how both Americans and Canadians feel about aspects of the Travel and Tourism Industry.

We'll all take our own queues from the data. Our take is that the carnage wrought by COVID has slightly improved American attitudes regarding the importance of Tourism...but not nearly as much as one would have expected or desired. A bigger attitude shift comes when residents are asked if people who use Short Term Rentals can be disruptive to neighborhoods (i.e., is this segment of our industry beginning to wear out its welcome?).

You can learn more on these questions and more here. And, thanks to Longwoods and DI for the intel.

This is What Community Collaboration Looks Like

As many communities begin their recovery from COVID, Lansing MI faces an uncertain future. The State has cancelled leases on over 1 million square feet of Downtown office space and many State workers are still working remotely. The thousands of State workers that powered retail, lunch and happy hour business are nowhere to be seen...which has set off a cascade of business closings. Converting the vacant office space to apartments and condos isn't financially viable. It's a situation that, quite frankly, we haven't seen at this devastating a level anywhere else in the country.

Julie Pingston (CEO of the Greater Lansing CVB) along with the CEOs of the Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Area Partnership recently penned a letter to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer asking her to direct $5 million in Federal Recovery money into Downtown Lansing. 

Besides the fact that the State has a responsibility to its Capital City...what caught my eye is that none of the 3 community development agency signatories are asking that the money come their way. Instead, they are urging the Governor to invest the Recovery funds with Downtown Lansing, Inc., which has a plan to reduce office vacancies and establish a revolving loan fund to keep those businesses still standing afloat.

That's what Community Collaboration looks like. And, here's hoping that the State recognizes how dire the situation there has become for local businesses.

What an Invitation

Back in November, we opined on how cringe-worthy so many tourism videos featuring politicians can be...but that Newark's new video was a clear outlier...and an even clearer winner.

Not that we're ready to advise all our clients to follow Newark's lead...but we recently stumbled upon another simply sensational invitation. Reno Tahoe is hosting the National Conference of Mayors this Summer, and Mayor Hillary Schieve stars in a welcome video to encourage delegates to attend and to showcase her town.

Wow...best invitation video yet. And a pretty rockin' spin, Mayor!

Riding Down a Dream

It was the Summer of 2014. DMOproz had just been selected by Virginia's Blue Ridge to develop a Tourism Master Plan for the region. In one of our earliest meetings, CEO Landon Howard shared that he thought that the region could be known as the Mountain Biking Capital of the East Coast. After an afternoon on a bike, a member of our onsite Assessment Team confirmed Landon's hunch, saying their trails were among the most rugged and scenic he'd ever ridden.

In the years that followed, Virginia's Blue Ridge worked with local biking interests to secure Silver certification from the International Mountain Biking Association. And last week came news that a woman's cycling team with their eyes on the Olympics in 2024 has selected the destination as its hub of operations and training center for the next three years. Through a sponsorship agreement with the DMO, the team has been renamed Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24. Among the members is Jennifer Valente, who won gold and bronze in the 2021 Olympics. And, this isn't just a team that will be using the trails to prepare. They expect to host community rides and clinics so residents can get to know them and the sport.

Congratulations to Landon and the entire team at VBR. Well played and we couldn't be more thrilled.

Preparing the Next Generation of Hospitality Professionals

In our work with Destination Marketing Organizations across the nation since that first glimmer of comeback hope over a year ago, there has been one word on virtually everybody's lips: Workforce.

Or, more accurately, the severe, debilitating lack of it. And, a hundred different ways we've pondered how to emerge on the other side full-staffed. But, the problem is so monumental and pervasive...where to start?

Alabama announced a bold plan last week at their annual Conference on Tourism: $1 million to prepare the next generation of hospitality professionals. The program will allow students to train online through the State's 24-campus two-year college system, making the program accessible to virtually all citizens 16 and older, according to State Tourism Director Lee Sentell.

Bravo 'Bama. Looking forward to your lead!

 

Sammy, the Tourism Ambassador

Often, destinations engage spokesmodels that may have a fan base, but their resonance with the destination is tenuous (Arnold for Madrid, Richard Gere for Indonesia and, most recently, Rebel Wilson for Fiji).

Then there are the ones that do make sense (Paul Hogan for Australia and Josh Duhamel for North Dakota).

But, with all due respect to Croc and Josh, this week's announcement of Sammy Hagar as the Tourism Ambassador for Los Cabos is simply brilliant (though, what took y'all so long?).

Sammy opened the now iconic Cabo Wabo Cantina in the Spring of 2000 and that investment absolutely transformed a community that didn't have paved roads 22 years ago. He built several multi-million dollar tasting businesses there and he plays his club several times a year, driving an insane influx of visitors hoping to catch his impromptu appearances.

Dude put Cabo on the map. Truth.

On this Music Friday, Cabo's new spokesman shows his bonafides from the club he's owned since the turn of the century. It's Mas Tequilla, babies!

A NYE Like No Other

Followers of this blog know that Terri and I love our New Year's Eves to be hot and sweaty on a rolling dance floor. But for another New Year's Eve...we'll be passing on our passion because of the plague.

But this year, there's something to actually look forward to for us that are electing to stay in. As we shared with you previously, the 50th edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve will have its first countdown at 11E/8P live from San Juan, Puerto Rico...not too shabby a way to celebrate the city's 500th birthday. And, quite a coup for the team at Discover Puerto Rico.

Which is why I had to laugh when CNN announced earlier this month that they, too, would be counting down from Old San Juan tomorrow night.

Hey, you gotta love a two-fer, eh?

Should be fun...and we can't wait to see Puerto Rico on the world stage with these two international broadcasts.

New on DMOU: Brad Dean

If you're not following the DMOU Podcast, you're not getting instantly notified when new episodes are uploaded. Oh sure, you'll hear about them later in the month through our Z-Newsletter...but, like the new Ghostbusters movie, don'tcha wanna see it now?

We just posted a great conversation with Discover Puerto Rico's Brad Dean in which he riffs on a host of topics...but more importantly, reveals that he is the "Underwear King" of Champaign-Urbana IL.

Yeah...it's so worth your listen.

When Politicians are Spokesmodels

For some reason, some elected officials believe their video invitations to visit their destination is a good idea. It typically isn't.

I can think of only one such ad that ever worked...and it featured Ocean City Mayor Ed Meehan back in 2010.

Until now...Newark Mayor Raz Baraka simply nails his turn in this video, recently released by the Greater Newark CVB.

To Ricardo and company...you've joined some rarified air with this inspired video. Nicely played.

One Family, indeed.