Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

DEI is also Lingual

As Visit Baltimore's Al Hutchinson said on stage at this year's Annual Convention of Destinations International in Toronto, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion "is never about pushing anyone from the table...but bringing more people to the table and expanding opportunities for all.”

While the majority of DEI work has been focused on race and gender...one cannot forget the inclusion of language as a means to accessibility. Visit Sacramento has just launched a Spanish-language section, saying they "understand and acknowledge the many contributions of Latinos in Sacramento and beyond, who trace their cultural heritage to Mexico, Central and South America and have shaped the “Farm to Fork” capital with rich culture and tradition.” 

As over a quarter of Californians speak Spanish in their homes, this kind of outreach positions Sacramento as a welcoming destination to a significant portion of its target market.

Well played...

And, to hear more about Visit Sacramento's DEI initiatives, check out the DMOU Podcast with VP of EDI Sonya Bradley.

This Clearly Didn't Go Through Marketing

Seen on a box of crackers: the "Best By" date (which means precious little, according to this story in the The Conversation).

But, "Best if Used By?" While I'm sure that there may be the rare MacGyver-esque situation where one "uses" a cracker to save the world, I'm just as sure the folks in the Marketing Department never saw this go by during the design phase for the box.

Because, if they did, the imprint would likely read, "Best if Enjoyed By."

Just sayin...

Keep, Cut and Add

In last week's edition of the Z-News (you can subscribe here), we talked about some of the Scared Cows of Destination Marketing that are being eyed by some in the aftermath of the Plague. In our commentary, we cautioned that some of those tried-and-true strategies may still have some life in them.

Our friend (and former guest on DMOU), Savannah's Joe Marinelli, reached out to say they've been printing 500,000 Visitors Guides each year for over a decade and go through virtually every one by year's end because demand is so strong. They've just opened their fifth Visitor Center and have found great success (and foot traffic) in selling Savannah food and merchandise. And, as to the website, Joe says they'd never compete in the marketplace without one.

Are any of those sacred cows still on your extinction list?

Game Time is Money Time

For those of us that have worked in the Destination Marketing field in University towns with a high-end football fanbase, this is as second-nature as walking down the street. But, for many outside our world, they have no idea how much the time of kickoff dictates how business thrives (or suffers) on game-day weekends.

Great story from the Lincoln Journal Star on how an 11am kickoff produces a completely different result on area businesses than a 2:30 start, featuring our friend Derek Feyerherm from the Lincoln CVB.

And congratulations on a great Husker win last Saturday, my friend. 

Truth in Advertising

Well...they are nuts in a sack.

Just sayin...

Isolation

The companies that have withdrawn from Russian engagement continues to grow. McDonalds (which will result in a $50 million loss in revenue per month) is one of the most notable to say nyet.

But, it isn't just shutting off commerce in an effort to encourage Russian leadership to stop this wanton act of aggression and disregard for human life. It's shutting off services...which Destinations International has just done by termination of the membership of the St. Petersburg Convention Bureau.

Along with the announcement, DI also offered a link to a non-profit organization led by D.C. chef, José Andrés, that
has been on the ground in Ukraine feeding displaced people since the outbreak of violence.

Please join DMOproz in supporting this vital lifeline for so many.

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.

A Big Mac as Historical Icon

Imagine, if you will, that all the McDonald's in your country were going to close tomorrow. Regardless of whether you've moved past fast food, tell me you wouldn't swing by for one last taste.

That's what happened in 2009 when McDonald's pulled out of Iceland. And, Hjörtur Smárason bought his last Icelandic Big Mac and fries...and then life got in the way. He forgot that last meal, still in the bag, in the garage...only to find it three years later untouched by time or small rodents. In a word, it was perfectly preserved and has spent the last decade traveling between museums in the country.

McDonald's maintains that it's not preservatives at work...but rather the lack of moisture that has maintained the meal's immaculate condition. And, who am I to dispute their gastronomic scientists? But, that mice didn't go near the bag when they chewed up Hjörtur's nearby roller blades?

Yeah...

Don't Give Up

I've been thinking about that guy in Chicago who said that he might never eat pizza again, upon the closing of the iconic Gullivers on Sunday.

And, I know how you feel, brother. But, I also think back to the pizza joints of my youth, my early adult years, my family years, my travel years and now. In each stage of my life, I found a 'za that became a new fave...and that hasn't changed. As good as the pizzas of my past were (and Gullivers was right up there)...I've found two joints north of the Mad City that you should try before you swear off pizza forever.

You'll find our new faves at Gem City in Baraboo and On the Rox in Roxbury. Check 'em out. We all have different tastes in pizza...but these are pretty orgasmic.

Just sayin'

The One

We all have our favorites; the steak, pizza, bakery or other culinary wonder that is, hands down, numero uno.

For many Chicagoans (and for over 50 years), the pan pizza that holds that distinction came from Gullivers...which closed its doors for the last time yesterday.

How good was Gullivers? Last week, one of the faithful told a Chicago Tribune writer, “I may never eat pizza again.”

That's the mark we all should attempt to achieve in everything we do, n'est-ce pas?

Farewell Gullivers. During my years in Illinois, you were always a fave.