Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Next Up on DMOU > TourismIQ

On the newest edition of DMOU, we check in with Adam Stoker, author of Touchpoints and progenitor of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network to get under the hood of a new free online town square for Destination Leaders. It’s called TourismIQ…and Adam walks us through its genesis, its current build out and what users can expect in the near future. Join Us.

How You Like Me Now

Thanks in part to a horrible piece of legislation that ultimately puts the distribution of local room tax revenues into the hands of Wisconsin mayors, a number of small communities are electing to pull out of regional destination marketing organizations. Many of them say they are being overshadowed by the magnet city in their region… but there's a reason for that. Typically the largest city has the most assets, better transportation infrastructure and larger name recognition. Suburbs and rural communities that are in orbit around the largest city benefit from that halo. Every Single Day.

And, the magnet city benefits from the surrounding communities. Every Single Day.

But of course, small town ego won't allow for rationality.

Over the past few months, the city of Weston has been threatening to pull out of their contract with the Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB. They said they didn’t believe they were getting enough ROI and could probably do a better job on their own with their $108,000 investment (snort). But, about a week ago, they decided to extend their contract one more year.

Could it have anything to do with the fact that the Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB just landed the 2026 and 2029 World Horseshoe Pitching Championships? The ones that will be held in Weston?

Yeah, how you like me now?

Might it Be You?

This past week, several hospitality corporations caused market volatility by suggesting that consumers are pulling back from 2023 spending levels with their brands. Conveniently missing from their comments was that, just maybe, their offerings no longer hold the same appeal as they once did; that consumers are just as interested in traveling...just not to these particular products.

Take AirBnb's claim that market demand for travel is softening. Then why aren't branded hotels sounding the same alarm? Could it be that the STR platforms have allowed marginal players into their mix, causing those of us that initially loved the experience to think twice, three times before booking because we've been burned by experiences that were not even close to what was promised? Our last three rentals have encouraged us to go back to branded and boutique hotels...and I'm sure we're not the only ones. So...it's not the consumer. It's a decline in product quality.

Or Disney's excuse for their Theme Parks posting flat numbers YTD. You can say it's consumers pulling back, but (as reported in the WSJ) a longtime regular customer opines, "Disney has gotten ridiculously expensive. And I ate much better in Italy for much cheaper."

Consumer demand will naturally flatten somewhat after the post-COVID fueled spike and with the American presidential election weeks away. But, let's not send the economy into a dizzy by broad-based claims that it's the consumer...when it might be the quality and price of the product.

Just sayin...

 

 

New on DMOU: New York State's STR Legislation

When it comes to Short Term Rentals, trying to put the genie back into the bottle has proven elusive for most governments. Initially defended as a property rights play, elected leaders are now grappling with its unintended impact on affordable housing. On this edition of DMOU, we welcome 1000 Island International Tourism Council CEO Corey Fram with a fascinating story of how, after several twists and turns, the New York State Legislature actually passed a bill this session that brings STRs outside of New York City into the Tourism and Community Development eco-system. And, it all came down to framing the issue as not a Tourism or Fairness issue…but as one that cities, towns and villages actually cared about. Plus a Bonus Round question that has me remembering the best moments of “Slap Shot.” Join us.

Stepping Across the Line

As we touched on yesterday, residents of destinations around the globe are beginning to push back against the mass tourism they believe is negatively impacting their Quality of Life. And I get it. I've been a destination marketer for decades...and, for the first time, found myself face to face with the ugly side of mass tourism last summer as I watched 7 cruise ships jockey for position along the Alaska Coast.

Of course, when I asked our driver why the City didn't cap the number of boats each day, she looked at me like I was crazy. "Why would we do that," she asked. Of course, I was talking to a person whose livelihood depends on more and more boats...and not a resident.

But, the anger is real...and it got very real last week.

We're becoming used to seeing graffiti and banners expressing frustration with tourists. "Your Paradise, Our Hell," "Tourists Go Home" and "Tourism = Terrorism."

But, this was a first..."Kill a Tourist" on a wall in Majorca.

OK...this is over the line. Because some nut job will think this is the will of the people. Just like a lot of nut jobs thought occupying the Capitol was a good idea.

This level of rhetoric needs to stop. Good people are addressing the issue...maybe not as fast as you want. But they are.

Just Stop.

Image Credit: The Daily Mail

Not Quite the Intended Result

As cities across Europe push back against mass tourism, some have instituted fees on non-residents with the stated intention of dissuading tourists from visiting. My friend (and past guest on DMOU) George Tzougros from the Wisconsin Arts Board (celebrating their 50th) shared a recent analysis of some of those fees and taxes with me over the weekend...and, they're not working.

Well, at least not in slowing down the number of visitors clogging their streets and attractions. According to National Geographic, the taxes (most under $10 a day) are having no discernible impact on visitation (ya think?).

What they are doing is raking in a ton of cash, ostensibly for resident quality of life mitigation.

One can only hope that's where the money goes.

Last Week

Our past couple posts have reminisced about our annual industry conference ten years ago when we hung with Robin Zander at MSP and scored an Eric Wahl painting by facing my fears on stage.

Fast forward to last week in Tampa where almost 2000 of our peers gathered to network and celebrate this incredible sector of Destination Leadership. I was honored to facilitate a killer panel featuring Brad Dean, Al Hutchinson and Molly Rawn in CFObyDesign's CEO Lounge. And, I had a bit part in Josiah Brown's standing room only, showstopping breakout on how to effectively communicate with local stakeholders and politicians. Once again...the best session of the conference.

Not to brag...but, for the past couple decades, Berkeley Young and I have been two of the go-to speakers at tourism conferences across the nation. And, we still enjoy the opportunity to share our thoughts with audiences around the country.

But, Josiah Brown is the next big deal in this space. If you have a role in planning your next tourism conference, give Josiah a serious look. 

And, thanks Josiah, for giving me a fun roll in your DI session. Too fun to riff with you, brother.

The Shifting Imperative

Catching up on some reading over the weekend, I saw a report issued by Travel Advance back in April that identified the top priorities for Destination Marketing Executives.

And it wasn't Room Nites (finally).

By a significant margin it was Destination Brand Awareness.

Hell yeah.

Not Surprised

When I saw this story out of Nassau County NY the other day I immediately thought of that classic esurance commercial where the friend of a woman who clearly didn't understand how Facebook worked said, "that's not how any of this works."

Because that's what happens every single time that a government (or Chamber or EDC or Park District) steps in thinking they can do Destination Marketing better than the DMO from which they've just yanked the contract. Because what sounds like a good idea to amateurs in this space (for that is what they are) is very rarely rooted in research and ROI.

Take Nassau County, which recently decamped from the sensationally successful Discover Long Island, believing they could do better. Their first campaign out of the box is to run "branded" buses from midtown Manhattan and transport consumers directly to Nassau destinations. And then back to Manhattan that evening. Never mind there is a train that already does that.

How does that generate overnight stays (which is how destination marketing is generally funded)? Yeah...it doesn't.

Nice try through, rookies.

You Actually Believe That?

One of the e-mails I look forward to each weekday is from my friend (and past DMOU guest) George Tzougros, Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board. His daily missives are packed with (naturally) news about the Arts here and around the country. But they also contain video links to cool performances and quotes to ponder. Last week, he shared this one:

“Man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe.” – Euripides

If Euripides was correct, we're doomed.