Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

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.

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.

The Best of the Darkness

With the up front disclaimer that I simply didn't have the time to check out every DMO's plan for the Great Eclipse...here are some of my favorite plays.

Boone County IN: "Get Mooned in Boone" was brilliant.

Irving TX: The Convention Center's Executive Chef Eduardo Alvarez and crew baked up the world's largest Moon Pie. 180 pounds. Five feet across. 128 eggs. 45 pounds of marshmallow cream. 60 pounds of chocolate. Yeah...you wish you were there yesterday.

Perry County MO: The hospitality community there can be commended for not gouging visitors seeking totality. According to this article on NBC News, the community held to everyday pricing (with the exception of the Holiday Inn Express, which said they could have gone higher, but didn't).

Whether their compassion for their visitors' wallets will translate into future visits...we'll just have to see.

Just a snapshot of the creativity we love about the sector we serve.

Y'all rock!

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.

Tale of Two Cities

Over the past decade, a number of beach destinations have said "no mas" to the chaos of Spring Break crowds. Miami Beach is the latest with a masterful video that proclaims, in no uncertain terms, that they are "breaking up with Spring Break."

The video works on so many levels: the visible distain of the first voice, the no-nonsense reminder of the carnage of last year and the utilization of spokespersons that are just slightly older than the target audience, hopefully creating a degree of connectivity. The video simply nails it.

But, then there are those destinations that still see the value of Spring Breakers, like South Padre Island. And are ready if crowds get unruly.

It's the difference between playing defense and offense...and here's to both destinations realizing their goals.

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.

Half-Staff

I can't say it's the first time it's ever happened...but I certainly can't remember a time when a City has ordered that its flag be flown at half-staff for a fallen DMO leader.

But, that is just what happened this weekend in Paducah KY, in honor of long-time CVB CEO Mary Hammond, who passed from this mortal coil last week.

An honor well-deserved for one of the true leaders in our world.

Using the Right Language

Had the honor of keynoting the Tennessee Blizzard Tourism Conference last week (and yes, it snowed). I also had the pleasure of hanging with Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell after his dinner presentation, in which he shared a fascinating story.

When he began working with his legislature on expanding the Tennessee Tourism program, he was using industry research numbers to explain the sheer magnitude of the impact of the travel and hospitality sectors on the State's economy. He was told that the numbers weren't believable because they came from the industry (and, of course they'd be glowing).

Which got Mark to thinking. If the Legislators didn't believe industry research (which, it turns out, was actually very accurate), who would they believe?

Turns out, they believe their own Department of Revenue. And, through tracking a select number of tourism-specific NAICS Codes, Mark was able to come up with a number that was both believable and eye-popping that Legislators would believe.

And then, had an oversized check produced to drive the concept home.

Brilliant.