A lot of attention is paid to the 6a to 6p economy...but that has been a disservice to its 6p to 6a sister of the night. 24 Hour Dallas intends to change that...and we talk with the organization's Coordinator, Bryan Tony, on the most recently released episode of the DMOU Podcast.
Chick here to listen...or find us on your favorite podcast platform.
Sensational news out of Illinois last week that their State Legislature has, on a bi-partisan vote no less, approved one of the best pieces of Tourism Improvement District legislation we've ever seen. Aided by our friends at Civitas Advisors, which recently assisted the launch of their 200th TID in Louisville, Land of Lincoln DMOs will soon be able to work with their local hotel communities to increase resources for Destination Marketing and Development.
Hey, Wisconsin? Your competitor to the South already has a sensationally better DMO grant program than you do (and has for almost 40 years). Gonna let them get even further ahead by continuing to sit on your hands?
Just sayin'
Prior to the Plague, the best Destination Marketing professionals had a pretty good idea of what their hoteliers were thinking. But today?
The DMOU podcast is back from Holiday Hiatus with STR's Vail Ross, talking about the new demands, pressures and opportunities facing today's hotel executives. And, it's one of over 100 conversations waiting for you in the DMOU vault.
And, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts to ensure that you're notified the moment a new episode drops. Because we're looking forward to a great 2023.
Trying to find the dock for a Water Taxi to get us to dinner...and the address provided is not recognized by GPS. And there's no signage at the nearest parking lot. Sure, the locals know where to go...but how many first-time visitors miss their reservations because nobody in management of this otherwise sensational experience thought about how a potential first-time customer (who will likely rip them on Social Media) could possibly locate an impossibly difficult to find dock. Have you tried to find your business using GPS (and on all the platforms)? As Todd Rundgren famously said on Something/Anything, "you might be surprised."
Or the web platform that chose to update the skins of all its users without warning and inadvertently caused at least some of us (and I'm guessing more) to have their interface become unreadable? We open a "support" ticket, get a rapid response...and then are told, "looks good on our end." Yeah, because they're all using big screens while the majority of our users are on laptop and mobile. When shown screen shots of how it's not OK, they go radio silent for two days. Hey...we get it. You fucked up and don't know how to fix it. But, an automated, "we know you're still out there" response each day would be nice so we don't start searching for another host because we think you don't care (which I just had, minutes before they finally acknowledged their mistake).
In every enterprise, there needs to be a person responsible for these kinds of missteps. I'm not saying it's a full-time job (though it may well be). But somebody needs to be on the case, everyday, focused on how new and existing customers can revel in your customer care...and be, as Guy Kawasaki once said, "Thunder Lizard Evangelists."
As the Southwest Airlines meltdown played out over the holidays, I went searching for a book in my library that I likely hadn't touched in 20 years. Nuts! (by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg) tells the fascinating saga of Southwest's initial fight for life and ultimate emergence as a dominant player in the airline world. And, they did it by breaking all the rules.
What caused me to pull the book for a skim was an open letter from a veteran Southwest pilot that explained that early leadership of the company was based on operational optimization. Things changed when accountants took over from founder Herb Kelleher.
What also apparently changed was the unwavering focus Herb had on placing employees first. One of my favorite stories about the Southwest Airlines culture was that you'd never find the then 60-something CEO in his office on the day before Thanksgiving (one of the busiest travel days of the year) because he would be on the tarmac at Love's Field slinging luggage with the baggage handlers. That's leadership.
Though the book is approaching its 30th anniversary, Nuts! is worth your time...because Herb's vision and leadership was timeless.
We were told that Real ID Drivers Licenses were "a vital component of our national security framework." Cooked up by Congress in 2005 in response to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses, Real ID was initially supposed to take effect in 2008. Then 2011. Then 2013. Then 2020. Then 2023.
Comforting to know that something so "vital" to our national security is being so aggressively pursued.
There are a number of reasons why Destination Marketing Organizations need to build and maintain a high level of engagement with their partners. Those relationships generate great content for marketing, enable the DMO to more effectively choreograph the visitor experience and build esprit d'corps and can lead to increased private sector investment in the agencies work.
It also ensures that, when someone decides to take a run at your DMO's public sector funding, there will be a cadre of influential business people at your side to help explain why your organization is critical to the future success of both their businesses as well as the community at large. Which is exactly what happened this week in Tuolumne County.
County Board Supervisors there had proposed capping the DMO's budget. A public hearing was scheduled...and began with one of the Supervisors calling for a contract extension to give the Board more time to consider the proposal:
"We’ve had a lot of emails, a lot of phone calls, obviously this room is packed full of people… But it was apparent for me that for me to make really a truly informed decision, I want to know what the visitors bureau budget is, I want to know what their business plan is, because to me this is more of a business-plan-projection type of decision and I didn’t have access to that or time to review that before today’s meeting.”
And isn't this how so often it goes. An idea is floated, sounds reasonable at first take...and then is enacted with precious little critical thought as to the ramifications of the action. Only when there's a roomful of people looking on and ready to challenge do many elected officials take a step back to more fully understand an issue. Without an engaged partner base, this proposal may well have sailed through unimpeded. But, it won't.
Visit Tuolumne County has clearly fostered such a partnership with its business community...and now has the attention of its County Board with which to tell its compelling story.
Partner Engagement...because you don't want to hear this at the Barricades.
Imagine a world in the Destination Marketing space in which there was absolutely no public funding made available to your agency. Could you make that work?
That's exactly how Maine's Visit Portland operates...and CEO Lynn Tillotson joins us on this week's edition of the DMOU podcast to share how she does it AND survived during the Plague.
I certainly don't recommend it (just imagine what she and her team could accomplish on behalf of their community if public investment were added to the mix)...but what they've done without it so far is powerful.
That's what the pundits say (and who exactly anointed them as such?). Recession is coming.
What if there were no pundits? Would we think we're heading over the cliff?
Doubtful.
In an effort to increase viewership, these individuals that are often chosen more for their looks than their intellect or experience have the ability to sway public opinion and markets.
That's what Business Events Canada says: The combination of Canada's brains and beauty, and everything else that makes up this unique country, make it a truly unparalleled event destination.
And, like the smartest destinations courting conventions and events, Canada is suggesting the availability of the best and brightest speakers on industry-specific topics is a compelling reason to meet in the Great White North.
And, doesn't that make a ton of sense? One of the biggest cost centers for any meeting planner is the talent they'll place on stage to inspire their attendees. And, when you boast some of the smartest minds in the sector in the host community, there can be a significant cost savings. I know I'll speak locally for a lot less than I charge when I hafta get on a plane...plus, there's no travel charges to the planner.
Intellectual Capital...if you're not considering the opportunity to step ahead of the competition with possibly the most important competitive asset you have, why not?
Just saying...
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