Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Is America's Brand Recovering?

Earlier today, I was on a Zoom call with an industry peer in Israel. We've been following each other online for over a decade...but had never taken the time to actually talk. This morning we did...and, my Mom taught me better than to start a first conversation with a question about politics. But, given this weekend's ouster of the Israeli Prime Minister, I couldn't help but ask "what's next?"

He described a legislative body with the slimmest of margins and offered a hope that his country, which has gone through four elections in two years, would begin to get back to governing by, as the newspaper Maariv suggested, "the yearning for sanity. The wish of many Israelis to live in quiet, without incitement, without hatred."

It struck me how much that sounded like America...and how much calmer life has been in America since Donald Trump left office. And that most people I know (surely not all), aren't wound as tightly since the inauguration of President Biden. It's as if the government is being led by someone who knows how this all works, instead of someone who was more interesting in Tweeting insults than leading a nation.

And, a Pew Research study about international opinion confirms just that. Today, 62% of those in 16 developed countries have a favorable view of the U.S. That's up from 34% last year. 75% believe Biden will "do the right thing" regarding world affairs. That number was 17% last year.

I know that Americans remain deeply divided...but it's fascinating how the rest of the world views us compared to just last year.

The Folly of Fair

I support the notion of a level playing field in virtually everything. I say "virtually" only to cover my butt in case there is a situation I have yet to experience where it wouldn't make sense. But, I'm hard pressed to imagine such a situation.

Unfortunately "fair" is increasingly seeping into community conversations regarding contracts for Destination Marketing. Visit Duluth is in the midst of an RFP process with their City...and news out of Juneau AK indicates that its DMO will be facing a similar gauntlet.

Don't get me wrong...Cities have every right and responsibility to demand accountability for the revenues they invest in any endeavor. Unfortunately, those that go down this path haven't considered that their DMO is a classic example of a "Sole Source Provider." There are simply no other entities that provide the breadth of services that a local DMO does and can. Saying that we must be "fair" and let competitors state their case is flimsy, at best.

If it's an ad agency, they might have cooler creative...but they don't have a running relationship with a database of thousands of meetings and event planners across the country. If it's a Chamber of Commerce, they might have good relations with the region's business community...but they won't represent those cool businesses that make a destination magnetic if those businesses aren't members. And handing DMO responsibilities to a Convention Center that may have a database but no expertise in brand and social media? There are more examples of where it doesn't work than where it does.

It's called a Sole Source Provider for a reason.

And, let's not even go to engaging a vendor from out of town. This past year has shown how vital boots on the ground are. Would a vendor from Wichita have worked 70 hours a week to help save businesses in Duluth during the pandemic? Doubtful.

Again...I get that this might seem like a lot of money for Cities to invest (it's really not when one understands the true impact of Destination Marketing in Economic Development and Quality of Place) without a competitive process. But, when DMOs are the only entities with the experience, database and dedication to successfully (and singularly) market a community...these are RFPs that should have a pre-determined outcome.

Unless it's political...or about price. But, consider this...would a City contract with a road construction company that doesn't have graders and pavers just because of price?

Then why consider such a move with your DMO...if it isn't price or politics?

There They Go Again

In 2018, community activists in Sedona came uncomfortably close to shutting down funding for Destination Marketing. The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau responded by developing a sensational Sustainable Tourism Plan and resident anger subsided, with most being satisfied that their concerns had been addressed. We featured then-Chamber CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff on an episode of the DMOU podcast that you can hear here.

The anger and frustration is back...and the Sedona City Council spent 4 and a half hours last week going over every single line item in the Chamber's proposed budget, with the intent to strip anything that smelled like marketing from the budget. The ultimate goal: to hit the pause button on all consumer marketing for a year to see if visitation slows.

Seems like a mighty big risk for a City that depends on visitor spending to make up 80% of their sales tax receipts.

How We Got Here

One more Frank Luntz reference before we go...

In 2012, Terri and I spent parts of two days with the man as he was preparing to lead a televised focus group after one of the Republican Presidential Debates that ultimately produced Mitt Romney as the GOP's standard bearer. As we drove to the convention hall, he unexpectedly invited us back stage after the debate. And, as we slid through security like butter, a Fox producer informed Frank that he would be getting two segments in the post-debate coverage, instead of the standard one. He turned and asked, "who's getting bumped," as the top running candidates typically got the three slots after Franks' analysis.

"Rick Perry," she said. "Hannity has decided he doesn't have what it takes." At that moment, we saw the power the Fox star had in deciding the future of the election. Days later, Perry dropped out.

I tell the story to provide background on just how plugged in Frank Luntz has been over the past quarter century...and how the Trump presidency shook him to his core. A friend turned me on to an hour-long conversation with Frank, recorded days before his stroke in early 2020. 

Many of us that follow politics have our opinions on how we've gotten to this dysfunctional place in our nation's history. I've blamed the media. Others have blamed Obama's refusal to collaborate with the other side and simply run the table (which Frank believes played a part).

Not to be a spoiler..but he ultimately believes it was the nomination of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running-mate in 2008.

There...now you hafta listen. Because it makes a ton of sense.

Sadly.

The Politics of the Mask

Just back from a week-long road trip where the misplaced belief that we are out of the COVID woods was on full display. And, as other observers have noted, the further South one goes, the fewer masks one sees.

On a Nashville Saturday night, the streets were as clogged as I've ever seen them (see photo)...almost impossible to make one's way to the next block without stepping into the street, as there were lines to get into every bar by 9pm. And, not a mask to be seen. Those gas stations along the way that still had "Masks Required" signs on their doors were filled with those that refused.

Masked, I walked onto the deck of the hotel pool during our stay in Florida and was accosted by a fellow guest who called me a "pansy" for buying into the false narrative that COVID was more dangerous than the flu. I said that the hotel GM was a friend, and she had asked for masks in the lobby...so, I was more than happy to comply. He just snorted an expletive.

And, so...after a week in a land with no masks, I found myself back on home turf this weekend. I strolled into a local outdoor garden store to score a few plants to complete this year's herb garden. And, I was getting stares...which I immediately recognized as scorn.

Yeah...I wasn't wearing a mask. And, almost everyone else was.

Where I live is one of the most-vaccinated counties in the country...and we're still wearing masks, voluntarily. For each other. 

Why is this so hard?

Making a Bad Situation Worse

A Wisconsin Legislator has shepherded a bill through the Assembly that would waive state and local sales taxes on restaurants, bars, movie theaters, amusement parks and arcades during the summer months of this year. He says it is meant to spur business in some of the industries hit hardest by COVID-19. It now awaits action by the Senate.

Let's be really clear here. Almost no one makes a travel decision based on the taxes they'll pay. It's an assumed cost. Does anyone really believe that a consumer will choose Destination A over Destination B because one doesn't charge Sales Tax? And, is that really the message one would want from the State Tourism Department? "Hey...come here because we aren't charging sales tax." Really? That's all you got?

Interestingly, the State's largest tourism destination DMO is opposing the bill. And...for all the right reasons. 

As Wisconsin Dells VCB CEO Romy Snyder opines, the revenue hit this will have on municipalities and counties throughout the State will be debilitating. And, isn't it refreshing to see a DMO looking out for its government's best interests?

All indications are that pent-up demand will drive a powerfully lucrative summer in Wisconsin. Why forfeit the very funds that local governments need to recover?

Baffling.

Oh wait...it's just political theatre.

CSNY

As we've noted previously on Music Friday, the early 70s were an explosive period of creativity and self expression in rock music. Where we may wait years between albums today, many artists (like Elton John) were releasing several LPs a year.

50 years ago this year, Crosby, Stills & Nash were at their zenith. They released 4-Way Street (with Neil Young). And each member of the band released solo albums. So much to say and so little time.

From the CSNY live album, this is the studio version of "Ohio."

Stephen Stills released his second solo album that year featuring, "Change Partners."

Graham Nash (featured last week as a member of the Hollies) released Songs for Beginners, with Neil Young's protest song "Chicago."

And David Crosby's If Only I could Remember My Name? Not a lot survives from that period on YouTube...but this Tiny Desk Concert is pretty sublime.

But, interesting that CSNY, more than any other group of the era that attained superstar status, did so in no small part by challenging the political status quo. Not that some of today's artists aren't following in their footsteps. But, there aren't as many as in the 60s and 70s.

Is that's what missing in today's discourse?

Boycotts and Cancellations

A few years ago, North Carolina and Indiana infamously passed "bathroom bills" and quickly lost major sports events and future corporate investment. Both States ultimately backed off...but the damage was done to their national reputations.

Today, it's Georgia. After passing a law that many believe will restrict voter rights, Major League Baseball has pulled this year's All-Star Game from Atlanta. Will Georgia legislators blink?

Don't get me wrong, I abhor restricting voting rights for any citizen of this country. But, does pulling the All-Star game hurt the citizens of Cobb County more than the clearly teflon politicians that passed this tone-deaf measure? Will they back down as other States have done? Or does this reaction inflict further pain on a travel industry that has been decimated this past year?

I caught this interesting take yesterday from WSB Radio in Atlanta. Yeah...lots to unpack here.

The law still sucks...but, if Georgia legislators won't budge, who gets hurt?

The unintended consequence, indeed.

The Politics of a Pandemic

President Trump has said he didn't want to freak us out...and people needlessly died (including former Presidential candidate Herman Cain). Following his lead, many Republican politicians downplayed the plague and played to their base of science-eschewing independents that rejected the idea of the good of the whole in favor of their individual "right" not to wear a mask. I guess they never watched Star Trek.

Part of the argument, they say, is that the economy needs to recover; that the cure cannot be allowed to kill the patient. But, Texas Governor Greg Abbott's recent rescinding of the mask mandate in his State has resulted in at least 4 conventions cancelling, robbing the Austin hospitality community of critical revenue.

It's such a little thing...continuing to wear masks. I mean, we all hate it...but we've grown accustomed to it, right? Is it really that hard to go a few more months until this thing is under control?

Apparently not, when one is trying to get re-elected in a Red State.

When it Hit Home

It was a year ago this week that the ramifications of the 'VID finally came home for yours truly. I was still on the road, completing an assignment with an Ohio DMO. People were still shaking hands and our Strategic Planning workshop was pretty typical in its physical set-up...except that, at the last minute, it was decided to put an extra chair between each participant. Those that gathered experienced physical distancing for the first time.

And then, the word came down. The NCAA was cancelling its Basketball Championships. And then, it was clear. None of us were getting anything close to a straight story from our government. The NCAA was.

As we closed our workshop, I received a text from Delta informing me that I probably wouldn't make my connection through DTW. They wanted to route me instead through ATL which, if something went wrong there, would put me even further from home. I thanked them for their offer...but I realized then and there that it was going to be a while before I boarded another plane.

And then, I drove home.