Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

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.

10,000

When we relaunched DMOU (Destination Marketing Organization University) as a podcast in the Summer of 2019, I'm not sure we had a goal in mind...other than to share compelling stories from people in and around the Destination Marketing space. It's what we love to do; shining a light on people who are making a difference.

But, waking up this morning to the fact that, overnight, DMOU passed the 10,000 download mark? That's cause for humble celebration.

Thanks to the over 50 guests over the past year and a half that have taken time out of often brutal schedules to share their truths. You inspire us...and we're thrilled to give your voices wings. And, to those that have powered the downloads, thanks for valuing what we've created.

And, if you've yet to listen, the entire library of conversations is available here, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other audio platforms...including our latest episode with Visit Alexandria's Patricia Washington.

Here's to 20,000!

The Inaugural Concert

While the 'VID clearly played a role in changing up the tired, staid tradition of Inaugural Balls...this week's "Celebrating America" show should be the de facto new tradition, n'est-ce pas?

With the Boss kicking off the evening on a somber tone, the event was capped off by an over-the-top Katy Perry, who thought she was the star...and not the Fireworks of which she sang.

In between, there were sensational performances from the Black Pumas, Jon Bon Jovi (if for nothing more than the timing of the cinematography), John Legend, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake & Ant Clemons and more.

If Music can lead a national renaissance, it doesn't get much better than this on the first Music Friday of a new era.

A Day of Hope

I'm not blind to the fact that roughly 50% of Americans voted for the other side. And, I'm not blissfully unaware that a large number of those that voted for the former President were likely not watching the coverage of this Inauguration Day. But, that's a shame.

Because what was on display today in the nation's Capital was a breath of fresh air. An Inaugural Address that offered inspiration and hope; almost Kennedy-esque and, in retrospect, a stark contrast to the darkness of the last address. An evening devoid of balls and parties in which mere mortals could never picture themselves...but instead, a televised celebration of America to which we were all invited with front line Americans featured alongside some of our favorite performers. And, an evening that concluded with the most bad-ass fireworks display I've ever seen. And, here's to future inaugurations continuing this tradition. Tonight, I feel empowered to be inspired.

Those who know me well, know that I am fiercely independent in my political views. I believe the two-party system is the axis of evil. I believe it prevents us from what we could be as a nation...and that the media prefers the two-party system because it makes their narrative easier, not our country better. Thus, other points of view don't get the air they deserve.

Put another way...do you want Coke and Pepsi as your only choices in life, or do you occasionally hanker for a Mountain Dew?

So here's the deal. As a nation, we test-drove the Trumpian model and found it to be good for the economy but bad for a boatload of other things. So, all I ask is that we test-drive Biden-Harris. A majority of this country's citizens wanted a change. Let's see if they can deliver.

I hope to God that they can...for all of us.

Image Credit: NBC

 

Home Field Advantage

For those who follow sports, there is the belief that playing at home, in front of your team's faithful fans, will give you an edge. And, indeed, home teams historically have had an advantage.

Except in this year of no fans in the stands. As the NFL playoffs progress this weekend, we can look back on the regular season and note that, for the first time in the Super Bowl era, visiting teams won more than home teams. Put another way, this has never happened in over 50 years...and the only rationale is the absence of fans in the stands.

So what does this hafta do with Destination Marketing Organizations? This proves that the more supportive voices (fans) you can assemble at budget time DOES make a difference. The Home Team wins with fans in the stands. 

Cultivate them now...because the reckoning is just around the bend.

Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune

Why So Long?

Like so many things that once worked and have not been revisited, the time between the election and inauguration of a President is clearly too freaking long. When compared to other countries, not even Nigeria and Brazil wait as long for the transition of power. And, democracies we admire transition in less than 30 days.

Why does America wait so long? Because we haven't bothered to examine why the transition is often 75± days. And, the reason is just like every other reason that we cling to old ways. The November to January dance (it used to be March) is because we needed to allow the President to travel to DC in the winter time. As in, by horse. And, all because of a single snowstorm in 1798.

Really? 

This past week has shown that there needs to be a number of updates to the way this nation runs its business that have been simply ignored for decades.

Time to enter the 21st Century?