Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

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?

Next on DMOU: Wisconsin's Anne Sayers

As we celebrate out 150th episode of the DMOU Podcast, we hang with Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers and talk about how the Badger State captured the culinary world’s attention with the most recent season of Top Chef. Anne explains how Wisconsin Tourism made it happen through amazing collaborations and shares how they are extending the reach of the series (and major events like the Republican National Convention and next year’s NFL Draft) far beyond the events themselves. Plus, a Bonus Round question that involves Muppets. Join us.

Bring It

This week, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania launched it's new Tourism Brand...the Great American Getaway, only to be dunked by a viral comment from Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.

In an interview on TNT with Anthony, Charles Barkley admitted that he hadn't been in Minnesota for decades...to which Anthony replied, "Bring Ya Ass." Within hours, Minnesota native and comedian Jon Savitt snapped up the URL and it now redirects to the Explore Minnesota website. And, Explore is taking full advantage of the moment. 

Brilliant.

New on DMOU > Detroit's Claude Molinari

This year’s NFL Draft was a stone cold win. The biggest first day crowd in history. The biggest global television audience ever. And, it placed Detroit on the world stage for three sensational days. Ummm, Detroit? On this episode of DMOU, we meet Claude Molinari, who describes the philosophy behind recasting the Motor City’s narrative and the tactics Visit Detroit is employing to set Detroit up as the new American renaissance city. And, in the Bonus Round, one of the more interesting side hustles we’ve heard. Join us.

Next on DMOU: Esports

Mystified by the explosive growth of esports? Prepared to be de-mystified as PLAYHRDR Advisors’ Ed Tomasi joins us on the latest episode of the DMOU Podcast. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ed explains how both large and small destinations can break into this growing market and shares the steps DMOs need to take to understand their opportunities in the esports ecosystem.

And PLAYHRDR has just released a study on trends in the esports tournament arena. You can find that report HERE.

Playing the Field

As they say in pro sports, the Green Bay Packers control their playoff destiny with one game to go this weekend. They win, they're in. They lose, they'll need serious help to sneak in the backdoor.

If they win, they'll likely face Dallas in the First Round...and, if they do, they will, according to Gambling.com, do something that no other team has done this year. And that is to have played every city that James Brown calls out in "Living in America" in a single season.

I know they haven't done it yet...but, a chance to feature the Godfather of Soul on Music Friday? 

That's enough for me.

Next Up on DMOU > Josh Schamberger

The Iowa City/Coralville metro population is roughly 175,000...and yet they host global events on an annual basis. In our last episode of 2023, we welcome our friend Josh Schamberger, CEO of Think Iowa City, to share his thoughts on the evolving role of Destination Marketing & Leadership Organizations and why the size of a destination means very little when you execute like no place else. It's a fascinating conversation with one of the thought leaders in our sector that proves second and third tier destinations can play at a first tier level.

Enjoy...and Happy Holidays!

Fairytale of New York

It's supposedly the UK's most played Christmas song each year. And, a subhead on an article reporting the passing of The Pogues' Shane MacGowan defends the song's dark, nasty lyrics as "an anthem of hope."

Apparently the result of a challenge by Elvis Costello that they couldn't write a Christmas hit, I'm pretty sure Elvis thought his bet was a safe one. He was clearly wrong.

The surreal moment this month was that the Kelce Brothers recorded the song for Jason's Christmas album, reworking it to the "Fairytale of Philadelphia." And, that video was reportedly the last thing Shane tweeted before his death.

On this Music Friday, this is the original "Fairytale of New York."

It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the Drunk Tank.
An old man said to me, "won't see another one."

Bigger than the "Big Game"

What does it say when an event that simply picks future winners and losers without a resultant highlight reel is more important than the Super Bowl?

That's what the Mayor of Detroit said yesterday in announcing updated plans to hold the NFL Draft in the Motor City next April. “This is potentially bigger than the Super Bowl,” Mayor Duggan said. “Only 60,000 people can get tickets to the Super Bowl. But for the NFL Draft, hundreds of thousands can get in — and they stay for the weekend.”

That's why Detroit is reportedly changing the playbook from past NFL Drafts and concentrating all its events downtown. According to Duggan, “When you have 300,000 or 400,000 people coming from across America, we want to change the image of Detroit in their minds once and for all. We felt like to do that, we had to build the draft into the city.”

And, ain't that the whole point of events? To change perception of a destination?

Like Detroit did in 1896...when it launched a never-before utilized Convention Sales strategy to land national events to showcase the city to potential investors.

Honoring the Positive on Thanksgiving

Sitting here, mindlessly watching the NFL on Thanksgiving (because I guess that's just what one does). And, as I watch the Lions (who, for over 90 years, despite wandering in the cellar of their division for many of those years, have hosted a Thanksgiving game), I find myself thinking back to last Sunday's game with the Chicago Bears (who was their first opponent on Thanksgiving 1934).

The national media was quick to point out that the Bears set an NFL record on Sunday by being the first team in history to have 4 takeaways and command the clock for more than 40 minutes to lose a game. And, isn't that how our culture has sadly evolved. To point out the failures?

Now, maybe the narrative in Detroit was different...but I prefer to view last Sunday's game as the Detroit Lions being the first team in history to come back from four turnovers and possessing the ball less than 20 minutes to win an NFL game. Isn't that the real story?

As we recognize our blessings, our friends and clients (so often, two and the same), we say thanks for another great year. And, to encourage us all to accentuate the positive in the New Year ahead.