Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

This is 50

Last night marked the 50th Anniversary of the birth of what is today known as Destination Madison, an organization I was proud and honored to lead during the first half of the '90s.

Thanks to Destination Madison for the kind shout out during last night's festivities regarding my part in securing the public referendum vote to build the world-class Monona Terrace Convention Center that served as the jumper cable for Madison's renaissance. 

And having my successor Deb Archer honored for her amazing 25 years at the helm of the organization was a true treat for Terri and me.

And here's to the next 50...

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.

Thankfully Christmas

On Music Friday, we often transition to songs of the Holiday Season on the day after Thanksgiving. But, despite scoring our tree yesterday, it just doesn't feel like Christmas quite yet.

Maybe it's all the shit going down in our world in an age that should be enlightened rather than ignorant. Maybe its just the vagaries of the calendar; so early Thanksgiving is this year (and again on a Thursday to boot, WTF?).

So, I'm splitting the difference...with a holiday song that has the word "thanks" in it.

This is Queen with "Thank God It's Christmas."

And here's hoping your holidays are grand!

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.

60 Years After

60 years ago this day, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in the streets of Dallas. While most of the conversation continues to center on who shot JFK (the government's version was never very plausible), given new life by the Paramount+ documentary, JFK:What the Doctors Saw.

But an interesting article on Politico asks a much more meaningful question; what if JFK had lived? I remember doing a paper in High School on this very subject, having pieced together a number of news articles from the months leading up to his death. It was increasingly clear that the President was seriously reconsidering America's involvement in Vietnam. The author makes the same case...and several others.

It would have been a very different country and world today had who ever killed Kennedy failed.

The Supreme Court's Existential Moment

The greatest tribunal in the world. One of the pillars upon which this country is founded.

And yet, 58% of Americans disapprove of the actions of the Supreme Court.

And now, following the lead of Ohio's historic vote to preserve a woman's right to choose, 11 other States are poised to raise a middle finger to the highest court in the land.

Don't ask how we got here...because we know.

Ask how we get back to center.

The New End Around

It's not exactly "new," but that legislators in two States have employed this tactic in as many days shows how brazen several have become because they don't think we're paying attention...or that we won't remember the next time they're up for re-election.

Earlier this week, we shared the boneheaded attempt of a legislator to redirect Room Tax revenue in Ohio to funding jails. We've just learned from some friends in the Buckeye State that she just slipped an amendment into a fast moving bill that would allow communities to increase Room Tax by 2% specifically to fund jail construction.

And, here's why I call it an end around. For those that are not fans of the game of football, an end around is a play that is typically not expected by the defense. In most offensive plays, the Quarterback hands the ball off to a running back or passes the ball to a receiver (or, if you're Justin Fields, you just keep it). An end around is when the receiver doesn't run down the field to catch a pass but, instead, runs laterally behind the QB and takes the ball around the other end of the field. In essence, it's a trick play because defenses generally don't expect it.

And that's what our Ohio Legislator did. By attaching the amendment to another bill, she eliminated the opportunity for public testimony on the merits of the bill. Those that could explain why this is a sensationally bad idea for Ohio's economy were blocked from offering that side of the argument.

And, it happened this week in Wisconsin, where an amendment to another bill threatened the viability of wedding barns by limiting the number of days alcohol can be served. The measure, supported by the Tavern League and large event venues, never got a hearing...because it was an amendment. Thus, small business owners were never provided the opportunity to plead their case to legislators who are generally supportive of small business. All they heard was big business saying this measure ensures public safety (what a bunch of horseshit).

As a political operative, I can appreciate the elegance of an end around.

But it's a shitty way to run a State's economy.

The Conversations in Which Urban DMOs Must be Engaged

The Plague emptied our downtown cores. There is a general belief today that downtowns continue to struggle. And, without our downtown cores, destinations will struggle to position themselves as viable choices for visitation, residency and investment.

But, a new study offers some hope. And, if local leadership still doesn't respect the power of the Visitor Economy, check this out: Across the 26 cities studied, visitors comprised two-thirds of people downtown, underscoring the importance of developing downtown attractions. While local variations influence a city’s recovery, the report notes that “in general, cities that have strong overall recovery rates tend to have a robust leisure and hospitality industry."

Like we've been saying...

Is It the Beds?

Another reason why the Destination Marketing Organization sector needs to stop saying "heads in beds," stat.

Misguided legislators have long advocated for Room Taxes to go towards alleviating homelessness. But of course, we both are in the business of beds. Makes (im)perfect sense.

Now, a legislator in Ohio is suggesting a change in Room Tax statutes to allow revenue collected from overnight stays in hotels to be used to fund...wait for it...a new County Jail.

It's the Beds. Gotta be. How else would someone who has at least something going on (as she managed to get elected) come up with such a boneheaded suggestion?

A Jail benefits residents. As such, its funding should come from a County's General Fund. Tourism Taxes were levied, often with the support of the hotel community, for the purpose of enhancing the economy, increasing Quality of Life and creating jobs. And don't try to say that locking up bad guys and gals improves Quality of Life. That dog don't hunt.

Redirecting such revenues to house criminals does none of those things. And, my guess is that County Supervisors won't use General Fund revenues to do that either.

So where does that leave a local economy?

Bueller? Bueller? 

Image: The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield (home to "Shawshank Redemption")

Short Term Rentals & the Housing Crisis

The basic tenets of Supply and Demand would certainly support the concept that transferring homes and apartments into Short Term Rentals would cause remaining housing prices to increase. To be fair, Airbnb responds: "There are a number of complex factors driving today's housing affordability crisis — from growing income inequality, to decades of exclusionary zoning, and even changing location preferences post-pandemic, including the rise of remote working from home — but many experts agree the primary driver of the affordability crisis is chronic underproduction of housing, not short-term rentals. Unfortunately, short-term rentals, which in most cities make up a tiny portion of local housing stock, have become a convenient but misguided scapegoat for a housing crisis that started long before the founding of Airbnb."

Rebuttal accepted...but then, there is what has happened in Irvine CA since that community banned STRs: Within two years of the ban, long-term rents decreased significantly; roughly 60,000 rental units in the city saw a 3% rent decrease, on average.

It's a fascinating read in the ongoing conversation of how to balance the needs of all sides.

Image Credit: Tristen Rouse / St. Louis Public Radio