Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

This is NOT Coincidence

Coincidence often isn't. Even when my iTunes nails a perfect segue.

This is National Travel & Tourism Week; a time when the Destination Marketing sector celebrates the impact the Visitor Economy has on our communities. Coincidence that someone posts the unfortunate image to the left this week? Doubtful.

But, that Kansas City Photo? It's a fake. It's been digitally altered as this article clearly identifies.

Unfortunately, like a trial lawyer that says something incendiary, knowing full well the objection will be sustained, the jury can never unhear it. Unfortunately for our friends at Visit KC, most will never unsee this.

Of course, that's nothing to the sensationally not-coincidental timing of the release of a research study that claims that the carbon footprint of Tourism is 4x worse for the planet than previously believed. I can't say that this new analysis from researchers from the University of Sydney and Taiwan's Cheng Kung University is flawed, because I haven't seen it. The premise certainly makes sense...but, so have studies promoted by previously prestigious institutions like the Brookings Institute. 

That this paper was accepted by Nature Climate Change in March and held for publication on this of all weeks makes me want to delve deeper before I accept this as science. You should too. It seems too perfectly timed.

But, be prepared for this study to be used as a challenge to the vital work that Destination Marketers do.

 

It's Always Sunny in Columbus

Just back from a quick trip to one of my favorite American cities. Columbus USA.

I've opined on a number of occasions about how this destination stands out. From Brand to Airport.

I'm back in said Airport Saturday morning and I have to suppress a chuckle. I know I've just come in from a cloudy sky. But, one look out the window says all is sunny and bright.

CMH has installed blue film over the upper reaches of the windows in the terminal.

So...arriving guests always think its sunny upon their arrival.

Genius.

The Dark Side of Disruption

To paraphrase CSN&Y: "Four dead in NYC."

As of last month, four New York cabbies had committed suicide because of mounting financial pressures brought about by the explosion of ride-sharing platforms such as Uber and Lyft. And, much of the blame can be laid at the feet of City officials.

Tightly regulated, cabbies used to fight for a limited number of "medallions" that would give them the right to drive a taxi and make $200 a day. Only 13,600 medallions are issued...but, with 63,000 disruptive ride-sharing drivers now on the streets, many cabbies say they're lucky to make $50 a day.

Disruption. It's all shits and grins until somebody shoots themselves on the steps of City Hall.

While we love the convenience and experience of ride-sharing, we can't ignore that there is a dark side to disruption.

The Distracted, Forgetful, Not Very Smart Consumer

It's not uncommon in our work with destinations across the Americas for local Stakeholders and Boards to be consumed by the bad news that seems to emanate from their communities. They are convinced that potential visitors will hear of the terrible, horrible (fill in the blank) and cross the destination off their list.

With the possible exception of Bermuda, which saw some 3,000 cancellations after Hurricane Irma decimated Barbuda (honestly, can people really be so geographically challenged?), bad news doesn't seem to register with many consumers. And, if it does, it doesn't stick.

A recent study by Destination Analysts reveals that "travelers’ memories are short, and people intuitively understand that time heals wounds caused to a place."

As the marketers of our destinations, we need to realize that we are simply too close to our own reality to truly understand how few people are actually paying attention. Thus, we need to stay the course in our upbeat marketing of our communities...because most consumers are willing to listen.

 

Magic Max

He was coming off an elevator at ATL yesterday afternoon as I was hoping in. One of those "can't be" moments. I turned...and said, "Max?"

Which, I think, surprised us both, as we've never met. It's been over 20 years since I saw him perform live...and, Max Carl isn't exactly a household name. But, I know you've heard his kick-ass voice.

My first introduction to this rare talent was when he fronted a bunch of L.A.s finest session musicians in a local favorite called Jack Mack and the Heart Attack in the early '80s. While my radio station played the daylights out of the album, it never really made much of a dent and Max moved on to other projects. After working with a veritable who's who of musicians on albums and movie soundtracks, he joined .38 Special for a turn and today is fronting Grand Funk Railroad.

With a voice as big as Nebraska, our Music Friday pick today offers up linked tracks from all 3 bands (see above)...and this soundtrack gem, the title track to the teen angst movie Tuff Turf starring James Spader and Robert Downey, Jr.

He's playing with GFR tonight in Hot Springs. Go.

Tourism is Dead

That's a statement that is designed to capture attention. But, for Gold Coast Tourism CMO Jan Hutton, it goes far beyond sensationalism and semantics.

"Tourism is Dead," she recently told the podcast "The Destinationists."

Destination Marketers "need to understand the difference between a "tourist" and a "traveller," she said.

Tiptoeing the fine line of classism, there is some truth to the concept that tourists seek out theme parks and beaches while travellers seek the authentic, indigenous experience. And, while theme parks and beaches make the economy sing, it's the authentic experience that builds and reinforces brand.

You in for the long haul...or just this season?

To Smart Responses

Marriott's recent announcement that it would begin reducing commissions it pays to meeting planners and third-party intermediaries from 10% to 7% has had the predictable result in some quarters (e.g., all hope is lost, I'll never use them again and/or they'll regret this).

But, you gotta love management companies like Preferred Hotels that, within a day, announced it would be increasing its commissions (at least in the short term) to 11%.

If an event planner wasn't familiar with the brand before, I guarantee you they are now.

Love it.

 

Airline Ground Transparency

Speaking of our Air Laws series, Air Law 15 was issued after a particularly heavy spate of bold face gate agent lies (mostly from United employees) regarding the status of delayed inbound aircraft.

So, imagine my surprise when it is United Airlines that recently announced they will provide total transparency on the reason behind flight delays, five minutes after they tell ground staff. They plan to test the new system in the weeks ahead in Houston and Phoenix before a potential nation-wide rollout.

If this all comes true...I'll be in an unusual space when I say, "well played, United."

An Air Law (starting to be) Enforced

Years ago, we initiated a series of blog posts we called "Air Laws" (in the Miller Beer "Man Laws" vein) to suggest a more graceful way of flying.

Out of the 21 Laws that were ultimately established, Air Law 1 is the most important. Reclining sucks.

So, it's cool to see that British Airways is ordering a bunch of planes with seats that don't.

It's a start! Finally!

Amazing What a Few Lights Can Do

Years ago, I stood with my former college roommate on the shores of the Cuyahoga River in the entertainment district known as "The Flats" in Cleveland. My jaw was pretty clearly hanging as I watched the long-abandoned cranes and other rusting remnants of decades of its industrial port legacy glow in a revolving dance of reds, blues, ambers and greens. These eyesores had become mesmerizing art by placing gigantic color wheels underneath each one (super-sized versions of what people used in the 60's under their aluminium Christmas trees).

It was my first real recognition of the power of lighting to make unattractive or industrial parts of a destination shine at night. Since then, of course, a lot of destinations have up-lighted bridges, boardwalks, boat harbors and more.

But, I've never seen a Parking Deck as sensationally lighted as the one we saw on a recent trip to Lexington KY (click image to enlarge).

Really, with low-cost LED lighting, how hard (or expensive) would this be for any community to brighten their destination's nights? And, regardless the cost...imagine the ROI of flipping your downtown into a place people want to be every evening.

Well, played Lexington. Here's hoping 2018 is the year more of us "get lit."