The news that we lost Eric Carmen earlier this month eclipsed the loss of another voice, gone far too soon. While not as influential as Eric, Karl Wallinger was a unique voice in Rock.
A member of the initial incarnation of The Waterboys, Karl took "The Whole of the Moon" and introduced polyphonic synthesizer parts, synth bass, upbeat and off-beat cymbal accents to make it simply mesmerizing.
He went on to form World Party and released the hit "Ship of Fools" in 1986...and wrote "She's the One," which became a hit for Robbie Williams.
And a bunch of other stuff...but my flight's about to leave.
YouTube Karl, as we say farewell to an amazing talent on this sad Music Friday.
As Maura Gast said almost 15 years ago, "it all starts with the visit."
Oklahoma Tourism Director Shelley Zumwalt nails it in a great op-ed piece in the Oklahoman.
Like she said.
Like we've been saying for years...
]]>Interesting story out of Tahoe where bears looking for a place to hibernate are increasingly bedding down in or under vacation and second homes. One reason is that these homes are being built on their natural habitat. The other, according to the story, is that people are unintentionally inviting the bears in by leaving crawl spaces open and food out.
Best line in the story comes from BEAR League Director Ann Bryant: “The problem is more and more tourism and more and more people coming up here for vacation and forgetting to bring their brains with them.”
And ain't that the truth?
]]>One of the newest marketing opportunities out there is NIL (Name / Image / Likeness)…and we touched on it briefly in Episode 122 with Experience Columbia SC’s Kelly Barbrey. On this edition of DMOU, we sit down with Destination Ann Arbor CEO Sarah Miller to hear how they have entered this arena and what they believe the future holds for them and other DMOs in this space. We also discuss her experience as a relatively new CEO...and talk about our shared experiences at the A&W. Join us.
]]>It's rare when we can merge our Music Friday post with the Destination Marketing space...but this Friday is an exception.
The Team at Travel Yukon simply nailed a music video featuring a metal band adopting the phrase "a little bit metal" to encourage consumers that aren't dissuaded by challenge to embrace the destination.
Love it!
]]>Standing in an especially long and slow TSApre line yesterday at CLE. From behind me, an unmistakeable voice of privilege and self-absorbtion dismissively clucked, "TSA really needs to raise their prices. Most of these people shouldn't be in this line."
I turned and looked, expecting someone decked out in Gucci and gaudy baubles...and laid my eyes on someone who looked just like the rest of the line.
And sighed.
]]>Tonight's the night for Wisconsin foodies to be validated. It's not just cheese curds and brats...though I'm sure variations on a theme will be on display when the new season of Top Chef premiers tonight. It's all about Wisconsin, baby.
And Travel Wisconsin is debuting its first National TV spot on the telecast...and, I gotta say, it's the best piece of creative to come out of the Department in years (even with the obligatory golf shots).
Nicely played, Wisco. Nicely played.
]]>While a myriad of lawsuits are piled up to block it, New York City is preparing to levy a $15/day charge on cars entering Manhattan south of Central Park. Proponents say it will will lead to fewer traffic jams, reduce air pollution, and provide a desperately needed annual cash infusion of around $1 billion to support public transit.
But, the devil is in the details, eh? What about teachers, first responders, hospitality workers? Got an exemption for them? Most importantly, the nightime worker that can't utilize public transit that doesn't run after Midnight. Once again, a perfectly constructed argument is derailed by reality.
Should be interesting to watch.
]]>The headlines announcing his passing all refer to him as the composer of "All By Myself" and "Hungry Eyes." And, while those were bonafide hits, they are not how I remember Eric Carmen.
One of Cleveland's favorite sons, Eric was the founder of The Raspberries, a 70's band that combined Beatles-esque harmonies with power chords. The first five seconds of "Go All the Way" leaves no doubt on the power-chord front...and, along with "Born to Run," are the two songs that, when they come on the radio, I always reach for the volume to crank it up.
Among the pack, nobody did sexual teen angst like Eric. On this Music Friday, we say farewell to this amazing talent with a couple other Raspberries songs "I Wanna Be with You" & "Let's Pretend."
And, here's one he co-wrote for the Footloose soundtrack.
Sleep, sweet prince.
]]>Over the past decade, a number of beach destinations have said "no mas" to the chaos of Spring Break crowds. Miami Beach is the latest with a masterful video that proclaims, in no uncertain terms, that they are "breaking up with Spring Break."
The video works on so many levels: the visible distain of the first voice, the no-nonsense reminder of the carnage of last year and the utilization of spokespersons that are just slightly older than the target audience, hopefully creating a degree of connectivity. The video simply nails it.
But, then there are those destinations that still see the value of Spring Breakers, like South Padre Island. And are ready if crowds get unruly.
It's the difference between playing defense and offense...and here's to both destinations realizing their goals.
]]>Sister Cities. Many communities maintain such relations but how many maximize the opportunity before them? On this episode of DMOU, Mary Kay Wydra (Explore Western Mass) and Carline Poland (Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance) share their sensational experience of developing a bi-continental relationship that drives culture, heritage and significant visitation to their respective destinations.
]]>Back in 2022, Congress voted to establish a position within Commerce; the Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism. According to Travel Weekly, the position was created to ensure travel issues receive more high-level government focus.
The position just received funding over the weekend when the President signed a package of spending bills.
Glad that the government felt they have had the luxury of time to get serious about a critical component of the nation's economy.
But, better late than never.
Unless it takes two more years to fill the position.
]]>I can't say it's the first time it's ever happened...but I certainly can't remember a time when a City has ordered that its flag be flown at half-staff for a fallen DMO leader.
But, that is just what happened this weekend in Paducah KY, in honor of long-time CVB CEO Mary Hammond, who passed from this mortal coil last week.
An honor well-deserved for one of the true leaders in our world.
]]>Stumbled upon this recollection of the origin of one of the greatest rock songs of all time from co-writer Don Felder. An even deeper recounting is here.
On this Music Friday, we offer a number of takes on the classic:
A live version of the original before the band shattered.
This version from Al B. Sure.
A Metal version by Violet Orlandi.
A Reggae version by Moonraisers.
And then, this rendition by a 6-year old.
]]>I've always been a guy that writes things down...and then transcribes to digital. Yeah. Old School. Duplicative. I watch others in the room enter their thoughts on their mobile device and I've wondered if I've missed a step in the process.
But a new study, building upon past research, is confirming that writing provides greater cognitive benefits. The use of pen and paper apparently gives the brain more “hooks” on which to hang memories.
This is in no way a repudiation of digital tech. Just that handwriting is excellent brain stimulation.
And, I look forward to today's stimulation, pen in hand.
]]>When 2500 Pittsburgh and Philadelphia residents were recently offered free subscriptions to their local newspapers...44 responded.
Yeah...that's <2%.
Researchers are suggesting a number of reasons, including a mistrust of local news by those on the other side of a newspaper's editorial lean. But that should still mean that roughly 50% should have taken the offer.
I think it's because we've been programmed to believe free = a catch (as I opined in the last edition of the Z-News).
Just sayin....
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Let us, for a moment, believe that the growing number of States that are eliminating Sales Tax on groceries are doing so to help struggling families put food on the table for their children. I know...I think it's just a ploy to win votes, too. But, let's just say that it is for the good of the people.
Except Oklahoma, which just eliminated its Sales Tax on groceries last week, now faces a $415 million budget shortfall.
In this edition of the Route 50 Weekend Round-Up, there is suggested a smarter way. Rather than eliminate the Sales Tax on groceries (which benefits high earners more than others), States should offer Tax Credits.
Except that's too confusing of a concept for voters. Just saying you've eliminated a tax is much easier to understand.
And so, yes...we're back to winning votes...and not sound fiscal management.
And where is that $415 million gonna come from?
]]>When we started Music Friday almost 700 Fridays ago, we wanted to share new artists and cool tracks. Over time, it became a way to honor those that have departed terra firma.
Gladly, we are unaware of any passings this week...so we get to go back to our roots.
This is the Ghost Hounds, hailing from the streets of Pittsburgh. And this is "Fire Under Water."
And.... "Last Train to Nowhere."
Crank it up.
]]>On this very special edition of DMOU, Destinations International’s Chief Social Inclusion Officer Sophia Hyder Hock shares the evolutionary shift from EDI to a more inclusive platform in which DMOs can move beyond silos to develop truly welcoming initiatives. We talk about how this concept came to fruition and how DMOs can successfully utilize new resources through the Social Inclusion portal of the DI site. And, you’ll hear how Sophia’s parents elegantly reacted when, as a child, she asked for a baby elephant.
Join us.
]]>On assignment this past week in Rhode Island when, serendipitously, Journey's 50th Anniversary Tour was scheduled to play Providence. The opening act was Toto, and I was intrigued. CVB CEO Kristen Adamo graciously scored us a couple nosebleed seats for the virtually sold out show (which were actually the best seats in the house, thank you) and we spent a rare night off the clock with 10,000 fans of the music with which we grew up.
It was Toto's set that completely blew us away.
Guitarist / Founder Steve Lukather has surrounded himself with a veritable who's who of the top session musicians around, many of whom were childhood friends. And faithful to the Toto catalogue they were. Uncannily so. And absolutely and sublimely unforced, unlike the headliners.
I was disappointed not to hear "Gift of Faith." But, on this Music Friday, you know the song with which they closed their set.
"Africa."
So cool.
They're in Louisville tomorrow night, Nashville on Sunday and the Mad City on Monday...and all across the nation through April.
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