Another Blow To Big Game Hunting For Mega-Events!

It is getting harder by the year to ignore the reality that meg-events such as the Super Bowl, World Cup and conventions like the Republican and Democratic party events just don’t add statistically significant impact economically or in terms of image.

The most recent of many to come to my attention is this excellent analysis of major political conventions from the 1960’s through the ‘04 events was conducted in 2008 but only came to my attention recently.

There may be other cultural or political reasons to pursue them but it is impossible now with any credibility to play the economic impact or image cards, at least with a straight face.

I understand why many in the tourism-industrial complex remain loathe to acknowledge these well proven realities but what puzzles me is the number of DMO execs who still appear oblivious.  Hubris may be a factor but how far will that get you.

Growing the number of visitors to a destination has never been about more, more, more, bigger, bigger, bigger.  It is about prospecting for those visitors or visitor related events that can be feathered in to complement existing demand without dislocating (or distracting in the case of resident consumption) more impact than they generate.  Pure and simple.

But those subtleties are also lost on far too many in corporate American and far too many elected officials, especially if they live on a “one way street.”  So I know it isn’t always easy to have the courage to stand up to big game hunters.

But that’s part of the job and sooner or later, there won’t be room for DMO execs to remain in denial.  It will be a step forward when we get to the point where even internally we can have an honest and open discussion of these findings.

Regardless how you feel personally, you owe it to your community to read reports like the one linked above.

Durham’s Fairntosh Shows How Tourism Can Steward Unique Sense of Place!

One of the very unique parts of Durham, North Carolina’s unique sense of place is that while it anchors a four-country metro area west of RDU International Airport, the top third of the community is protected as rural area including several rivers and lakes, scenic byways, farm districts, waterfowl impoundments and now there is a new way visitors can experience that way of life.

At one time, Fairntosh Farm, a historic landmark, was off limits.  Now as Durham has emerged as a visitor destination, it has become a perfect way to stay in a cottage and experience a long weekend in North Carolina countryside and still be within minutes of Durham’s nationally renowned foodie side.

Fairntosh Farm is a working cattle operation and stables.  It is adjacent to the Stagville State Historic Site.  Both were part of the largest plantation east of the Mississippi.  The house at Stagville was an earlier home, Fairntosh was later.

The countryside is great for motorcycle excursions or bike trips.  There are boat rentals at Lake Michie or guided paddle trips ands canoe and kayak rentals for rivers and lakes through Frog Hollow Outdoors.

Fairntosh also offers to arrange private wine tastings or a chef or a massage.  Or book around dinners on the porch at nearby Elodie Farms, part of Durham’s slow or locally sourced food reputation.

This part of Durham will always make the fourth largest city in the State distinctive and visitors are definitely part of of making it sustainable.

Why Are We Still Not Able Leave Tips On Debit Transactions?

There are many reasons debit cards are a godsend and not just for people who like me who have “essential tremor” and handwriting is increasingly difficult. Debit transactions passed credit cards in ‘08. By the end of ‘09 I believe there were 36 billion debit transactions compared to 20 billion with credit cards.

It is like writing a check but without the paperwork and it makes tracking expenses much easier. Debits are now accepted for common transactions like fast food places without even a signature.

So I find it increasingly annoying that restaurants and/or debit card issuers haven’t found a way for you to leave a tip. At one restaurant where I often go for breakfast, they finally started letting patrons use debit but then if you ask to leave a tip, they print it out and have you tally and sign anyway.

Seems to me leaving a tip should be as easy as they make it to get cash back. Just have an option that pops up before approving that asks if you want to leave a tip for service and gives you several virtual buttons for 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%. They could even note under 20% “average.”

This would make it easier for the customer, good for the business because of much faster check outs and it would give the uninitiated or cheapskates an education in tipping. Seems like a win-win-win-win.

As fast as things evolve, I’ll bet this begins to happen even as you read this.

The Key To Relevance Is Courage

There is a reason that in surveys, the relevance and esteem with which Durham residents view DCVB as the community’s marketing agency, is two and a half times greater than the national average.

A lot of the discussion since the issue of relevance surfaced a couple of years ago has centered on things that DMO’s should have figured out long ago e.g. focus on visitors, all visitors, not just room-nights in hotels, take leadership in planning for the community’s tourism future, make information based decisions etc.

To me, though, a DMO like Durham’s has achieved more relevance because it hasn’t been afraid to tackle tough issues head on. Yesterday’s release of the annual crime comparative is a good example.

It’s obviously a DMO’s job to promote a community’s brand including identity and image. But that’s the easier part. Residents know Durham’s DMO also takes point in defending and protecting the community’s brand, identity and image.

This includes unwrapping misperceptions and finding ways to put things in perspective. DCVB unwrapped years ago that Durham was the only community in the state covered by two major daily newspapers and this resulted in twice the coverage of troubling issues.

But the Internet drove misperceptions by making twice the coverage appear to be twice as much problem. But DCVB took it further, as a founding member of the Durham Crime Cabinet and spearheading the 20-organization Durham Public Information and Communications Council, both now “best practices.” Then DCVB used its expertise in benchmarking to team with the Durham Police Department on a report to put Durham in perspective.

I’m sure DCVB still hears the occasional person or two, who work in Durham (typically not a resident,) that “other CVB’s don’t deal with crime” (the insinuation being that DCVB should be ignoring or covering up the issue instead of being so forthcoming.)

But that’s exactly why DCVB has successfully led the charge to improve perceptions, by tackling them head on and in the process emerging with as much higher level of relevance to residents and other internal stakeholders.

That’s how, I sense relevance is a lot about courage.

Most DMO’s just step up in a Pollyanna-istic way. But truly standing up for your community through thick or thin, is what really resonates with residents.

And guess what, Durham’s crime rate is the lowest or next to lowest quartile compare to communities similar in size and make up.

If They Thought Billboards Touched A Nerve…

I was amazed that elected officials were amazed at the number and ratio of emails they received opposing a change in the Durham billboard ban, prior to the Durham City Council taking a unanimous vote against a request by Fairway Outdoor Advertising.

Maybe some hadn’t fully grasped the results of a poll conducted to inform discussion by NANOPHRADES as part of DCVB’s annual survey. It clearly showed strong community support to retain the ordinance as is.

But if elected officials were surprised that element of community appearance touched a nerve, they should recall now how important overall appearance is to residents in scientific polls.

Thinking it superficial I suspect, local governments here have steadily cut back on beautification, litter removal and mowing and maintenance of medians, right-of-ways, roadways so much over the years, they’ve probably forgotten what “best practice” was.

And I understand some administrators had quite a chuckle at a proposal by one of their own results-based citizen groups to make clean-up and beautification an overarching strategy since it has been well proven to impact assessed valuation/revenues, crime reduction and prevention, public health, economic development, neighborhoods, code enforcement and several dozen other public responsibilities.

It must be tough to keep a finger on the pulse of a community. But everyone knows it takes much more than watching your inbox or counting noses at a public hearing.

Maybe the real legacy of this drawn out debate and drama but failed billboard issue will finally connect some dots that overall appearance issues are a top priority for Durham residents.