This is Bill Geist's Zeitgeist's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following Bill Geist's Zeitgeist's activity
Join Now!
Already a member? Sign In
Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Interests: music, b-movies and bourbon
Recent Activity
The Talent Undiscovered
Image
Have you seen the trailer for "Yesterday?" The concept behind the movie is that, after being hit by a bus, the protagonist wakes up to a world that never knew the Beatles...but he knows all their songs. And, he becomes... Continue reading
Posted 2 days ago at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Boldly Going
Image
The State of Indiana has never meaningfully invested in promoting itself as a destination...which always struck me as odd. After all, they border a State that does...and continues to enjoy national recognition from one of the most successful tourism campaigns... Continue reading
Posted 3 days ago at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Another Nail
Image
USA Today has laid off all but a handful of its Travel section staff, essentially shuttering one of the last such features in mainstream media. From a recent Skift obituary: "Consumers get recommendations on where to go from Facebook and... Continue reading
Posted 4 days ago at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
The School Start Date Conundrum
Image
I know I'm too close to this debate, having fought this battle in Wisconsin years ago (and consulted other States over the years)...but, honestly, it's a pretty black and white question. When the majority of parents (and, in many cases,... Continue reading
Posted 5 days ago at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
1
We're Not as Noble as Hoped
Image
A few years ago, a handful of Panera Bread locations shifted to a "pay what you can" model to test a concept that would encourage patrons to pay a little more, knowing that they'd be paving the way for area... Continue reading
Posted 6 days ago at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
The Immigrant Song
Image
The first song of an album sets the tone...at least it used to. For Led Zeppelin, the first album led off with "Good Times, Bad Times" and then drifted into blues covers and experimental riffs. That opening track was enough... Continue reading
Posted Feb 8, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Really?
Image
His self-defense has a pinch of logic to it...but that doesn't excuse the insane lack of judgment and sensitivity from the Tourism Minister from Uganda. The other day, Godfrey Kiwanda thought he had hatched a winner. The new tourism campaign... Continue reading
Posted Feb 7, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Tom Rivera
Image
In every State, there is that one individual that drove the industry and the Destination Marketing sector to the heights they today enjoy. In Illinois, that person is Tom Rivera. With no disrespect to the scores of other industry luminaries... Continue reading
Posted Feb 6, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
5
As the Caution Lights Flash More Incessantly
Image
Among the top 14 international long-haul destinations around the world, only one (Turkey) performed worse than the U.S. from 2015-2017. Tourism Economics President Adam Sacks avoided the over-used phrase "perfect storm" as he coined an even better one: "a triad... Continue reading
Posted Feb 5, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
James Ingram
Image
He was best known for his duets (like "Baby Come to Me" with Patti Austin)...but James Ingram was a rare talent that blazed through the musical scene of the '80s. "I Don't Have the Heart," "Just Once" and "Ya Mo... Continue reading
Posted Feb 1, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Like Anyone Cares
Image
It is a custom for new gubernatorial regimes to plaster their names on the welcome signs into their States. Why? Visitors don't give a shit who runs the State they have chosen to visit. Roughly half of the residents returning... Continue reading
Posted Jan 30, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
The Power of Onboarding
Image
When Boomers shake their heads at all the things that Millennials and Gen Z don't understand or know, they should shoulder the blame for much of it. My generation has gone through its adult life simply assuming that those who... Continue reading
Posted Jan 28, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
I Need You More Than Want You
Image
Possibly the most evocative lyric of all time. The genius of Jimmy Webb has been honored by artists for decades. But, it was Glen Campbell that provided his songs flight. By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Galveston...and our fave,... Continue reading
Posted Jan 25, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
1
A Different Butterfly
Image
Last summer marked the 50th anniversary of the release of the second LP from Iron Butterfly...a band that came screaming out of the late '60s L.A. music cauldron with a keyboard-heavy sound and a then-unheard of 17-minute track called In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.... Continue reading
Posted Jan 18, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Changing the World with Ugly Food
Image
Chalk it up to a great idea that I saw, photographed...but never connected the dots. We were on a destination assessment assignment in Iowa a couple summers ago when I spotted a farmer selling carrots in a totally different way... Continue reading
Posted Jan 17, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
A New Role for Today's DMO
Image
I can't remember the first time I said the words, "it's not just about heads in beds." Hard to believe, but its likely been 15 years...maybe 20. It wasn't because I was prescient. It was because I was given the... Continue reading
Posted Jan 16, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Now it's Getting Serious
Image
As the U.S. Government shutdown moves into record-breaking territory during a philosophical pissing match between petulant children that somehow convinced a majority of voters that they were sane and responsible adults, the fallout is beginning to produce dire consequences for... Continue reading
Posted Jan 15, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
The New Way to Negatively Position DMOs
Image
As we've noted previously, Destinations International's white paper on The New Tourism Lexicon is a critical guide on how those of us in the Destination Marketing space should explain our work and defend against unsophisticated and agenda-fueled attacks. Over the... Continue reading
Posted Jan 14, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Shallow Heroes
Image
It's impossible for today's recording artists to not sound slightly like those that have gone before them. I mean, there are only so many chords and so many variations. To be sure, there are the stone cold steals...but most are... Continue reading
Posted Jan 11, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Using the Voice of the Client
Image
How do you counter the perception that your destination is undesirable? It's the voice of the client. Discover Puerto Rico recently invited professional meeting planners to tour their event facilities. They found exactly what we found when we visited. The... Continue reading
Posted Jan 10, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
The Value of a Millisecond
Image
I'm not sure what the hold-up is for those Destination Marketing Organizations that haven't joined the mobile-first movement. Whether it's budget, old school leadership or a belief that Social Media has rendered websites archaic (it hasn't, as a web presence... Continue reading
Posted Jan 9, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
2
It's Simply a Matter of Time
Image
For every exceptionally successful tourism destination, there comes the seed of resident discontent. Nevermind that it was likely their own turn as a tourist that compelled those not indigenous to the locale to make it their home. Communities are for... Continue reading
Posted Jan 8, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
A Voice of Reason in a Sea of Insanity
Image
Wisconsin taxpayers are on the hook for $4.5 billion to bring a plant to the Badger State that may employ 13,000. New York City promised $3 billion to Amazon to get half of its HQ2. The arms race shows no... Continue reading
Posted Jan 7, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Bohemian Trombone
Image
Like a Finnish Bluegrass band covering AC/DC...I never saw this coming. On this Music Friday...it's a cover of Bohemian Rhapsody performed by 28 Trombonists at the 2018 International Trombone Festival. This year's conference is in Muncie (congratulations to the DMO... Continue reading
Posted Jan 4, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Growing a Community Conscious
Image
For the past decade, news outlets across the land have doubled down on the old adage of "if it bleeds, it leads." In the era of Facebook, stories about crime became delectable clickbait, driving advertising revenue. Nevermind how it positioned... Continue reading
Posted Jan 3, 2019 at Bill Geist's Zeitgeist
Comment
0
Subscribe to Bill Geist's Zeitgeist’s Recent Activity
The Typepad Team
Bill Baker
View all »
Reyn Bowman
View all »
0 Favorites
Blogs and Sites
Around The Web