Blog

Today we became a corporate sponsor of Southeast Tourism Society (STS). We’re pretty excited about it and wanted to share it with you because you’re special. Real special.

Make your avocation your vocation. Somebody told me that was a smart thing to do. I would like to be able to say that I have done that intentionally but the truth is something else.  See, I love to travel and in the past five years we have gotten the chance to work for a number of organizations in the travel industry. It’s something we can understand and do good work for. And it’s a natural for the web.

Did you know the average consumer now spends as much time online as they do with any other medium? Technically, those who spend their time with Old Man Television (35%) only make up 1% more than those who get it on digitally (34%). Knowing these stats, it sets me on fire when I experience a number of organizations still treating their website as a trifle expense, only deserving of a modicum amount of financial chump change. Looks like it’s time to pimp out the year 2010. Again.

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s social media efforts rank 2nd in the country.

Just released by Dave Serino Blogs, Tennessee ranked 2nd in the nation for most active social DMO (Destination Marketing Organization), a mere 10 points behind Michigan.

Yesterday was a big day in Tennessee Tourism. Governor Phil Bredesen, along with the Commissioner of Tourist Development, Susan Whitaker, announced an initiative that will take Tennessee Tourism to the next level. The “Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways” is a statewide initiative that will cover all 95 counties in Tennessee with 15 regional self guided driving trails as well as feature five of Tennessee’s National Scenic Byways.

Perhaps the notion of “living your brand” is easier than ever now that we have social media tools like Twitter.  Recently, some tourism organizations have been creating nice exposure for themselves by advertising new job opportunities to work at their destination – all in the name of branding. 

Brands that succeed in social networking are brands that initiate dialogues and allow their consumers to initiate dialogues with their brand – not monologues.

How Social is Your State DMO? Tennessee is 5th in the Country.

Community Branding Basics - 7 Steps to Success

I played Augusta this week. Well sort of. I did not play golf, but if walking around admiring the magnificent beauty of the single-most defining atmosphere of any sport can be considered playing, then that’s what I did. That’s right. I said it. Let the debates begin. I absolutely believe no venue defines its sport more than Augusta National does for golf. Fenway Park. Daytona. The Brickyard. Actually, old St. Andrews of Scotland is pretty darn defining. But I still place it behind Augusta National.