Yes, Spero Batistatos (CEO of the South Shore CVA) is a force of nature. He has a personality that can light up a room...and can set rival gangs on war footing. Nobody is ambivalent about Spero Batistatos. You love the guy...or hate him. But, nobody can honestly deny his passion for destination marketing, economic development and enhancing the Quality of Life on the South Shore. All of the South Shore.  read more...

We’re coming up on the midway point of another year. But 2013 isn’t shaping up like just any year...at least in the meetings and conventions market. In our work with DMOs around the country last year, we heard a consistent concern...that bookings for 2013 were off. Everywhere.  read more...

As we age, the number of our friends, co-workers, compatriots and thorns seem to thin in increasing numbers. And, sadly, it’s always more friends than thorns, but...like they say, evil never dies.  read more...

I sat in on the recent DMAI-sponsored Webinar “Latest Trends in Hotel Lead Distribution: Issues and Opportunities for the DMO Sales Community.” The seminar was designed to hip DMOpros to how “the other side” is viewing lead distribution from planners to hotels, third parties and DMOs.  read more...

At least in my world, there seems to be a word that describes each year in the Destination Marketing sphere. To be sure, those words continue to be meaningful and relevant in the years that follow...but each word seems to eclipse others in the conversation of each year. 

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When I travel by air and am stuck in a row too narrow to open my laptop, I read. Sometimes the books are trashy apocalyptic novels. Other times, they are books on marketing, sales, management and trends. I have three books to suggest to you for this holiday season that fit both categories...and that I recommend to your reading list sooner than later.  read more...

It’s no secret that Destination Marketing is changing at a break-neck pace. We’ve all been talking about it for years...and, the mass realization is starting to catch.  read more...

Troy Thompson (Travel 2.0) is one of the guys that I probably quote most...but have never met. Even at DMAI/Seattle, when we both swore we’d connect, it was simply too hectic for us to do so. We feature his blog on DMOpro...and, if you don’t follow him, you should.  read more...

Version 3.0. While a change in the second number simply means incremental growth...when that first number changes, it’s a big deal.  Yeah...new ballgame.   read more...

The evolving discussion in the Destination Marketing world appears to be taking a decided turn into the philosophy of who gets promoted by a DMO...and who doesn’t. At least it is among our friends and clients and at industry conferences like last month’s sensational Simpleview Summit.  read more...