Tom Garrity

Archive for May, 2012|Monthly archive page

A tourist in your own backyard

In Messaging on May 2, 2012 at 4:36 pm

Since the last recession, tourism organizations and destinations have been talking about the value of instate tourism.  And why not?  It makes sense.

The best customers are your existing customers or are those who already believe in the product.  Living in New Mexico means we like it here.  Frederick Weller (who played the character Marshall Mann on the USA Network program In Plain Sight, filmed in Albuquerque) told the ABQ Journal that Albuquerque is “like a little decoder ring or spy ring of funkiness. Once you decode it, there’s a lot offered.”

As a part of the 2012 Garrity Perception Survey we “decoded” the perceptions of New Mexico residents about events, festivals, SpacePort America and where they like traveling in New Mexico.

The results will be introduced first to the New Mexico Tourism Commission as a part of its meeting on May 14th in Taos.  Additional, new information, will be presented to the Governors Conference on Tourism as a part of a luncheon presentation later in the week.

When preliminary information was presented to representatives from the State Department of Tourism and Spaceport America it was nice to see that some of the data surprised them.  Be sure to keep an eye on our newsletter to see how you can get a copy of our findings.

But research is just that, research.  What is important is what you do with the information.  We are in the process of developing outreach programs that cater to the income levels and geographic areas of New Mexico residents planning to take more than three leisure trips over the next twelve months.

Finally, on the event and festival front, we were really surprised to see how one “staple” New Mexico event is perceived by New Mexico residents.  Stay turned.  Information is fast approaching… just in time for the summer travel season!

Politically Radioactive

In Reputation on May 2, 2012 at 4:20 pm

In “PR” terms Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Wiener is Radioactive.

Wiener was photographed in a Southeast Asia red light district with a group of local women and in another image with someone he says is his fiancé.  For more on the story, here is the link from KOB-TV.

In the midst of re-election, republican and democratic leaders are calling for his resignation.  Politically, can Michael Wiener survive?

While he clearly has the election of his life ahead of him, his final “elected” fate will be determined by the 20% voter turnout, not the 100% negative media attention he has attracted during this mess.

What can Michael Wiener do to attempt “political” survival?

  • He needs to do a better, more effective job of telling his story, that is supported with documentation: plane tickets, receipts, his own photographs and motivations for his affinity for the people of Southeast Asia
  • Offer “till you drop” one-on-one interviews to all new and traditional media to talk about the trip and anything else that might come up.
  • Have his fiancé available to collaborate his story.
  • Show compassion to the victims (this list is long and includes women, children, victims of human trafficking and supporters).

Ok, so really, what can he do (since it is clear the above mentioned items are off the table): Focus on what he has done as county commissioner and hope, beyond hope, that his “supporters” have:

  1. No access to television, radio, newspaper or internet.
  2. Already sent in their mail-in ballot.
  3. Been visiting Denmark’s red light district and unaware of what’s been happening on the other side of the globe.

Baring any of that happening, Commissioner Wiener should think about community service instead of public service.