FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SMG Consulting in Conjunction with Nevada's Indian Territory, Develops an Innovative Tourism Strategic Plan  South Lake Tahoe, July 10, 2024- SMG Consulting, an innovative strategic management firm, is excited to announce the development of a Tourism Strategic Plan for Nevada's Indian Territory. This groundbreaking plan, centered around the concept of "Many Tribes, One Destination," aims to showcase Nevada's rich cultural heritage and diverse tribal communities. The Tourism Strategic Plan for Nevada's Indian Territory represents a significant milestone in promoting ..read more

Lake Tahoe Truckee Tourism Economy Slows in 2023   June 18, 2024, SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA – The Lake Tahoe Truckee Regional Lodging Trend Report for 2023 points to a slowing overnight visitor tourism economy, primarily driven by a 3.6 percent decrease in occupancy. With the average daily rate (ADR) increasing only slightly, transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenues fell by 3.6 correspondingly. Although many months were down in 2023, September was a noticeable exception and posted strong gains. In terms of the individual jurisdictions, performance varied, and not all posted losses.   The ..read more

Is Being Data-Driven alone Limiting the Effectiveness  of Your Competitive Strategy?    “Once in a while, you get shown the light. In the strangest of places if you look at it right.” Robert Hunter   For years, we’ve heard the term “data-driven.” As a seasoned market researcher with a 30-year track record and over 200 studies, I've seen the value of data. However, I've also observed that it can be a crutch for executives, leading them to dismiss other approaches and thereby limiting their thinking and possibilities.   This raises questions: why the obsession with dat ..read more

The Politics of Tourism: A Strategic Approach for DMOs   Introduction At no time in recent years has the country been as divided as it is now. Who would have ever believed that political and social issues could divide the country to the level it has? In many areas, these issues have impacted the individual level; friends and families have broken up, and the country is split between blue and red states. In addition, critical social issues have become part of consumer purchase decisions. In some cases, consumers and different groups have organized and used boycotts as tools to impact co ..read more

Institutional Investors in Tourism Destinations. Some Things to Think About... Institutional investors play a significant role in shaping the tourism industry and destinations. It doesn’t matter if your destination is a major urban center or a destination in the mountains. With their substantial financial resources and long-term investment strategies, these investors have the power to influence the development, growth, and sustainability of tourism destinations around the world. Typically, institutional investors are driven by two primary objectives: increased revenue and reduced costs. Their ..read more

“A smooth sea never made a skilled pirate.”                                                                                                 Franklin Delano Roosevelt I hope this finds you well as you settle into the new year. As the new year kicks off, I thought I would offer a few thoughts to get your mind going. The tourism industry has always been d ..read more

What Smart DMOs Can Learn From Burning Man By now, many have heard about this past year's Burning Man and the challenges some experienced with rain and mud. While much of the press coverage was way overblown, many experienced burners indicated it was a great time, as it always is. I had the good fortune of attending Burning Man for the first time and was absolutely amazed at what I saw and experienced. I will definitely be back in future years. But in taking a closer look at Burning Man, I concluded there is much a smart DMO can learn from the Burning Man community. First, Burning Man is one ..read more

Is it time for DMOs to Rethink SWOT? Almost every DMO nationwide uses a SWOT analysis somewhere in their organization. Be it a strategic plan, a tourism development plan, or a marketing plan. SWOT analysis has become a standard insert for decades. But has it been used well, how influential is it in shaping organizational strategy, and is it time to rethink this standard plan element? A Bit of History SWOT analysis was created in the 1960s by Albert Humphrey, a management consultant at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in California, USA. It was initially developed as part of a research pr ..read more

Is congestion pricing coming to your destination? It just might be. One of the major fallouts of over-tourism has been the level of congestion, traffic, and crowding. Tourism destinations across the globe have been searching for and implementing innovative new solutions to help better manage the impact of visitor demand on communities, natural resources, and residents. For several years New York and Manhattan, in particular, have been looking to implement congestion pricing for those looking to access a specific part of Manhattan. Just this week, the New York Transit Authority cleared a fina ..read more

Hi There! I recorded this quick message for you regard my Strategy Is Not Planning Article series.- Click Here ..read more