Pearls from the Ice
There’s a scene from the 2005 Matthew McConaughey-Penelope Cruz movie Sahara that pretty much sums up the way the consortium of consultants behind the inaugural Board Leadership for Destinations Symposium felt as we made our way home from Irving last month. Fairly early in the movie, characters Dirk and Al are in a situation in which they need to “Pull a Panama” to survive (treat yourself). It’s not a spoiler to say they succeed and Dirk marvels at the result because…it had never been done before (but Dirk was sure it would work).
The 5 of us (DMOproz, SearchWide Global, CFO by Design, Civitas and Fired Up Culture) plus the Irving CVB’s Maura Gast and our friends at Destinations International had high hopes for the event that brought DMO CEOs, Board Chairs and future leaders together for two days of high-level conversation designed to inspire a higher level of Board engagement for participating organizations. But, I’m pretty sure we all surprised ourselves and each other with the results of the Symposium.
Maybe part of the success was that our two day event turned into three, thanks to an ice storm in the Metroplex that provided even more time for Board members from around the country to network, share stories of success and find fixes for frustrations. And maybe part of the success came from a simply sensational closing panel in which CEOs and Board Chairs from three communities shared how their Boards have played significant roles in moving their organizations and destinations forward.
And maybe it was the nine Roundtable discussions that took place on Day Two. Our Team members set up the topics in each room and participants wasted no time taking flight with their suggestions, experiences and mutual support. Some of my favorite takeaways from those Roundtables:
DMO Boards cannot be allowed to evolve; they must be intentionally designed and a culture established and nurtured. If DMOs don’t actively design a process in which the most influential, passionately engaged and diverse individuals in the community are assembled, we’ll continue to stumble haphazardly forward in our pursuit of greatness. Our communities deserve no less. And, we need to reassess the thought that influence comes with experience. People in their 20s have influence…just a different kind...and with a different tribe.
Boards need to look for unlikely allies as they break down silos and inspire their communities. We need to search for community leaders that may not be directly tied to the hospitality and tourism sectors…like The Urban League, local Healthcare powerhouses, Realtors, etc. While we can learn from those outside our world, such individuals can effectively take our stories to other economic and social sectors of our community that have never considered the critical importance of what we do.
And one that I was surprised to hear more than once from a few DMOs:
If getting the right people around the Board table is difficult, create another table. If a DMO Board has a high number of appointed positions or term limits are not enforced, the DMO can’t expect the Board to be engaged at a high level. While I could see DMO CEOs shrink from such a scenario (really…isn’t managing one Board enough?), I was surprised at those that told me offline that having a Destination Advisory Council could help immensely with bringing more diverse voices to the table. And, it would be a sensational training ground for those with the passion to serve that have been unconsciously blocked because of outdated legislation, by-laws or policies.
This is what hppens when DMO pros convene. Cool stuff, to be sure.
For all our friends who joined us in Irving last month…thank you for helping us “pull a Panama.” And, for sharing with us how jazzed your Board members were at the possibilities before them as you returned home.
And, now that we know it can done, you can bet we’ll do it again. Watch the Z-News for an announcement of future dates.