As I read the online account of how the Newport OR City Council agonized over the decision to yank the contract for Destination Marketing from their Chamber and award it to an out-of-town ad agency, I couldn’t help but remember that great ad from esurance about unfriending people on Facebook.

The City has contracted with the Chamber for Destination Marketing services since 2018, but essentially felt it was prudent to put the contract up for bid this year. Which, of course, sounds like a good idea for those who don’t understand how a destination marketing function works in a community. Ultimately, the review panel making the recommendation to the City Council had their heads turned by the flash of an advertising agency from out of town.

That misses the point that Destination Marketing is so much more than advertising. Oh, the ad agency says they’ll have somebody on site weekly to connect with attractions, hotels and restaurants. But it’s not the same. One look at the shit show that has been Duluth over the past few years should be proof enough that outsourcing Destination Marketing simply doesn’t work.

Good luck Newport. We certainly hope that your hospitality businesses don’t suffer from this decision. But if history is any indication, they will. And we hope you’ll admit your mistake and turn back to your Chamber of Commerce.

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