Artwork for podcast Aqua Talks
Ep 44: Beyond Heads in Beds — Turning Geolocation Data Into Real ROI
Episode 4419th May 2026 • Aqua Talks • Larry Aldrich and Mady Dudley
00:00:00 00:29:32

Share Episode

Shownotes

Larry sits down with Daniel Horsch, Senior Sales Director at Azira, for a wide-ranging conversation about what data can actually do for destination marketers when you stop chasing impressions and start asking better questions. Daniel describes Azira as "the Swiss" of the data world — neutral, flexible, and plugged in across channel partners, agencies, and direct clients — with geolocation data that's universal enough to translate across verticals but laser-focused on travel and hospitality.

The bigger thread here is intentionality. Daniel makes the case that DMOs are getting pulled past the old "heads in beds" scoreboard and into harder questions: Are visitors actually shopping? Eating? Staying longer? Coming back? He shares a sharp example from his pre-Azira days running marketing for a DFW destination, where data showed a nearby high-affinity market was only staying 1.5 days — prompting a budget reallocation to longer-stay markets that drove real economic lift. He and Larry also riff on the realities of AI as a "coworker, not a captain," the death of analysis paralysis, and why no Zoom call will ever replace a real conversation at an event.

Key Takeaways

  • Geolocation data goes way beyond "did they see the ad." Azira's value sits in tying media exposure to actual in-market behavior — restaurants, shops, attractions, length of stay — which is exactly the proof point stakeholders are demanding from DMOs right now.
  • Set the attribution expectation up front. A 30–60 day window for awareness campaigns vs. an immediate-return event-ticketing campaign are wildly different conversations. Daniel's first move with any partner is aligning on what "success" actually means before the first dollar runs.
  • Polygon-and-pivot for fly markets. For destinations served by multiple airports, Azira polygons each airport to surface the real visitor makeup, then layers in where those flyers also travel — which surfaces both lookalike opportunities and net-new visitor pools competitors are already winning.
  • Reallocate against length-of-stay, not just affinity. Daniel's DFW war story is a great reminder: a market that loves you but only stays 1.5 days may be costing you more than it's worth. Move that budget to 2–3 night markets and the downstream economic impact compounds.
  • AI's biggest unlock for non-analysts is prompt-driven sense-making. Daniel is candid that he's "not a data analyst," but using AI to interrogate raw data sets has killed his analysis paralysis and given him real confidence walking into partner conversations. (Bonus: he and Larry agree AI is a coworker, not the boss.)
  • The standout case study — turn a red-eye observation into 2,000+ visits. On a late arrival into Chicago, Daniel skipped the Uber, took the Metro, and spotted Fort Worth out-of-home placements (an existing Azira partner). He pitched a geofence layered on top of the existing OOH buy — capturing Metro riders at the station, then re-engaging them at work and home. The result: 2,000+ measured Chicago-origin visits to Fort Worth from a strategy that complemented (rather than replaced) what was already running.
  • Relationships are still the platform. Both agreed: events like Etourism and Destinations International aren't networking nice-to-haves — they're where the real partnerships actually start, and where AI-era trust gets built face-to-face

Transcripts

Speaker A:

Welcome to Aqua Talks where marketing meets bold game changing ideas.

Speaker A:

Join your hosts, Larry Aldrich and Maddie Dudley as they explore the art and science of cutting through the noise, capturing attention and fostering meaningful connections with your audience.

Speaker A:

Whether you're a destination marketer, government contractor, or simply passionate about the transformative power of marketing, Aqua Talks offers engaging discussions, fresh insights and actionable strategies designed to inspire and inform.

Speaker B:

Today we're coming to you from Louisville, Kentucky live at the Etourism conference.

Speaker B:

We're going to be talking to some great DMOs today and some vendors, so stay tuned.

Speaker B:

Thanks for coming back into this episode of Aqua Talks.

Speaker B:

Today we have Daniel Horsch with Aera.

Speaker B:

How you doing, Dan?

Speaker B:

Pretty good, Larry.

Speaker C:

How are you?

Speaker B:

I'm doing okay.

Speaker B:

So it's great seeing you again.

Speaker C:

Likewise.

Speaker B:

Thanks for dinner last night.

Speaker B:

We Chip and I enjoyed ourselves.

Speaker C:

It was a great.

Speaker B:

That was a great call.

Speaker B:

It was a great call.

Speaker C:

Cuban Restaurant.

Speaker B:

Now what was the name of the restaurant?

Speaker C:

Oh man, are you going to put me on the spot?

Speaker C:

La Bodegita Mima.

Speaker C:

You might have to check it later on, but yes, excellent place.

Speaker C:

Cuban Restaurant.

Speaker C:

We had a really good time.

Speaker B:

That's why I asked them to pronounce it, because I couldn't even pronounce it.

Speaker C:

I mean, you can't miss it.

Speaker B:

I read it.

Speaker B:

I can read it if you ever come back.

Speaker C:

I mean, that was the biggest thing coming up, the neighborhood.

Speaker C:

I mean it had like beautiful building, the facade.

Speaker C:

I mean, you beautiful red car outside.

Speaker C:

And I think it was a Cadillac or something like that.

Speaker C:

But yeah, it was a good time.

Speaker B:

Really great food.

Speaker B:

So get Danielle, introduce yourself, give your bio.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

And where you at, what you're doing with Azera and what's been going on.

Speaker C:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker C:

So Daniel Horsch.

Speaker C:

I'm a sales director with Azira Azira.

Speaker C:

We are a company that specializes in geolocation, maybe turning insights into action essentially.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Oftentimes when we're having conversations with our partners is.

Speaker C:

I liken us to the Swiss in a lot of ways.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

Is because depending on what the outcomes our partners are looking for, we work with directly with different channel partners, we work with agencies like yourself.

Speaker C:

We work with different clients directly.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

But the cool thing about it is that our data is universal.

Speaker C:

While 99% of the conversations that I'm having are for travel and hospitality partners.

Speaker C:

The fact of the matter is our data is very universal.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

So it crosses a variety of different verticals.

Speaker C:

But the good thing is, is that when you have that type of data at the End of the day, we're talking about travel, but the reality is we're still kind of consumers.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And that's a very important piece and some of the how we're actually able to uncover insights and turn into actions.

Speaker C:

Precisely.

Speaker C:

Okay.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

So we're at our second day of E Tourism.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

Great event.

Speaker B:

I believe I met you at Destinations International.

Speaker C:

We did, yeah.

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

In Chicago.

Speaker B:

Yes.

Speaker B:

And you invited us to a dinner.

Speaker B:

A dinner there and a happy hour.

Speaker B:

So again, thank you for that.

Speaker B:

We really enjoy working and, and talking and, and networking with the zero.

Speaker B:

I think we're growing a really good relationship there.

Speaker B:

And you know, usually we jump into a trend.

Speaker B:

So, you know, as we jump into this conversation, are there any trends in the industry or anything top of mind that sticks out you want to talk about?

Speaker C:

Yeah, I think it's.

Speaker C:

There's a lot of focus on just being, you know, more intentional.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

With any kind of strategy that a lot of our partners are doing.

Speaker C:

And I'm seeing that firsthand in conversations because again, you know, exactly how it is, you know, working, you know, on the agency side, you know, before any conversation begins, it's like you just want to learn more.

Speaker C:

Like what.

Speaker C:

What are you truly after?

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And more often than not, it's trying to be good storytellers so that at the end of the day these destination marketing organizations, right.

Speaker C:

Is that they want to go in beyond the Traditional metrics, the KPIs.

Speaker C:

Okay.

Speaker C:

Impressions, click the rates and things like that.

Speaker C:

Because what their partners and stakeholders are out there, like what is it actually bringing to our destination?

Speaker C:

Are we getting people through, into our restaurants?

Speaker C:

Are we getting people to shop, staying longer, spending more, where else are they going beyond hotels, the attractions, things like that.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

That is huge.

Speaker C:

Because again, yes.

Speaker C:

While, you know, traditionally the idea is like, you know, as we talk about all the time, is putting heads in beds, put.

Speaker C:

But it's so much more than that.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

So I have the ability to be able to help be a tell apart in that, in that story.

Speaker C:

So would you, I mean, would you agree that that's, that's some of the things that maybe you guys are, you're working on as well as far as trends are concerned?

Speaker C:

Definitely is.

Speaker B:

And a lot of the trends that we're seeing and we're, you know, definitely finding solutions for, especially, you know, working with Azera.

Speaker B:

Networking with Azera is data and analytics is king.

Speaker B:

And the data isn't changing.

Speaker B:

How you get the data is being optimized.

Speaker B:

True.

Speaker B:

And being able to show that data, show the analytics as fast as possible and as much real time as possible.

Speaker B:

So you can pivot.

Speaker C:

Yes.

Speaker B:

And make changes as quickly as you can to be able to see where you're going next or where you're going to where, how it's going to help a DMO destination, an airport, a recruitment station, veteran outreach, how that data and that analytics play a part in their growth and meeting their mission goals.

Speaker B:

So with data and analytics and data being a part of your, what you do every day, do you see, do you see any challenges right now with the way.

Speaker B:

Where we're moving with, with, you know, the.

Speaker B:

How we receive the data, how we, we make decisions based off of the data or, or data accuracy.

Speaker C:

So the first thing that comes to mind is we live in an on demand world.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

I have two kids, you know, and so their life, they have understood if I want to watch a movie, I can get it and get it now.

Speaker C:

If I want to listen to, you know, particular music, boom, it's there.

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

You and I both remember those.

Speaker C:

Those days are.

Speaker C:

Our days were different.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And so again, the challenge I'm facing, you know, is again, is like for destination marketers, right?

Speaker C:

Marketers in general, it's like they want something and has to be immediate.

Speaker B:

Yes.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker B:

Yes.

Speaker C:

And before we dive into that, right.

Speaker C:

I always.

Speaker C:

It's all about important about setting expectations.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And so again, uncovering what that true ask is, is what is the objective of the campaign?

Speaker C:

Is it to bring in overnight states?

Speaker C:

Well, absolutely.

Speaker C:

Well, how fast will I know that information takes time, right.

Speaker C:

You know what I mean?

Speaker C:

So how do we understand attribution windows?

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

So case in point, you know, again, we were fortunate to work with a variety of different clients, Right.

Speaker C:

On campaigns that I'm working on now, it's more kind of, you know, traditional, you know, getting in front of them way in advance.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And we have 30, 60 day attribution windows, but at the same time also working with a client right now who is focused on driving event traffic.

Speaker C:

Right?

Speaker C:

So they are specifically focused on driving interest and intent to driving ticket sales.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

But that is very different because they need to show an immediate return on investment.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

So two very different things which we are fully capable of doing.

Speaker C:

But again, it comes down to setting those expectations early so that by the time we show those outcomes, it makes sense.

Speaker C:

Right?

Speaker C:

Because again, at the end of the day, yeah, we want to be able to provide information, but we want to be able to do it efficiently without sacrificing the quality of the information that we're giving it to them, you know.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

So with, with that in mind, let's, let's just say you have a DMO in Florida.

Speaker B:

Okay.

Speaker B:

Let's just use that to start with.

Speaker B:

And that DMO sees that coming up.

Speaker B:

There's, you know, some pricing changes.

Speaker B:

Let's say it's not a drive to destination.

Speaker B:

You know, most of the, the people that come into that, the tourists that come into that destination are flying into that destination.

Speaker B:

So what would be some of the, the data points we would look at for a destination that's not a drive to destination, but you can drive there?

Speaker B:

Let's just say that, you know, they fly there.

Speaker C:

There's two relatively local airports.

Speaker B:

What kind of data would be important for flying into a specific destination?

Speaker B:

When there's two airports, let's say one is 20 minutes away, one's 45 minutes away.

Speaker B:

What kind of data would be important for a destination like that to try to determine how next quarter might be in a time when prices are higher?

Speaker C:

It's a really good question.

Speaker C:

I think again, it would, it would start at foundationally speaking, like, you know, again, and that's really where we come in with it with, with our partners being able to tie specific actions that have taken place.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

It's not interest or intent.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

These are what is taking place in market, going to hotels, going to airports.

Speaker C:

So to answer your question, the first thing we would do is we would analyze data over time.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Because we know if the fly market's coming in.

Speaker C:

Well, guess what?

Speaker C:

Well, we will go in and we'll polygon the specific airports to be able to lift insights of the true makeup of visitors coming into that area.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

So we can explore again knowing hey, what market that serves because of course you're going to have outbound.

Speaker C:

But we were really more, you know, interested in inbound traffic.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Then we take that information and we continue to slice and dice it based off of the markets they are interested in.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

To analyze.

Speaker C:

Okay.

Speaker C:

Who are you really interested in most?

Speaker C:

Therefore, we're targeting the right individual from said flight markets.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

Again, another major, you know, differentiator of being able to be able to remove that data, data which you don't want, and only focus on the markets that are most important to you.

Speaker C:

Because then you say, hey, these are individuals that we know are flying in on a regular basis.

Speaker C:

But then you take it a step further and you say, hey, listen, you know, we're not, we're not the only person that's doing this.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

These individuals are also flying other places.

Speaker C:

So then we can pick up on trends knowing that hey, these are the right individuals modules that do have no problems flying to going from point A to point B.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Maybe that's a little different if you're trying about the drive market audience.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

So then we take that and we're like, all right, we're looking at other places to see how, how much people are coming in from their origin destination to others.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Then we can kind of pick up on patterns to say, all right, again, fly versus drive market.

Speaker C:

And then last but not least saying, hey, we can also find net new visitors too, right.

Speaker C:

Where else are they going?

Speaker C:

Have they been to your destination before?

Speaker C:

What other competitive destinations have they been?

Speaker B:

Right?

Speaker C:

Because then you're kind of playing on just like, all right, you've seen them before but you've never seen us.

Speaker C:

This is a chance to hook them in.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

So again, that is where, you know, I always find it really valuable to kind of get into like the weeds.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Of the data to really truly hone in on the true person who's going to have the most impact possible.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And so again, like things that we kind of take into consideration is high value visitors.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker B:

High value visitor.

Speaker B:

Would we consider that like someone that might come and stay three days as opposed to someone who might come and stay seven?

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

I mean, you know, so, you know, again, before I came to a zero, I mean, I've been in the industry for 15 plus years, you know, prior to, you know, coming to, you know, our side of the world, you know, I was the director of marketing for a large destination in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And one of the things that I noticed really quickly speaking to kind of high value visitor.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Is that traditionally we have several markets, one of which was less than two hours outside of my destination.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Great visitor profile.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

But the reality is, is that traditionally the data showed this, is that they only stayed for maybe 1.5 days, but we still spent a pretty decent substantial amount of media reaching that individual.

Speaker C:

So we had to have a hard look at our markets to say, you know what, we really like them.

Speaker C:

And it's not like they're.

Speaker C:

But they already know about us.

Speaker C:

Instead, why don't we move some of that budget into more other appropriate markets that are going to stay two, three nights because again, we're utilizing the data to be more intentional with our dollars.

Speaker C:

Therefore, by the time we're seeking them again, it's hitting that high value visitor, which of course being able to more economic value for the destination for the partners.

Speaker C:

So it's this kind of the downstream impact positive one that goes very much into favor about reaching the right audience, you know.

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

So with that data, with the emergence of AI, how important is it being able to manage your AI usage and using AI as a research tool to crunch some of that data?

Speaker B:

And what does Azera do working with its partners to make that easier?

Speaker C:

Yes.

Speaker C:

So again, you know, if anybody has touched AI, which at this point, I mean, everybody has dabbled in AI in some capacity.

Speaker C:

Capacity.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Where I've seen, you know, the biggest amount of value for us, and this is internal.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

Is being able to take raw data sets and be able to analyze.

Speaker C:

I am not a data analyst.

Speaker C:

I'll just be honest.

Speaker C:

Like, that is just not me.

Speaker C:

However, now that I've introduced other prompts that I've learned along the lines, now I could be, again, really intentional of what I'm seeking out because then we've all been.

Speaker C:

It like, analysis paralysis is a very real thing.

Speaker C:

I've sat in there just like looking at the, staring at the screen, like, what am I seeing here?

Speaker C:

But with AI, oh, it makes sense.

Speaker C:

You know, it's like, what is that?

Speaker C:

If you're seeing the, that one, that one movie, the Hangover.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

You remember all three of them.

Speaker C:

And Alan, and he was.

Speaker C:

That thing with all these equations are coming through.

Speaker C:

He said it was, you know, but like, that's, that's me, but with a help.

Speaker C:

So now I'm able to find exactly what I want.

Speaker C:

So I'm spending less time like, scratching my head over, like, am I truly getting the right data here?

Speaker C:

So from that standpoint, that's been huge.

Speaker C:

And then I know that gives me the confidence in going and having these conversations.

Speaker C:

Once they put that in front of our partners that we're serving, but they're also doing their own analysis as well.

Speaker C:

But it's a really collaborative process, I would say, because again, we have our own data sets, our partners have our own data sets.

Speaker C:

And really, I always invite that.

Speaker C:

Collaborative.

Speaker C:

Collaborative conversations.

Speaker C:

Like, what do you.

Speaker C:

What do you have?

Speaker B:

Yes, right.

Speaker C:

And that's, that's important because I can bring in.

Speaker C:

In data and supplement it to a degree.

Speaker C:

But I'm always interested in what the partners bring to the table too.

Speaker C:

How can we work together to make the best use of all the information that we have?

Speaker C:

You know what I mean?

Speaker C:

So it's not siloed.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

In today's world, and sitting in front of that computer all day, every day, how important is it coming to events like etourism and getting FaceTime with your.

Speaker C:

Partners, I mean, that is huge, Larry.

Speaker C:

I mean, you know what I mean?

Speaker C:

We are still a relationship and people business.

Speaker C:

That is absolutely not going to change.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

That's why we're here.

Speaker C:

That's why we're having these conversations.

Speaker C:

I mean, you know, again, I can, I can take a virtual call all day long, you know what I mean?

Speaker C:

But at the end of the day, this is really where the best conversations happen.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

Whether it's with AI or any other things that are happening.

Speaker C:

But no, this is definitely where it takes place.

Speaker B:

Yeah, the networking here, I think is fantastic.

Speaker B:

Whether it's the Etourism conference, whether it's Destination International.

Speaker B:

I mean, we've been regularly talking to you and Luis and Tricia since we've met you guys and Azira to where we've never would have had started building this relationship over a computer.

Speaker C:

I'm curious.

Speaker C:

I mean, you know, as, as a business owner who is also, you know, lives in the travel space, has done some work just on the government side.

Speaker C:

I mean, just in this last year alone.

Speaker C:

I mean, how have, how is, how has AI been transformative for what you're, what you're doing as well?

Speaker C:

I mean, are you, do you, do you think we're continuing to head in the right direction or what are you exactly doing to kind of prepare your, your own team and then your external partners, like.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker B:

Yeah, we're working with AI a lot.

Speaker B:

We use AI as an assistant.

Speaker B:

AI to us is another coworker.

Speaker B:

It doesn't run anything.

Speaker B:

It might help us as a backbone to some of the tools that we're working with.

Speaker B:

Some of our tech stack that we've been working on.

Speaker B:

Definitely having AI integrated into that, it definitely helps us with some of the decisions we're making, some of the directions that we're going in, some of the reviewing that we're doing, we're reviewing from whether it's a proposal, a contract, some of the decisions that we make.

Speaker B:

AI is another level of decision making.

Speaker B:

So AI is that person sitting right next to you.

Speaker B:

And that's how we use, use AI.

Speaker B:

And going forward, your AI is going to be more of a tool that's, it's, you know, I, I don't want to give too much information on one of the big things that we got coming up.

Speaker B:

And it's going to be big and you know, AI is going to be an integral part of like our intelligence officer say it's getting rid of that 30 year headache.

Speaker B:

So we have a solution for that coming.

Speaker B:

And with that solution, I think it's going to be a game changer, not only in destination marketing, but in marketing to the federal government, marketing to the state governments, marketing to the private sector, marketing to, you know, some of the nonprofits that we have out there, outreach to veterans.

Speaker B:

It's going to help all of that.

Speaker B:

And.

Speaker B:

But you still have to get out there and.

Speaker B:

And touch people.

Speaker B:

Have FaceTime.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

Build those relationships, build that trust.

Speaker C:

Trust.

Speaker B:

And coming to these events really does that a lot for us.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

Helps us.

Speaker B:

You know, let's just call friend, friend relationships, because everything's a work relationship, but you want to build that relationship to where when someone sees you, they smile.

Speaker B:

You know, like every time we see Luis, he's smiling and I just think he just smiles all day, every day anyway.

Speaker C:

And you smile, smile.

Speaker C:

And Trisha smiles.

Speaker B:

But Luis has a different smile.

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

Smiles different and.

Speaker B:

And it feels good.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

And when you get out here and you build these relationships and we see you all the time, it's like it strengthens that bond and then you, you become better work partners that way.

Speaker B:

So it's really important to come to these events and we'll continue to do those.

Speaker B:

So, you know, with that said, you know, between using AI, you know, digitally and coming to these events, it makes a huge difference on what we do as a company, how we do it, the thought that the decisions as a business owner and, you know, how we continue to work together, grow business together, manage business together.

Speaker B:

Growing it is one aspect of it.

Speaker B:

Managing it and, and executing it is another aspect.

Speaker C:

I'm curious.

Speaker C:

I mean, you've known me enough now, like, I'm an idea guy.

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

I'm always trying to find.

Speaker C:

Find something, you know.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And a lot of oftentimes it comes from, like, real world experiences.

Speaker C:

But when you're, when you're out, and I know you do this on a regular basis too, when you're kind of building your pitch and some ideas that you're doing.

Speaker C:

How.

Speaker C:

How many ideas derived from an AI prompt would you say?

Speaker C:

Yeah, a lot.

Speaker B:

Sometimes I'll just come up with prompts to come up with ideas, and then I got to put it in notes and then we will build something off of it.

Speaker B:

We'll build another approach, we'll build another management style, we'll build another idea on top of another idea.

Speaker B:

And, and you, you, you can't get complacent with where you are.

Speaker B:

You have to keep building and keep looking at it from other viewpoints.

Speaker B:

And those AI prompts Help you come up with ideas, to view it from another angle.

Speaker C:

They sharpen it.

Speaker C:

Right?

Speaker C:

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker C:

That's the thing I've always kind of.

Speaker C:

It's not necessarily struggled with, but the whole thought process is that there is relatively no original idea anymore.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And it's like, it hurts me because I'm like how, you know, you search for that kind of constantly.

Speaker C:

You know, again, when you're trying to with new business or haven't engaging with the clients or things like that.

Speaker C:

And it's like, I often wonder, it's like, okay, how much of that was, did it start from AI?

Speaker C:

And I think it's less of like, you know, it's like it started from you.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

But then AI sharpens it.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

We'll see what happens.

Speaker C:

I mean, I imagine that many awards in the future will probably will have started on a computer prom to.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

You know, but there's still a person behind it.

Speaker B:

Yes, you always have to have a person behind it.

Speaker B:

There's always that human factor.

Speaker B:

And I know that that now is becoming something that you hear, the human factor.

Speaker B:

That's going to be something that you're going to hear more of.

Speaker B:

You know, there's always those sayings, there's a new saying, the human factor.

Speaker C:

So how many, how many times do you have an idea like where do you get your best ideas?

Speaker C:

Driving in the car, like in a.

Speaker B:

Shower or a lot of, of ideas.

Speaker B:

At 4 o' clock in the morning when you're laying there, sleep, and something just pops in your head.

Speaker B:

Always when you don't have something to write it down.

Speaker C:

Are you one of those guys that has like a notebook on us?

Speaker B:

No.

Speaker B:

That's why there's always something, you know, during a time when you can't just write it down or when you're driving.

Speaker B:

And I had a friend of mine, a small business owner, entrepreneur, and she always told me, you know, have that microphone on your phone to where as soon as, if you're driving, as soon as that idea goes through your head, speak it into the microphone and save it.

Speaker B:

And I still don't do it.

Speaker B:

And I try to remember it and then I get to a place where I can write it down and I scratch it down really quick.

Speaker C:

Well, I mean, we talked about meeting in Chicago.

Speaker B:

Yes.

Speaker C:

So I actually had one of those days, those ideas in Chicago that I brought to the idea of fruition.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

So I'm the type of guy, it's like, you know, when I'm oftentimes I love coming to events like this where I get to walk around the city and kind of explore and whatnot and just like, let my mind wander because more often than not, something like sparks something, right?

Speaker C:

So I'm in Di.

Speaker C:

Last year, coming from la, I took a red eye because I needed to get there, coming in for another event.

Speaker C:

So I said, you know what?

Speaker C:

Well, I'm not going to.

Speaker C:

I don't need an Uber.

Speaker C:

Why do I need to Uber into.

Speaker C:

Into the city from.

Speaker C:

From the airport.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

I got a Metro, right.

Speaker C:

That's going to get me from point A to point B.

Speaker C:

Plus I'll get to see the city in a unique way, right?

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

So there I am.

Speaker C:

I'm kind of rolling through, you know, the station.

Speaker C:

We're stopping in different places and mind you, you know, di.

Speaker C:

Which takes place during the work week, right.

Speaker C:

So I mean, you're still seeing people come and go, right?

Speaker C:

They're going from their different places to.

Speaker C:

To.

Speaker C:

To.

Speaker C:

For work and whatnot.

Speaker C:

And then I forget exactly what station I was in and I got off.

Speaker C:

And lo and behold, I see this out of home placement and through kind of like the.

Speaker C:

Kind of.

Speaker C:

The tunnel, if you will.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

I live in Dallas.

Speaker C:

I don't have public transportation or whatnot.

Speaker C:

But I saw ads for Fort Worth, who happened to be one of our partners, Right.

Speaker C:

That we've been, you know, developing campaigns for.

Speaker C:

And I thought it was awesome because it was like, I knew Chicago was one of the markets, so it made complete sense.

Speaker B:

Right.

Speaker C:

Generating that visibility, that connection to Fort Worth, even though Fort Worth is absolutely.

Speaker C:

Talk about markets.

Speaker B:

Yes.

Speaker C:

You know, from.

Speaker C:

From Chicago.

Speaker C:

And I was like, well, wait a second.

Speaker C:

Just think of all the thousands of people that are coming, seeing the.

Speaker C:

That ad on a regular basis.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And it's not digital.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

This is traditional placement.

Speaker C:

And then I start to think myself, I was like, well, that's pretty cool.

Speaker C:

Well, I had the recall there.

Speaker C:

I mean, I have a personal connection to it, obviously, you know, but what about just the regular Chicago resident?

Speaker C:

So then I started having conversations, things like, all right, they see it so often.

Speaker C:

Well, why can't we tie an exposure to really kind of drum up more interest?

Speaker C:

So then I said, hey, why don't we use data to help tell that story?

Speaker C:

So I came in, much like some of the emails that you received from me, too.

Speaker C:

I have an idea.

Speaker B:

I remember those.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

So I sent him.

Speaker C:

I was like, hey, listen, I was here at this station.

Speaker C:

I saw xyz, and she's like, oh, yes, we've had these.

Speaker C:

We've had these placements.

Speaker C:

In the past.

Speaker C:

I said, well, how are you reaching those people that are at those stations?

Speaker C:

She was like, well, we are.

Speaker C:

Cause we have those advertisers.

Speaker C:

It's like, well, you are.

Speaker C:

But there's so much more that you can do.

Speaker C:

So what we did is we said, all right, well, let's think beyond that first touch.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

So we were able to geofence specific stations that were within that mile radius of where those traditional placements were when they were coming through those, those tunnels.

Speaker C:

And so we were able to target Metro riders at those stations.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

With ads related to Fort Worth.

Speaker C:

But the cool thing with our data, as you know, just.

Speaker C:

Is that it's not just at the station.

Speaker C:

They're still seeing it at the workplace.

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

And at home.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And we're creating all these multiple touch points that started at the station.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

And the cool thing was is that they've already invested the time and the money.

Speaker C:

Right, of course.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

From.

Speaker C:

To advertise through traditional placements.

Speaker C:

So all I was really saying is like, hey, let's try to find another avenue to make an investment.

Speaker C:

Which are already doing.

Speaker C:

That complements the existing strategy.

Speaker C:

So fast forward to today.

Speaker C:

I mean, we generated over:

Speaker B:

Wow.

Speaker C:

You know, so, I mean, it's.

Speaker C:

That always, that doesn't always happen, but I love it in the industry, you know, to where people like me and you.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

You know what I mean?

Speaker C:

We're thinking of these things on behalf of our clients and just like saying, hey, it's not just, hey, let's do a campaign.

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

But here's why.

Speaker C:

And here's how we're going to do it from a step by step process.

Speaker C:

And that's really what I love about my, my, my job.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

You know what I mean?

Speaker C:

Just to be able to support them that way and try to think outside the box as much as, as much as possible, you know.

Speaker B:

Yeah, that's really helpful and that shows how helpful you are as a partner to that.

Speaker B:

To that.

Speaker B:

Whether it's that organization, that dmo, that cvb, that airport.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

You bring a lot of great ideas and, and that's one of the many reasons why we enjoyed partnering with and working with and networking with you and Azera.

Speaker C:

No, no, we.

Speaker C:

Yeah, we love it too.

Speaker B:

And we thank you.

Speaker C:

No, absolutely.

Speaker C:

I mean, let's.

Speaker C:

It all comes down to just having conversations, being collaborative.

Speaker C:

Yeah.

Speaker C:

Right.

Speaker C:

That's the, that's the name of the game.

Speaker B:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker B:

Usually we go into a case study, but you kind of just gave a great one.

Speaker C:

Well, yeah, well that's, well, that's why, because I started thinking what we were talking about just like where you generate ideas from and how you put it in action and really it was just, But I, I, I, I will say though is that that's just comes down to great partnerships.

Speaker B:

Absolutely.

Speaker C:

And you, you know, thank you for your partnership.

Speaker C:

No, absolutely, I appreciate it.

Speaker B:

You know, you know, you could go to aquatacks.com where you'll be able to find out more about Daniel and, and Azera.

Speaker B:

But also if you were looking at talking to everyone out there that's viewing and listening to us, where would you like them to come and find out more about you, more about what you do, more about a Zira, more about what Azera does?

Speaker C:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker C:

No, no, thank you.

Speaker C:

I mean, anytime you can be able to find us, you can find us on our website@zero.com.

Speaker C:

You know, again, as I told you at the very beginning, while 99% of the role that I'm doing is to support the travel industry, there's a ton of information for anybody that just wants to better understand data and insights for travel.

Speaker C:

Travel in a lot of different verticals too.

Speaker C:

So yeah, we'd love to be able to sync up.

Speaker B:

Thank you.

Speaker B:

You'll hear more on Aqua Talks and aqua.

Speaker B:

Welcome to aqua.com about the where Aqua is going and a lot of when it comes to the data and analytics, what we'll be doing.

Speaker C:

We have some great things coming up.

Speaker B:

And we'll be partnering a lot with Azer.

Speaker A:

You've been listening to Aqua Talks where marketing innovation takes center stage with bold ideas and actionable insights.

Speaker A:

Ready to take your strategies to the next level.

Speaker A:

Visit aquatacs.com to book your free consultation and explore resources that empower you to thrive in today's fast paced marketing world.

Speaker A:

Until next time, stay bold, stay inspired, stay imaginative.

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube