What Does Destination Performance Have To Do With the Performance Playbook?
By IDEAS
Destination Performance™ isn’t just related. It’s the engine behind The Performance Playbook.
If Destination Performance is the outcome you’re chasing, then the Performance Playbook™ is a jump-start on how you get there. That means higher attendance, longer stays, increased spend, happier guests and faster return visits..
Think of it like this: Most destinations don’t suffer from a lack of effort. They suffer from a lack of clarity.
You know what’s not working. You hear it in reviews, see it on slow days and feel it in missed revenue targets.
But you don’t always know why. Or where to start. Or which fix actually matters.
The Performance Playbook answers those questions — systematically, decisively and with just the right amount of urgency.
Not a Snapshot. A Tactical Tool.
We built the Playbook around the six critical drivers of Destination Performance:
- Guest Interaction
- Facility Condition
- Ease & Accessibility
- Experience Quality
- Safety & Comfort
- Operational Efficiency
But it doesn’t stop there.
Within these six categories are more than 25 field-tested criteria. We weighted each one by how much it impacts core outcomes like satisfaction, spend and intent to recommend.
We’re not talking about generic “survey scores.” We’re talking about real-world, guest-facing moments like these:
- How long they waited to buy lunch
- How your restrooms compared to expectations
- Whether a staff member made them feel seen
And experts with years of destination development and operations experience determined all these factors.
You already know how to do a walk-through. This is a model for growth — one that’s sustainable, actionable and proven.
The best part? You don’t usually require huge capital outlays.
A Score That Actually Means Something
Every Playbook delivers a composite score based on firsthand assessments by people with decades of experience designing and operating successful destinations.
Those destinations range from global theme parks to regional zoos, and we refined the score through constant industry benchmarking. But the score isn’t the point; it’s the conversation it unlocks.
For IDEAS client, ICON Park, it meant high-performing brand expression and live entertainment. Still, other gaps existed that could erode long-term loyalty.
At other destinations, the score reveals great show design hampered by unexpected factors:
- Underleveraged arrival experiences
- Inconsistent kid-friendliness
- Untapped upsell moments in retail and food & beverage
Turn Insights into Action — On Your Schedule
Each Playbook comes with phased implementation guidance:
- What you can fix right now (0–6 months, low cost, high impact)
- What needs methodical pursuit (6–12 months)
- What makes you dominant in the market (12–24 months)
It’s a plan, not a lecture. And it meets you where you are.
Why It Works: From the Field, Not the Boardroom
The lens we bring is what makes the Performance Playbook different.
A multidisciplinary team of designers, operations experts, storytellers and marketers assemble each Playbook. We walk your site as guests and evaluate it with trained, practiced eyes.
Our IDEAS team comprises industry pros who’ve helped design and operate some of the world’s most iconic attractions — from Orlando’s “Majors” to one-of-a-kind cultural jewels around the world.
We know what works because we’ve been schooled by what doesn’t.
Important Questions, Crucial Answers
We ask key questions to get a feel for your score such as:
- Are your employees ambassadors or order-takers?
- Is your experience portfolio as good as the other place — or unforgettable?
- Are you delivering invitation, ease and joy right from the first online contact-or sowing confusion?
We ask because if you’re managing what’s visible on your walk from the parking lot, you may be missing what your guests see first. And that just may be what they care about most.
For a smarter, faster, more intentional path to winning the Destination Performance game, you need a Playbook.
Contact IDEAS To Capture Your Playbook … and Level Up
Unlock Destination Performance with the Performance Playbook. You’ll get not only our expert guidance but also measurable steps to take. And you’ll see your destination begin to blossom, from the main attractions to the nitty-gritty details.
Contact us to get the ball rolling. We’re excited to speak with you.
About the Author: IDEAS
