Ahhhh vacation… just saying the word automatically brings a smile to your face knowing that rest, relaxation, anticipated adventure, or maybe all three are in sight.  How do you go about planning your next vacation?  Listening to excited conversations with friends or family members?  Reviews from websites or apps, like TripAdvisor?  Social platforms, travel influencers, or a few key phrases in the ol’ search bar.  Any or all of these can provide you with a great start in planning your next “must-see” vacation.

Here’s a gallery of just some of the work we’ve done to attract visitors to regional destinations:

Speaking of “must sees”, visitors now more than ever are willing to share their experiences through social platforms.  Gen Zers take 50+ pictures daily during their vacation with 67% of it posted on Instagram, and 45% trust travel influencers and reviews.  This transparent feedback allows potential visitors to read first-hand what could be expected from accommodations, restaurants, and attractions.  These photos and videos, shared in real-time are leading one of the latest trends which are pushing potential travelers to smaller towns and hidden gems that you won’t find along an interstate.  The power of user-generated content continues to play a huge role in assisting convention and visitors bureaus across the country.

Travel bloggers and influencers are now great resources for planning a trip.  Their first-hand experiences documented with photos and videos can be extremely helpful—Whether you only have time for a quick weekend getaway or planning an extended trip.

These touch points and influences are having a huge impact on the hospitality and travel industry, which has truly exploded in the last 18 months.  Industry experts are using a considerable amount of data through a variety of third-party sources to track travelers’ behaviors and interests.  Your search histories, what you’re reading, what you’re watching, it’s all being captured.  Now more than ever, the ability to provide the perfect messaging that will resonate with a target audience, on a variety of advertising platforms allows a greater ability to begin a brand conversation, or engagement, that could eventually result in a planned visit.  Additionally, these types of campaigns can be easily tracked through website inquiries, engagement through social platforms, and ultimately down to hotel bookings.  All resulting in a great return on investment.

Maybe your next vacation isn’t fully planned, and you’re willing to go off the beaten path, or perhaps every day of your trip is packed full of fun and adventure.  Just Go!  Go and experience life.  Go by yourself, go with friends, go with family.  You never know what your next travel experience has in store for you!