It’s that time of the year again destination marketers! While the holiday season may not be on people’s minds for another month or so, your festive brain is switched on nice and early.
Not sure where to start? Need some fresh ideas? Open your notes app, turn on some twinkle lights, and let us take you through how you can use the wonders of UGC, creator content, and holiday magic to create your best campaigns of the year.
What’s ahead
Types of Festive Campaigns that Bring the Holiday Cheer ✨
Let’s get started with some types of campaigns you can run during the holidays that are sure hits, no matter the size of your destination, or where you are!
Winter Challenge
How about a scavenger hunt that takes participants through different locations in your area, where they have to capture a photo at every stop? This activity is fun for the whole family and a great way to engage with visitors.
Bonus tip: Give them a chance to enter a contest at each stop by capturing their stop on social media. More stops = more entries for them and more UGC for you: it’s a win-win!
Holiday Recipe Exchange
Get a local chef to share insider secrets to creating traditional holiday delights. Then, have your audience share their family’s festive recipes.
Wellness Retreats
Let’s face it, the holidays can be stressful. Promote content centered around self-care during the holidays. Think peaceful nature retreats or spa weekends that anyone would want to give (or get for themselves)!
Advent Calendar
Create a digital, interactive advent calendar for your visitors that encourages them to come back every day for things like quiz questions, local trivia, prizes or promotions to local businesses, and more!
Winter Photo Contest
Contests are a great way to celebrate your followers’ creativity and collect authentic UGC that you can use in the future across your marketing materials! You can easily gather submissions using CrowdRiff’s Collector tool, which lets users upload their visuals directly to your gallery for review. You can also offer prizes like destination merchandise, gift cards to local businesses, or even being featured as the cover of your Visitor Guide! Check out UP Travel’s photo & video contest here for inspiration.
Shop Local Campaigns
Gather UGC snapshots of real customers and their locally sourced treasures. Showcase the smiles and the stories behind bespoke toys or handmade chocolates, and draw people to small businesses to get their holiday gift shopping done.
Festive Event Promotions
Your local events may be the community’s best-kept secret or the talk of the town, but you can always elevate them with holiday marketing. From live streams of tree-lighting ceremonies to tours of Christmas markets, there are plenty of ways to give your events the limelight they deserve. This is also a great time to call in creators to share their own takes!
Seasonal Storytelling
Gathering around for a story, it’s a holiday staple, right? Share your destination’s unique narrative with authentic UGC content. Whether it’s a “winter wonderland”, “tropical escape”, or “cute and cozy” story, real visitor experiences can help support your perspective.
“My Hometown Holiday” Series
Why not invite locals to show off their festive hometown traditions? It could be scoping out the fairy-tale-like decorations, neighborhood cookie exchanges, or a holiday fundraiser drive. Film it, snap it, write it—content like this screams authenticity and charm!
Flashback Features
Everyone loves a good throwback, don’t they? Get your hands on historical holiday photos of your destination and pair them with their modern-day counterparts. It’s a perfect blend of “then” and “now.”
Festival Countdown
Build anticipation with a daily countdown! Feature a mix of short videos, vibrant pictures, and snappy blog posts that spotlight different attractions, local crafts, or must-try seasonal dishes every day—because who wouldn’t want to wake up to a daily festive posts in their feed?
Go Beyond Christmas
Holidays mean different things to different folks. Feature creators that reflect this diversity—from the lighting of Hannukah mennorahs to the vibrant festivities of Kwanzaa, creators can showcase holiday traditions that resonate with a broader audience. Partnering with creators who celebrate these holidays not only educates but also excites potential travelers with the rich tapestry of global cultures.
New Year’s Bucket List
The winter holidays mean that a new year is right around the corner! Create a comprehensive bucket list to get your visitors inspired to try new experiences and explore hidden gems in your destination. Here’s an example for Destination Ann Arbor!
Capture the Holiday Spirit Through Varied Lenses 📸
Whatever type of holiday campaign you run, your DMO’s key to success is diversity! It’s more than just a buzzword—it’s your ticket to genuinely inclusive and resonant campaigns. Bring in content creators who breathe life into winter holidays with stories from their own unique perspectives. It’s not just smart marketing, it’s a heartfelt nod to the real mosaic of holiday celebrations out there.
Food, Glorious Food!
Food is the universal language of love, especially during the holidays! 😋 Partner with local foodie accounts and chefs to highlight a variety of different cultures’ holiday meals, snacks, and drinks.
Family, Friends, and Solo Adventures
Holidays are experienced differently by everyone. While some may enjoy big family gatherings, others might prefer a quiet getaway or an adventurous solo trip. Collaborating with creators who can share these varied experiences shows that your destination has something for everyone.
Create Share-Worthy Holiday Content 🤗
Gather Holiday Memories with UGC Hashtags
Encourage visitors to share their most memorable holiday moments using a catchy hashtag. A treasure trove of genuine, heartfelt content—think the glow of lanterns at a night market or the thrill of the first winter snow at a scenic overlook. It’s user-generated content that can turn into your marketing jackpot!
360° Winter Wonderland Walkthroughs
Let’s get immersive! The wow factor of a 360-degree video giving a virtual tour of your twinkling light festivals or bustling holiday markets? That’s social share-worthy gold!
Winter Cheat Sheet
Our Destination Cheat Sheet Template really took off—Destination Madison used it for a Fall Cheat Sheet and it became their best Reel of all time! Why not repurpose it for the winter season? 👀 You can highlight skating rinks, ski spots, winter hikes, cozy cafes, holiday markets, and more!
Year-End Wrap-Up
Go out with a bang by highlighting some top clips of your destination from the past year! Check out this supercut by Travel Oregon featuring CrowdRiff Creator content:
Conclusion
Wave goodbye to cookie-cutter celebrations and hello to a world of holiday experiences as diverse as your audience. By blending varying perspectives, traditions, and stories, your brand can be as welcoming as a cozy fireside on a chilly night. 🔥
The next step? Start with one campaign, pick a content idea that vibes with your destination’s brand, and run with it! Need a brainstorm partner or a strategic high-five for your plans? Give us a shout! We’re here for questions, brainstorming, or even a virtual cup of cocoa.
