All products, services, or links mentioned on my website are for products and services that I have personally used and/or recommend. Some of the links are affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Say goodbye to #FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Say hello to Slow-Mo. Slow-mo, in relation to travel, is a new term that is just now starting to catch on. But a quick Google search will pull several recent articles about the new trend.
In this article, I’ll explain what Slow-Mo is and how we can adapt our marketing and amenities to capitalize on this newest travel trend for our vacation rentals.
Many of the latest travel articles are focusing on the transportation aspect of Slow-Mo, but there is much more to this new travel trend.
Unless businesses begin to understand the Slow-Mo mentality, they’ll miss a huge economic opportunity.
In simplest form, “Slow-Mo” means traveling or vacationing with a mindset of intentionally getting back to the basics.
To expand on the definition, think of Slow-Mo this way: less crowds, less carbon footprint, more personal experiences, interacting with nature, environmental awareness, historical insights, educational experiences, less rushing, more relaxing, enjoying the journey.
It sounds good to me. Give me a “slow-mo” vacation anytime!
It’s interesting that the slow-mo mindset is nearly the opposite of what has been the norm for the last few years. Travelers were constantly on the move. Flying here and there, while taking in every activity that kept them entertained. Meanwhile, never losing contact with the world through the latest and greatest technological advancement.
Fast forward (no pun intended) to the new mindset. Travelers are looking to unplug and unwind. They seek the unknown treasures of smaller towns and want to experience the people, places and things that make the world unique. Their interest peaks with educational opportunities and historical tourism.
Destinations that offer slow-mo transportation or exploration is the icing on the cake. The slow-mo travelers are on a quest for adventures that involve trains, boats, bikes, horses and hiking boots.
As travelers begin the search for slow-mo destinations, they are dreaming of a location to obtain a soul connecting experience. These travelers want to make a connection with the people, culture, food, and customs.
Slow-mo travelers are in pursuit of a story throughout their journey.
As the slow-mo travel trend catches on, the hospitality industry is on a quest to meet the travelers’ new needs. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ve heard me talk about becoming a destination expert. Well, my friend, this is your chance to shine!
If this new trend catches on like I think it will, destination marketing is going to become extremely important in your marketing portfolio! ~ Connie
This new travel trend is great news for the vacation rental industry. Slow-mo means connecting with communities. And that is exactly what vacation rentals can offer that many hotels cannot.
Think of ways that make your vacation rental rich in the community experience. Through promotion of the local culture, you can set yourself apart from the old norm.
Your vacation rental probably already has some amenities that appeal to the slow-mo traveler.
Do you have a special place to relax on your property or inside your rental? If your vacation rental is in the country, can you see the stars at night? Is there a river or creek nearby? Do you know where the locals hang out?
These are things to think about when you are promoting the new travel trend.
Invite your guests to unplug a rewind. Mention areas within your rental property or nearby that are ideal for meditation, yoga, or just a quiet place to escape.
Travel is educational. There is something new to see, do, and learn around every turn.
Begin by brainstorming educational experiences in your area for different age groups. Some ideas may overlap, and that’s perfectly fine. The whole family can enjoy the zoo and museums.
Think of ways to combine education and local community experiences. An example is a local starving artist event. Volunteer opportunities at local non-profits provides purpose for the guest and gets them involved with the locals.
The Road Scholar website has some awesome education travel opportunities. Perhaps some of these are near your destination, or just use the site to get some ideas.
You may not think your little town is rich in local history, but I guarantee there is something interesting about some person, place, or thing in your town’s past. And tourists LOVE to hear about small-town musings.
Maybe you haven’t brushed upon the local history yourself. Visit your local historical society, chamber of commerce, or local library. Or google your town or county on wikipedia. You’ll be surprised what interesting stories you’ll find about your area.
Many historical sites have books and literature with details about what makes it famous. Consider adding a couple books to your vacation rental library. Be sure to point them out in your welcome guide.
Town fables, ghost stories, or unsolved mysteries are interesting topics to use in promoting your vacation rental. Entice guests to come to your town to explore and learn about the historical preservations.
Nearby parks offer travelers an abundance of slow-mo things to do. Get to know the ins and outs of your local state and national parks. Any park within a 3 to 4 hour driving distance is fair game for mentioning to your guests.
Rivers, streams are an inviting amenity. Even if the water source isn’t in close proximity to your vacation rental, you can include directions and offer tips for enjoying the outdoor feature.
Millennials are typically environmentally conscience, and more and more people are becoming more environmentally aware.
One way to make an impact is to offer recycling services, use recycled materials in your rental, and plant flowers and grow vegetables. Mention the fresh vegetables in your marketing.
Instead of using bottled water, provide a filtered water pitcher.
Switch gears to modes of transportation and exploration. What does your area have to offer?
Some ideas:
Wineries, distilleries, farmers markets, home cookin’ restaurants, and local bakeries are just the beginning of the food tourism options to offer your guests.
Don’t just offer a menu and directions. Explain in your marketing why these local food places are unique. Give some details of the owners and chefs. Is the food locally sourced? Does the restaurant use Aunt Linda’s secret recipe? Is the bread baked fresh every morning? What dish do you recommend?
Successful promotion and marketing of your vacation rental to the slow-mo traveler begins with making a connection with your guests.
Building relationships with guests is a big piece of the slow-mo marketing puzzle. These guests are looking for someone who can help them live like a local and provide personalized advice for new activities to try.
We have all become addicted to the technology and need more personal interaction to balance it out. As travelers yearn for a more soul serving experience, we will need to adjust our marketing accordingly.
Pay attention to these travel trend changes in the next year. Not every guest will be looking for this type of travel experience, but it is becoming a trend we shouldn’t ignore.
My article, Destination Marketing for Vacation Rental Owners, is a great place to start to get more slow-mo marketing ideas. I also teach a lesson and provide materials and worksheets on destination marketing in my course, Social Media Marketing Bootcamp.
Join my email list to get my weekly #trendytips for vacation rental hosts and hospitality owners. I’ll be writing more about the latest travel trends, so stay tuned!
You’ll learn unique marketing strategies for social media that will generate more revenue for your business.
Social Media Marketing Bootcamp is a self-paced, 5-Part course designed exclusively for vacation rental owners. The content will be specific to the vacation rental industry, and you’ll have access to exclusive content, worksheets, and questions/answers as you move through the course.
Learn more about how to effectively market your vacation rental on social media, in my Facebook & Instagram Course Exclusively for Vacation Rental Hosts.
Here are some of the topics included in the Social Media Marketing Bootcamp Course:
Take the quiz to find out how the Social Media Marketing Bootcamp course will help your vacation rental business.
After taking the quiz, you’ll see a personalized report explaining whether you’re a good candidate for the course.
You don’t want to miss any of my weekly vacation rental management and marketing tips! You’ll also get my FREE Download – 9 Steps to Preparing Your Vacation Rental Business to #BookDirect!
Would you like to take Direct Bookings for your vacation rental, but you don’t know where to start? Evaluate where you are and what steps you need to take to gain back control of your vacation rental business. It’s not as hard as you might think.
Learn what Trendy Hospitality is all about. And learn more about me and why I have such a passion for vacation rental management and marketing.
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All products, services or links mentioned on my website are for products and services that I have personally used. Some of the links are affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
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