Social media lets marketers quickly move seasonal campaigns from idea to execution, but where does the inspiration come from? Two destination marketers share tips with Andrew Hennigan

For some, holiday-themed promotions may have started months ago, but it’s not too late to roll out a seasonal social media campaign. There are, after all, thousands of tried and tested ideas just waiting to be adapted. Still, even with Google, finding them in a rush isn’t always easy. Instead we decided to ask destination marketers and social media gurus around the world for their best tips.

Tourism and Events Queensland, Australia

According to Chris Chambers, Director Digital at Tourism and Events Queensland, Australia, during the festive season his organisation has two key opportunities to connect with consumers using social media. One is to help visitors in the present moment. In other words, to ensure that visitors know the best spots to take their families such as the best way to experience the Great Barrier Reef and so on. The other opportunity is to inspire potential travellers for a 2015 holiday, especially those living in colder climes. Here are a few examples of ways that this destination marketer delivers social content over Christmas and New Years:

We are progressively posting ‘holiday’ related messaging including a video of our 3D Light & Sound show ‘Winter Sweet’. It lives on our YouTube channel but was also received well on our Facebook page

Inspire

With New Years’ holidays and destination trends. Tourism and Events Queensland introduced a bucket list infographic in 2014 and shared the content with graphics and inspiring landscape images to give potential visitors a few ideas of trending locations in the sunshine state.

Where would you rather be? Show what Christmas looks like down under with Pinterest boards and posts on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus using amazing summery imagery, Christmas Down Under style and fun animals

Have fun

Queenslanders are cheeky and fun. “We show our sense of humour all year round in our social channels, but we like to have a bit of extra fun at Christmas!” says Chambers.  

Support

School holiday guides – Tourism and Events Queensland created the ultimate school holiday guide (and 13 spin off blogs) for the September school holidays. These guides were made for families to tick off things in their holiday location

The social media team is always on the lookout across all social channels over the Christmas break (especially Twitter, Instagram and Facebook) to assist with on the ground questions and ideas. “We schedule a lot of local event information and day trip options over this time as well,” says Chambers.

Atlantic City Alliance, Atlantic City, NJ, USA


Eric Cortes, a social media manager for the Atlantic City Alliance (ACA), says as part of a city-wide holiday campaign the creators of the DO AC campaign, have introduced the DO AC Tree & Light Fest. This includes trees for foodies and fashionistas, trees for casinos and celebrities, trees for Miss America and With Love Philadelphia XOXO, even a peek-a-boo tree for visitors aged 21 and over are all part of an elaborate, citywide, free, lighted holiday tree display. 

Visitors are encouraged to tweet selfies and tree pics using the hashtag #DOACTreeFest and vote for their favorites by visiting their Facebook page or on woobox. There is also a competition element with randomly selected participants given the chance to win a winter getaway at a luxurious casino resort along with other covetable prizes.

DO AC’s official Instagram page (@DOAC) will also celebrate the holidays with ‘26 Days of Trees & Light’ highlighting one tree per day throughout December. See the first here. 

“We are progressively posting ‘holiday’ related messaging including a video of our 3D Light & Sound show ‘Winter Sweet’. It lives on our YouTube channel but was also received well on our Facebook page,” says Cortes. In keeping with a growing trend, videos are receiving a lot more engagement than text, link, or photo posts.