Hospitality Marketing: How to reach the next generation of bookers

Mark Simpson (YouTube, 21 Sep 2022) argues that Generation Z (around 25 in 2022) are the next important guest segment for hospitality because many have disposable income and are likely to take 'workations' — short trips 1–3 hours away where they work and play. He recommends hosts advertise 'workation' offerings, highlight fast Wi‑Fi speeds, provide desks/charging points and content-creation aids (ring lights), and offer local transport and activity tips to attract Gen Z and fill weekday demand.
Chapters
Now I know what you're going to say by looking at the title and when I say Gen Z, you're instantly going to dismiss it because you think, well, these aren't my guests, these aren't the people that are coming to stay with me. But did you know that as of 2022 Gen Z will be 25 years old? And this is why it's really important because Gen Z, Generation Z is going to be your next type of guest. These are going to be the next people that are coming through. Now why is this? Well, number one, why are 40% of Gen Z employees planning on taking a workation in 2022? Well, let's dig into it, let's think about it. 25 year olds now have got that disposable income. 25 year olds now mostly are still living at home. They've got tons of disposable income. And if they're working from home and if they are, you know, not reliant on mortgages, if they're not reliant on bills because of what's happened over the last couple of years and how the whole work dynamic has changed, then they're going to have a bit of extra cash and they are going to be wanting to workcations. Let's dive into what a workation is. Workation is where you go and stay somewhere. Normally it's between one to three hours away from where they're living and they're going to mostly drive to it. They're going to stay somewhere where they can work as well as play. And so this is happening a lot. A trend that has popped up very recently is like mini vacations. It's basically every four to five weeks so you don't suffer from burnout. You go away for four or five, four or five days. And this is happening more and more and more and more. So before you dismiss Gen Z, and again, people think Gen Z is teenagers. It's not anymore. This is the next level now it's coming up to being your future potential guests. So you've got to be thinking, all right, so so many people now are going to be doing this, so many people are going to be traveling. If you're going to be targeting those Monday to Friday or Monday to Sunday or however, if you're going to be targeting people working location, what can you be doing to really appeal to them? Think about that, that first image, that unique selling photo, first image that they see when they come onto the OTAs or when they land on your website, what can you show to show that you're appealing. And again, you could put workation in the title of your Airbnb listing because then again it shows that you are speaking to them. Ideal for workation. So you could have, you know, talk about super fast WI Fi. If you've got your WI Fi speed, go into your properties where you are now. Do a WI fi speed checker on Airbnb, because that's what they are looking for right now. Upload that, talk about it. Do you have a little work desk put aside so they can have the laptop? Does it have all the things nearby, charging, plug sockets, pens, paper, whatever it may be that will appeal to them? Can you go a step up? Can you have a ring light, A little mini desktop ring light? Because people are going to be doing their zoom calls or podcast interviews or webinars, or creating content. So many Gen Z's now are creating content. They've got a YouTube or social media presence. How can you really make it simple for them? And again, what else can you be doing? So takeaways, recommended Uber journeys or taxi journeys or whatever, or places to go, places to hang out, places to check out. What can you be doing to make their life easier? And how can you be put in front of them? So don't dismiss the Gen Z, okay? It's really important and it's something that you should be really paying attention to because this is going to be coming more and more, more and more important. And again, at the end of the day, they've got the disposable income. And this could fill out your Monday to Fridays, the ones that you're really struggling to get rid of. Because again, they're not restricted to just weekends. I know people, good friends of mine, that haven't been back into the office environment since March 2020. That's crazy. The working environment, the 9 to 5 is changing. Digital nomads, workcase, whatever you want to talk about is going to become more and more present. All you got to do is look at the founder of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. He's currently staying in nothing but Airbnb. He's moving around, he's working and traveling and he's ahead of a huge organization, whatever you think of it. So I offer and I throw out the question to you like I normally do. What can you be doing to making that your property can stand out more to Gen Z's? Leave a little comment below. What are you doing? Let's have a little brain dump. Brainstorm. If you're listening to the audio version, when it's safe to do so. Jump over to the YouTube channel, the Instagram, the Facebook, wherever it may be. Let's start a discussion. Come and join the hospitality community Facebook group. If you haven't done so already and you want help with your customer avatar, go and get a copy of the book, the book Direct Playbook, best seller on Amazon, which is amazing. Over a thousand copies have been sold right now, which is great. Great. Please do make sure that you come and check out that boostly.co.uk for anything else. I'll be back tomorrow with another episode, but in the meantime let's stay proactive. Don't be reactive. Let's go and get some diet bookings.
Having a blast. Gonna get it on the Bruce Lee podcast. Bruce Lee like Bruce Lee cuz it's so hard and the tea is loose leaf making up those rhymes. Don't write it, just do it loosely.
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