443. Helping Tourism Professionals Reach Gen Z Audiences, with Nathan Oyer
Release Date: 09/03/2025
445. Immersive Travel and Community Empowerment, with Florence Li
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443. Helping Tourism Professionals Reach Gen Z Audiences, with Nathan Oyer
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with our summer intern, Nathan Oyer, who’s about to head back to Binghamton University. In this episode, you’ll hear a candid introduction with Nathan about his experiences as a TAP intern, then we’ll dive right into the training session Nathan led for our team. He shares his insights and research on what makes Gen Z tick, from their love of authentic marketing to the language and wellness trends driving their travel decisions. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why understanding the differences between generations is key when...
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442. Sacramento’s Farm to Fork and Festival Revolution, with Mike Testa
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441. The Story Behind Hands Up Holidays’ Ethical Family Adventures, with Christopher Hill
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440. Boosting Tourism Marketing Success with Owned Media Tactics, with Camille Zess
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439. PESO Model in Action: Social Media and Shared Tactics, with Adrienne Currie and Brittany Lynn
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438. Earned Media Essentials for Tourism Marketers, with Colleen Onuffer
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437. Paid Media Tactics That Work in Travel and Tourism, with Colleen Senglaub
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Colleen Senglaub, Digital Account Manager at TAP, for the first installment of a four-part series exploring the Model—a foundational framework for integrated marketing plans in travel, tourism, and hospitality. We dig into the “P” of PESO—Paid Media. Colleen shares her expertise on digital advertising, breaking down today’s must-have channels, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google, programmatic, and connected TV campaigns. They also touch on emerging platforms like Pinterest and TikTok, offering fresh ideas for...
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436. Inspiring Confident Communication, with Karen Laos
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Karen Laos, a communication expert and confidence cultivator, about the most common mishaps that we make when communicating, and practical advice on how to avoid them. We discuss the importance of communication as a woman, the benefits of building strong relationships, and why being interested is a better strategy than being interesting. She also gives us easy phrases and questions to help us start creating deeper connections today. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Karen Laos discovered the power of confident communication, from...
info_outlineOn this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with our summer intern, Nathan Oyer, who’s about to head back to Binghamton University. In this episode, you’ll hear a candid introduction with Nathan about his experiences as a TAP intern, then we’ll dive right into the training session Nathan led for our team. He shares his insights and research on what makes Gen Z tick, from their love of authentic marketing to the language and wellness trends driving their travel decisions.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- Why understanding the differences between generations is key when crafting messages and campaigns aimed at Gen Z versus Millennials, Gen X, or Boomers
- What makes Gen Z unique as consumers, including their desire for relatable, authentic, wellness-oriented experiences
- How language and slang can both help and hinder brands when communicating with Gen Z
- Why relatability, authenticity, and micro-influencers now matter more than celebrity endorsements when engaging with Gen Z audiences
- What role wellness plays in Gen Z’s travel and purchasing decisions, and how destinations and brands can tap into this trend
- How Gen Z views and responds to cancel culture and why transparency and a willingness to learn from mistakes are so critical
Bridging Generational Gaps in Tourism Marketing
To market effectively, it’s essential to understand the context and experiences that have shaped each generation. Nathan outlined a generational roadmap, from Baby Boomers who value face-to-face connections, paper mail, and research-driven marketing—all the way to Gen Z, born between 1995 and 2009.
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z grew up with technology at their fingertips. They’re digital natives, expect user-friendly web interactions, and are famous for their short attention spans. Where Millennials (born 1980–1994) might be drawn to nostalgia and Instagram, Gen Z’s heart belongs to TikTok, Snapchat, and real-time, less-curated microcontent.
Slang to Improve Storytelling
One playful, but important, aspect discussed was slang. Gen Z’s ever-evolving language isn’t just about new words; it’s a reflection of community, humor, and relatability. Nathan led the TAP team through some current favorites (like “NPC,” and “no cap”), but did share a word of caution that slang is tricky territory for brands. Using slang can humanize a brand and make content pop, but if brands try too hard or use trends after their expiration date, they risk coming across as “cringe” (Gen Z’s word, not ours).
Wellness, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility
Wellness isn’t just a trend for Gen Z, it’s a lifestyle. They’re proactive about their mental and physical health, seeking out travel experiences that contribute to self-care and well-being. When looking for ways to engage Gen Z travelers there are lots of opportunities around trips like spa retreats, vegan experiences and sustainable stays. To connect with Gen Z, brands have to blend strategy with sincerity: adopt the right language, stay up to date with trends, and continuously center authenticity and purpose.
Resources:
- Website: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanoyer/
- Slides: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PESO-101-Speak-Their-Language.pdf
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