SAVANT SOUP: NOVEMBER 2021

Most brands treat seasonality like a problem to solve. There are busy months when demand is high, slower stretches when attention drops off, and the constant pressure to keep people engaged year-round. But attractions tend to look at seasonality differently. They use it as an opportunity. Zoos, botanical gardens, museums, cultural institutions and destination-based brands understand how to turn seasons into experiences people actually look forward to: a holiday lights event, blooming spring garden, summer concert series, fall festival or limited-time exhibit. Each season becomes a built-in reason to visit, come back, bring friends or make plans. That’s something almost every brand can learn from.

Seasonal events, limited-time exhibits, concerts, festivals and special experiences can be huge attendance drivers for attractions. But there’s a difference between simply promoting an event and building a campaign around it. A promotion tells people what’s happening. A campaign makes them care. For zoos, botanical gardens, museums, cultural institutions and other destination-based attractions , that difference matters. The real competition usually isn’t another attraction. It’s everything else competing for someone’s time, attention and wallet. People are deciding between sporting events, movie nights, road trips, backyard barbecues, streaming at home or simply staying in. So attraction marketing has to do more than post dates, ticket links and event details. It has to create anticipation. It has to make the experience feel worth the planning.