During the COVID-19 pandemic, liquor stores have been deemed an essential business.  Research reveals “alcohol sales for the past three months have grown 27 percent,” according to CNN.

In fact “off-premise sales of spirits have risen 32 percent, while wine sales have increased 26 percent and beer sales are up 17 percent over the same period in 2019,” according to Wine Business.

Our boutique NYC PR firm understands that liquor promotion requires an integrated marketing campaign – media relations, cause-related marketing, social media, tastings (social distancing and virtual tastings) – to educate first-time and repeat customers about the unique look, mouth feel, flavor and notes of different spices.

Here are our tips for liquor marketing to build momentum and stimulate sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cause-Related Marketing Program
Cause-related marketing programs are a very effective way for companies to support worthwhile charitable events and elevate the profile for their brands.  During these critical times, many live events have gone online providing liquor companies with digital engagements – media relations, social media, online banner ads, email marketing and e-newsletters -- to expand a brands reach. 

It is important to position liquor companies as good corporate citizens who advocate responsible drinking and who give back to their communities to help market and sell their beer, wines and spirits.
 
Media Relations
Media relations is still a highly effective tool for generate brand and consumer awareness through timely and topical press releases and pitch ideas. 

It is a real testament to the quality of your brand when influential journalists spotlight wine, spirit and beer in print, broadcast and online media outlets.  Reporters can educate consumers about the mouth feel, character, flavor, and hidden notes of different spices as it compares with other liquor brands and extol the benefits of selecting one brand over another brand.

Third-party endorsements for influential wine and spirits media are invaluable for moving the needle with your brand.  Also, easy to follow cocktail recipes will also enhance your chances for editorial coverage in the media.

Mixologist
It is important to have a skilled mixologist on staff to develop creative cocktails recipes targeted for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, engagements and weddings, Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.  Recipes prove invaluable to drive sales for premium spirits.

Depending on a client’s budget, mixologist can prove to be influential brand ambassadors for television segments as they demonstrate how to create the easy to prepare cocktails featuring our client’s spirits.

Our wine and spirits public professionals are advocates for MAT releases featuring easy to prepare recipes to increase first time consumers to sample the wine and spirit.
 
Virtual Tastings
Tastings are key for building loyal customers for our clients’ wine, beer and premium spirit.  During the era of COVID-19, virtual tastings have provided an alternative experience to build loyal followers.  Virtual tastings do require a bit of advanced planning to ensure the wine and spirits arrive at your customers home prior to any virtual tastings.
 
Social Media Outreach
It is vital for liquor companies post frequently on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to inform loyal fans about new cocktail recipes, upcoming promotions, limited time offers, holiday gift ideas, and new products rolling out across the country.

Liquor companies have been resilient during these critical times.  Our boutique NYC PR firm is here to help.  Give us a call.

​ 





​Let’s face it, we all have to eat and drink.  During this COVID-19 pandemic, at home consumption for purchases at grocery stories has prospered as people have been forced to stay at home.  
Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel, food and beverage public relations agency, stays abreast of industry trends to launch a new product or reinvigorate an established brand. Here’s our recipe for success to help our food and beverage clients break through the clutter and capture their share of mouth and share of wealth.
Media relations is a cost effective marketing tool to generate generates credible third-party earned media and builds brand and consumer awareness. ­­­­­It is important to send food and beverage writers, bloggers and influencers product samples so they can sample the products first hand and feature it in their media outlet.
Depending on the client’s budget, our skilled food and beverage public relations professionals recommend a MAT release, also known as a camera ready article, syndicated to newspapers across the country. The MAT Release has expanded to reach consumers through 30 to 60 radio and television spots.  Although it is a sponsored editorial content, the MAT release is quite effective to raise consumer awareness and stimulate sales for a new or established product.   
Food Trade Associations
Our team is a huge advocate for the Specialty Food Association (SFA), a membership based trade association for more than 3,500 food and beverage artisans, importers, and entrepreneurs.  The SFA makes connections for new, emerging and established food and beverage companies with buyers and distributors to expand the product into retail stores, airports and hotels.
This non-profit has played an influential role in making Choubani and other brands household names. 
During this COVID-19 pandemic, many food trade associations and shows are offering virtual expos to raise awareness for the new or established product through 20-minte interactive sessions. 
Email Marketing
Dedicated emails to a targeted group of influential decision makers can also help to generate brand and consumer awareness food and beverage product.  Our team often curates opportunities through trade shows to extend our clients reach and introduce their products to new customers.
Email marketing is quite effective because you can track to open rate, click through, as well as obtain information about individuals who opt in or opt out for a particular email campaign.  Often, the email marketing campaign includes hyperlinks drive traffic back to your client’s website.
Blogs
For clients with a shoe string budget, blogs are effective to increase our client’s visibility in online searches.  It is really important to integrate client’s branded SEO keywords into the blog and to post two or three times a week to increase your clients’ visibility with online searches and stimulate sales.
Display Advertising
Whether a client has a small, medium or large budget, display advertising can help to raise awareness for a new product.  It is a pay per click advertising service.  Your client simply sets the budget spend and you can increase and decrease the budget during the month long campaign.
To truly maximize the display advertising, it is important to know your client’s branded SEO keywords to help you reach first-time and repeat customers and drive traffic back to your website to facilitate a discovery and our purchase for the product.
Retargeting Advertising
For clients’ who have customers who are already visiting their website, retargeting advertising can present a dedicated ad to individuals who are already surfing your website.  Retargeting advertising is quite effective for keeping a visitor engaged since it will direct them to content of interest to them on the website.
Cause-Related Marketing positions a food and beverage company as a good corporate citizen by having a percentage of sales donated to support a particular 501 © charitable cause.  It is a win win situation for both the small, mid-size and multi-national organizations 1) sell a product, 2) raise funds a worthwhile charities and 3) to position the company as dedicated to supporting philanthropy.
The food industry has been a huge supporter for causes such as Share Our Strength, Food Bank, No Kid Hunger and Feeding America to do their part to eliminate hunger in America.
Our talented team of skilled travel, food and beverage public relations professionals can help food and beverage companies break through the clutter and capture their share of market and share of wealth.
We are here to help. Give us a call.
 

,The novel corona virus, aka COVID-19, pandemic has taken the food, beverage and hospitality industries by storm.  The devastating impact from the stay at home orders and the take-out and delivery service is yet to be seen as many restaurants struggle to stay afloat.

At home food and beverage consumption has exploded during the last couple of months as we have been forced to shelter in place to combat the COVID-19.  Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a travel, food and beverage and lifestyle PR agency, stays abreast of key trends to help our clients’ breakthrough the clutter in the food and beverage industry. 

Here’s what’s trending in the food industry.

Plant Based Products
As more consumers adopt a healthier lifestyle, plant based food products will continue to grow in popularity in 2020.  Flexitarians, a semi-vegetarian who adheres to a diet of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains and occasionally eats meat, have seen an explosion of plant based breakfast, lunch and dinner options on the menu at many fast food establishments across the country.

Many companies are developing innovative plant based flavors – avocado, pumpkin, watermelon seed, and mung bean to tantalize the taste buds of the discerning flexitarian.

And, in keeping with the plant based food trend, some butchers and meat brands are now offering blended burgers – “75 percent meat and 25 percent plant based products (wheat, mushroom, barley yeast and water)” according to Whole Foods.

Pea Milk, a Plant-Based Milk Alternative
Pea milk, is the latest plant based milk, to provide an alternative to traditional milk from a cow, almond, soy and oat milk.  “Research from Nielsen has found that plant-based milk category is up 3.1 percent from last year, while cow’s milk sales are down five percent during the same period” according to Whole Foods.

Pea milk is an excellent source of protein, low in calories, available in unsweetened, sweetened, vanilla and chocolate flavors.  It is a good alternative to consumers with dairy, soy and nut allergies.

Shared Commercial Kitchens
Ghost kitchens are simply share kitchens with multiple restaurants and caterers using a commercial space at different times to save money and run their food business at the fraction of the cost.  The ghost kitchens are extremely relevant especially during this COVID-19 pandemic when many restaurants have been operating with take-out and delivery service.

Mocktails and Low Alcohol Beverages
Millennials and Gen Zers are drinking less because of health consciousness and social media culture,” according to Mintel.  In fact, mocktails have been providing a non-alcoholic cocktail in a party setting to social butterflies since the 2000s. 

Piquette, a low alcoholic bubbly, is gaining traction since it is made from “a second pressing and fermentation of grapes used in traditionally in wine-making and almost tastes like hard kombucha” according to the Food Network.  Other popular low alcoholic beverages include botanical infused beverages, and alt gin, just to name a couple of options.

There Are New Flours on the Market
As many people have been sheltering in place, consumers around the world have had the time to explore and experiment to find fine tune their cooking and baking skills.
Flour traditionally has been made by “grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts and seeds,” according to Wikipedia.  Many bakers are aware about the all-purpose, wheat, gluten-free flours on the market.

New flavors such as “teff flour (Ethiopian injera), cauliflower and fruit and vegetable flours such as banana and coconut” are exploding on the market as more people bake and experiment at home.  (Whole Foods)

Our travel, food and lifestyle PR professionals are skilled story tellers to help our clients’
capture their share of wealth and share of market in the industry.

We are here to help.  Give us a call.

As Americans begin to emerge from our three month quarantine due to COVID-19, Glamping is an excellent alternative to escape all the global pandemic news and social distance in a luxury camping tents, yurts, tree houses and domes in breathtaking natural environments with all the modern amenities.

Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique New York City travel and lifestyle public relations agency, encourages many destinations to spotlight their endless potential for glamping getaways to spur travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In fact, Arizton Advisory and Intelligence predicts the “glamping market in the US is projected to reach around $1 billion by 2024.”

Here are key insights as it pertains to the glamping market.

Many destinations already have areas of natural beauty, perfect for hiking, trekking, or walking, bicycling, wildlife exploration and just simply bonding with nature off the beaten track.  For some city dwellers, glamping has been the best prescription to relax, unwind and escape their hectic routines.

For other nature lovers, it is a vital part of their DNA as they crave endless ways to get up close and bond with wildlife roaming freely in nature.

Mini-Moon Vacation, also known as a long weekend, is an attractive alternative for newlyweds or couples to have a shorter honeymoon.   Couples can still have a short getaway, social distance, adhere to the CDC guidelines as the newlyweds embark on their new life together.

Skip Trips, grandparents traveling with their grandchildren leaving parents at home, will be a welcome escape for parents with double duty – working from home and overseeing their children’s virtual learning instruction.  Glamping getaways are a wonderful escape for active grandparents to expose their grandchildren all the natural wonders awaiting them.

In planning the glamping escape, it is vital to purchase the travel insurance.  Historically, travel insurance has provided an extra layer of protection should a trip be cancelled due to a natural disaster, act of terror or unexpected medical insurance.

In light of the global pandemic, many travel insurance providers have included coverage as it pertains to COVID-19.  In fact, Consumer Advocate.org offers the following tips to help travelers navigate the different travel insurance options.  “Look for customizable coverage.”  “Get a comprehensive policy for once in a lifetime trips.” “Estimate how much travel insurance you need in advance.”

During this global pandemic, some establishments have implemented opted for credit card and cashless contact less transactions such as Apple Pay, Google Pay.  While cash transactions will never go away, it is important to know about some of the perks for using your credit card as the preferred method of payment.

In fact, Money.com unveils a guide to credit cards showcasing the best travel perks such as “lucrative sign up bonus and generous rewards for each dollar you spend on your card as well.” 

As the global economy embarks on a road to recovery, glamping could be a welcome escape from all the grim milestones and non-stop talk about social distancing.  Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are skilled story tellers.

We are here to help.  Give us a call.

COVID-19 pandemic has literally taking the travel industry by storm bringing destinations, airlines, cruises, hotels, car rentals and spa and wellness resorts to a screeching halt.  During this global pandemic, crisis communications will play an important role to reinvigorate the billion dollar travel industry.

Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique New York City travel and lifestyle PR agency, recommends an effective crisis communication program to help the travel industry on the road the recovery during this pandemic.  Here are a couple of helpful tips to consider during this pandemic.

Crisis Management – It is important for your crisis management team to issue timely press releases and statements to educate the media, the general public and your stakeholders about your organization’s safety measures and proctocols to keep avid travelers safe during this pandemic.  It is vital to highlight all the measures in place to disinfect, sanitize, and social distance your establishment.

Showcase your organization’s unique selling points to inspire avid travelers to book and plan their next vacation with your institution.  Globetrekkers who take three or four trips a year will travel once it is safe to do so and it is important to spotlight your organization’s unique attributes to inspire people to book their dream vacation with your establishment.

Highlight important information as it pertains to travel insurance/  Historically, travel insurance has given tourists an added layer of protection for trip cancellation due to an act of terror, natural disaster, as well as an unexpected medical emergency prior to or during a trip. In light of the global pandemic, many travel insurance providers have included coverage as it pertains to COVID-19. 
​
In fact, Consumer Advocate.org offers the following tips to help the general public navigate the different travel insurance options.  “Look for customizable coverage.”  “Get a comprehensive policy for once in a lifetime trips.” "Estimate how much travel insurance you need in advance.”

Social Media is an effective tool to keep stakeholders, media and the general public informed about all new developments as things evolve during the pandemic.  Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube are effective mediums for sharing information quickly and for responding and answering questions and concerns in a timely manner.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Post educational photos and videos to keep first time and repeat travelers engaged with your organization’s response during this pandemic.

Limited Time Offers will play a vital role to inspire savvy travelers to book their next vacation sooner rather than later.  It is no secret that airlines, hotels, car rentals, spa and wellness resorts and cruises are reeling from the unexpected shutdown and these travel suppliers are all offer steep discounts to inspire bookings..

Consumer Promotions, especially credit card promotions, historically have played an important role as it pertains to planning a vacation.  It is no secret that credit cards give savvy travelers the best currency exchange rates, as well as reward points.  During this global pandemic, credit cards have become more popular as some institutions have opted for a cashless, contactless methods of payment. 

In fact, Money.com guide to credit cards offers invaluable advice about the best travel perks such as “lucrative sign up bonus and generous rewards for each dollar you spend on your card.”  Other “attractive perks such as skipping through airport security lines, relaxing in comfortable airport lounges, and scoring free benefits like checked bags or in-flight Wi-Fi each time you fly.”

Follow UP will be key during this global pandemic to issue timely updates as things evolve with your destination, airline, hotel, cruises, car rentals, and spa and wellness resorts.  It is really important to be honest and transparent during this pandemic.

Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are extensive experience dealing with natural disasters having managed crisis such as hurricanes and dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean, London bombings, and Avian flu just to name a few

We are here to help.  Give us a call.

Spa and wellness industries are a trillion-dollar industry offering first time and savvy spa and wellness enthusiasts’ endless opportunities to relax, rejuvenate and soothe the senses.  Day and destination wellness getaways offer a wide range of services -- deep relaxation, fertility, sleep improvements, and nutrition just to name a few services.

​A couple of years ago, I launched an organic spa at an eco-lodge nestled at base of the Pico Bonito Rainforest.  This organic spa has all the elements to intrigue spa, wellness and travel writers -- a Temazcal (a new twist to have holistic treatments inside a dome shape structure), as well as all organic spa therapies incorporating natural ingredients from the surrounding area. 

It is really important for hotel general managers to think about novel experiences to distinguish your spa and wellness brand from your competitors.  Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle PR agency, values the opportunity to work closely with our clients during the pre-launch phase to ensure the new wellness endeavor taps into current industry trends.

Here's what's trending in spa and wellness industry for 2020.

CBD infused products have been taking the consumer products industries – food, health and wellness and spa industries – by storm last year.  Research has shown CBD – cannabidiol is a naturally occurring compound found in the resinous flower of cannabis.  CBD has been found to be safe, non-addictive substance.”  (Source: Projectcbd.org)

In the spa and wellness industries, CBD Skincare products are expected to grow exponentially since many consumers and companies are discovering the health benefits of CBD. In fact, CBD skincare products offer a new fountain of youth consumers looking for anti-aging and acne products.

Wellness Retreats -- yoga and meditation vacations -- help consumers escape their hectic lifestyles and relax, rejuvenate and unwind.  Wellness experiences range from "massage in the middle of the forest to yoga with mountain goats to hiking, breathing, meditation and relaxation techniques in the open air." (Source:  The Telegraph)

Often Wellness Retreats incorporate a three-pronged holistic approach – diet, exercise and mental well-being – to reap the full benefits of these health and wellness getaways.  Some well conscious consumers are venturing into a Wellness Sabbatical for 21 days or longer to rebalance the mind, body and soul.

The spa and wellness industry go hi-tech integrating Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to put a new twist on meditation.  While the VR headsets are not for everyone, this technology is slowly creeping into the spa and wellness industry to relax the mind, body and soul.

The need for Circadian Health retreats are on the rise to help individuals – frequent travelers and grave yard shift workers -- with sleep disorders, maintain a balance between the state of being awake and the state of sleeping.   The Circadian health retreats “having the timing of light at its center.  This will become a central pillar of wellness – from circadian lighting to circadian diets to apps that use timed light doses to crush jet lag.”  (Source:  Global Wellness Trend Report 2020)

Hotels, airlines and cruises invest heavily in the latest technologies to offer comfortable mattresses and pillows to help frequent travelers sleep better away from home.  For those looking for things to do at home, there are several sleeping apps and smartwatches on the market to help globe trekkers get a good nights’ sleep and overcome jet lag.

Wellness Music Retreats often incorporate sound baths – an instrumentalist plays a soothing tone to relax someone.  In fact, research is underway to learn how music helps the brain and one’s overall mood.

Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are here to help.  Give us a call.
 
 

It’s a new decade and new year. 

Travel industry has generated more than $8.8 trillion providing 319 million jobs,” according to the World Travel Report.  Although there are a lot of uncertainties with international affairs – upcoming U.S. elections, BREXITs, trade wars, the travel industry is still predicted grow in the coming years.

Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique NYC travel PR agency specializing in travel, food and beverages, and lifestyle brands, stays on the pulse with current travel trends and incorporates invaluable insights into our programs.

Here’s what’s trending in 2020.

Responsible Tourism will be on the forefront as environmentally conscious travelers reduce their carbon impact on the environment.  All transportation providers -- airlines, cruises, trains and buses – will use clean technologies to minimize our impact on climate control.

Slow travel is gaining momentum as travelers who have the time to travel by train and truly immerse themselves in the local culture and support the local economy.

And, what was once a fantasy, electric flying planes are now becoming a reality with several companies such as Rolls Royce, Airbus, Eviation and Wright Electric providing services for the electric planes between now and the next 10 years.

Gramping (also known as Skip Generation) is where grandparents take their grandchildren on an adventure around the world without their parents.  According to AARP, “32 percent of grandparents have taken their grandchildren on “skip-generation” trip – defined as grandparent and grandchildren leaving parents at home. 
Skip trips give parents free time to relax, unwind and spend quality time alone without the children.

Instagram continues to be “Insta-Passports” for the travel industry.  Millennials and the next generation of travelers, Gen Z, are very comfortable with this social media platform.

Stunning photography will inspire first time and frequent travelers to explore a particular destination, cruise, hotel or latest travel offering.

Short Vacations are defined as two to three days are on the rise.   Long weekend getaways are exploding in popularity. 

“Mini-Moons is a short post-wedding trip that may or may not be closer to home. Often they aren’t as elaborate as a traditional honeymoon.”  Source:  Points Guy
Mini-moons are a great way to relax and unwind away from home. 

Transformational Travel enables travels to learn a new skill, give back to local communities, and to truly learn a culture by immerse ones in a particular culture.
“When looking at the most popular kinds of trips with purpose, 68 percent of global travelers would consider participating in a cultural exchange to learn a new skill, followed by volunteering trip (54 percent) and international work placements (52 percent),” according to Booking.com

VR Tours (Virtual Reality Tours) will serve as inspiration for helping frequent travelers plan their next vacation.  It is an effective tool for travel providers to showcase the unique offerings for a particular destination, cruise, hotel or travel tour operator.
Basically, potential travelers use a VR headset to enable them to embark on 360-degree tour for a particular travel offering.  VR headsets are invaluable for help savvy travelers plan and ultimately book their next great adventure.

Our boutique NYC travel and lifestyle PR agency is here to help.  Give us a call.

In this world of influencer marketing, the travel trade – travel agents and tour operators – are still one of the best sources to inspire first time and repeat travelers to explore a particular destination, cruise, hotel and general travel offering.  Although there are many online booking platforms to help savvy holiday markers find for the best deals, research shows some frequent travelers, especially the baby boomers, still rely on the influential travel agents and tour operators to help them plan their next vacation.

Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique NYC PR agency, can now complement our destination marketing services to include travel trade outreach.  Our talented destination marketing team can now offer our clients the following services at a glance.

Sales Missions are an invaluable way to ensure travel agents stay on the pulse with our clients’ products and services.  Our team has found that the one on one meeting at their office or for coffee or tea are invaluable for educating travel agents and answering their questions.
 
FAM trips are really important for the travel trade to experience the product first hand so they can market, sell and promote the travel service within their network. It is important to provide the travel trade with a really discounted rate to inspire them book your FAM trip.
 
Special Events provide the personal touch to assemble influential travel agents and tour operators for a briefing about ‘what’s new’ with a particular destination, hotel, and tour attraction.  Location is key to inspire the often busy travel trade to attend an event. 
 
Our team stays abreast of trendy locations to inspire busy travel agents and tour operators to take time out from their schedule to attend our event. It is important to make the presentations, short, sweet, to the point, offering lots of invaluable information about ‘what’s new’ so the travel trade can market, sell and promote to customers in their network.

Webinars are another invaluable tool to ensure travel agents product knowledge remains current about our clients’ offering.  To truly reap benefits, it is important to build in time for a question and answer session. 
 
It is important to have the webinar on demand for 12 months.

Virtual Digital Expos increase the product knowledge for travel agents and tour operators.  Our team has found the themed digital expos – culinary, luxury, weddings and honeymoons, groups, multigenerational travel – help to identify and target the influential travel trade 1) who have clients interested in these experiences and 2) who will check out our clients’ digital booth.  Our team has found these virtual digital expos attract 800 or more travel trade.

Our boutique NYC PR travel and lifestyle agency is here to help.  Give us a call.

Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are consumers born between the early-1980s to early 2000s, have now become the influential consumers with the power to transform an ordinary brand into an international phenomena.  According to Inc., millennials now account for “one quarter of the total population (or more than 75 million consumers) with a longer life expectancy and a collective spending power expected to reach $1 trillion by 2020.”

Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique NYC travel and lifestyle PR agency, counsels clients that millennials have the ability to help savvy marketers and business owners to capture their share of market and share of wealth.  On average, millennials are an educated generation holding undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Here’s what’s trending as it pertains to marketing to millennials.

Love To Travel
Millennials love to travel.Research shows millennials postpone big ticket items such as buying a house or a car and take three or four trips a year to check off their bucket lists.
 
And, when it comes to travel, this generation looks for authentic experiences such as learning about a culture through its food, as well as living like a local in different countries.
 
Destinations, hotels and cruise lines with sustainable programs to support local economies and to minimize its environmental impact are very appealing to this generation.

Social Media and Influencer Marketing
It is important to identify influencers in your category who can inspire this generation to try a particular product or service.  Influencers can generate new content, as well as share existing content to generate brand and consumer awareness for your product or service. 

Our travel and lifestyle NYC PR agency understands that brands must have a platform for this generation to share experiences.  Millennials are always on their phone constantly taking selfies and posting on Instagram and other social media channels about novel experiences, recent travels and new products.

In fact, Instagram is turning out to be “InstaPassports” for the travel industry and “InstaPurchases” for consumer products. Millennials are very comfortable with social media and it is important to identify the appropriate channel – Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat, Pinterest, and YouTube – to reach these influential customers.

It is also important to have a dedicated team member to read, review and respond to posts to keep this generation engaged with your brand.

Health Conscious Food Options
Millennials are health conscious especially as it pertains to food products and dining out options.This generation is very open sampling organic, vegetarian, vegan, plant-based food items and sustainable products.
 
“Millennials don’t want the same sad burger that everyone else is eating. They want to custom-design the flavor and personalize their meal. And why not? They are paying for the food; it may as well be exactly what they want. If you notice more quick-service restaurants offering customizable options that you love, thank a millennial for that,” according to the Washington Post.
 
In fact, this generation is also leading the way with the fast casual dining option.

Not Ready For A Commitment
Millennials are more strategic about settling down and getting married.Research shows “this generation wants to travel first, pay down on student debts and establish their career or start a business.”

Contests and Sweepstakes
Contests and prize giveaways are very appealing to this generation.“Photo and video contests are especially compelling and motivate millennials to participate. Make the prize attractive and the contest interesting and you’re likely to find your millennial customers sharing their entries with their friends and followers,” according to Taboola blog.

It is important to have a feature for consumers, who enter a contest or sweepstakes, to opt-in for information about planning a vacation or receiving updates about a particular product or service.  This databases will be invaluable for marketers and business owners to cultivate relationships with potential customers.

Mobile Friendly Website
Research shows millennials spend 85 percent of their day on their mobile devices.It is vital for all business to have a user-friendly website which works on desktops, iPads, iPhone and Android phones.

Millennials are more likely to purchase a consumer product or book a vacation right from their mobile devices.It is really important to make the buying process really easy for this generation on their mobile devices.

Our travel and lifestyle NYC PR agency is here to help marketers reach this influential demographic group.  Give us a call.
 

Baby boomers, consumers born between 1945 to 1966, have long been sought after by many marketers especially as it pertains to the travel and food and beverage industries.  Research shows this generation has the disposable income and the time to travel as well as invest in more in food and beverage products tied to health and wellness.

Allen Marketing Communications, a boutique NYC PR travel and lifestyle agency, advises our clients there are different variables to consider when targeting baby boomers.   For starters, personal touch is important with this group to build trust and garner their support for your product or service. 

So, how do you capture the attention for the savvy, discerning baby boomers?  Here are a few trends to consider when marketing to baby boomers.

New Twist On Something Old
In this digital age, many marketers are focused on social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to help move the needle for many of their products of services. 

However, this generation remembers direct mail, reading newspapers and magazines and even talking to a trusted advisor to gather information about a particular product or service. 

According to Small Business trends, “Online brochures and YouTube customer testimonials are two techniques that bridge the gap and will appeal to this target audience.”

When marketing to this generation on social media, it is important to create a platform for this group to ask questions and give their opinions.

Multi-Generational Travel
Baby boomers are often the ones leading the way with multi-generational travel – grandparents traveling with their children and grandchildren.  Multi-generational travel is an ideal way to hold mini-family reunions, to embark on a cultural tour or even a trip to trace a family’s ancestry.

This group has the disposable income to cover expenses associated with the multigenerational travel and destinations, hotels and cruises are wise to offer travel experiences to appeal to the different ages in the traveling party.

Health Oriented Food and Beverage Products
Baby boomers have led and they continue to lead the way as it pertains to organic, natural foods.  This group grew up in an era when people started to think about the health impact of having pesticides on their food.

This generation has influenced the general public to adopt a healthy, holistic diet and lifestyle often inspiring dietary crazes featuring a low-fat and low carb diets.

As the CBD-infused products are all the rave at the moment, our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals understands that this generation are open to trying CBD-infused products to alleviate a particular ailment.

Plant-based products such as sushi and hamburgers are tapping into this group’s overall philosophy for  maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

User-Friendly Website
A user-friendly, easy to navigate website is important for the baby boomer generation.  Quick, easy to read content which gets to the point will appeal to this generation. 

It helps to have a chat feature on your website with a live customer service representative who can answer any questions this baby boomer generation may have as they are surfing your website.

Our travel and lifestyle public relations team understands baby boomers are brand loyal.  This generation has worked hard during their career and they are willing to invest in right food product or travel experience.

We are here to help.  Give us a call.