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The experience sweet spot đźŤ
It’s natural for us to have generalized perceptions of others. During strategy sessions with clients, I've heard all kinds of things from "my guests are happy, they don't have issues" to "I picture the luxury guest as this untouchable, pretentious snob."
No judgement, of course. A big part of my job is to help my clients break through those misconceptions and remind them that EVERYONE is human. No matter how much is in their bank account, no matter how perfectly curated their Instagram feed is, no matter how many times they try and convince us that their children are angels...
Everyone has problems they wish they could solve.
Everyone does things they don't want to do.
Everyone has aspirations they have put on the back burner.
Everyone is waiting for permission for something.
Everyone just wants to be seen, heard, and understood.
We all know that a margarita on the beach isn't going to make our troubles disappear. Sure, they might vanish for a few hours, but those troubles have a very irritating way of returning once we get home. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, the world will have you believing that a deeply spiritual, transformational retreat is the answer.
So we have these two extremes: If you design an experience without really understanding humans and their problems/needs, you’ll likely end up designing something closer to the left side of the spectrum, with beach bum vibes. And while the super spiritual retreats are well intentioned and likely impactful to some degree, they are often unrelatable for 99% of the population.
I believe the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle, leaning more towards transformation but with a greater focus on small t transformation. These small t transformation moments can be layered into any kind of experience, if you know what to look for.
Are you ready to create an experience that hits the sweet spot? Registration for my workshop (with lifetime access to my incredibly valuable journey mapping tool) is open for the next 9 days! Join me March 15th, at 10am EST:
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Creating Storied Experiences
Ready to elevate your hospitality, travel, or leisure experience? Get weekly insights on the experience economy, traveler behavior, and how you can create immersive & enriching experiences that attract high-value guests.
Nothing roots me into my purpose faster than planning a trip. Oh, the frustration! Each experience, each property seemingly just like the last. They all look the same, they all sound the same. Why? Whyyyyy? “I have decision fatigue!” I cry to my husband, pretending to chuck the laptop out the window. Who knew the paradox of choice could be so disheartening? And I’m a fairly seasoned traveler, shouldn’t this get easier with time? There’s no doubt a recommendation from a well-informed friend is...
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The moment you realize that you've stopped playing is probably one of the most depressing moments of your life. It's only when something playful happens to jolt you out of your serious state, that you realize how dreadful life is without play. Let's say that the average person works 40-hours a week, sleeps 8-hours a day, and commutes 1 hour M-F. That's 101 hours every week dedicated to non-play activities. With 168 hours in a week, you might think "wow! That's 67 hours to dedicate to play...