Weird Wins

Sometimes, it’s the odd little things that hit the hardest.

There’s something happening online right now, and I bet you’ve noticed it too.

The buttoned-up professional era is cracking.

Every day, more people are getting real, getting personal… and getting weird. Just scroll through #weirdlinkedin (or if you are ready to jump in head first, start with nick power, lowercase, I won't tag him because I don't know him personally and that would be creepy, not weird) and you’ll see what I mean. People are ditching the polished “thought leadership” in favor of internal dialogue with great timing, awkward first jobs, and oddly specific puns.

And it’s working. Because it’s memorable.

That same lesson applies to tourism. (as does everything in my tourism obsessed brain)

We keep trying to be polished. Impressive. Campaign-worthy. But often, the things visitors remember aren’t the things we planned. They’re the weird little wins that feel human.

🧻 A bathroom that plays Beyoncé when the stall locks

🐐 A downtown goat with his own merch

🎤 A karaoke mic at baggage claim

🖼️ A bad selfie wall that tourists can’t resist

🍟 A snack map for when you're hangry and walking downtown

These aren't budget breakers. They're joy starters.

The truth is, weird sticks. It sparks stories. It makes people feel like they found something real. And in a world full of carefully curated sameness, that’s the stuff people actually talk about.

So here’s your July kickoff thought: You don’t have to outspend the competition. But you might have to out-weird them.

What’s your destination’s weird win?