What does it take to turn viral content into real-world revenue for attractions? In this episode of Signal, hosts John Pendergrast and Tim Samson sit down with Alex Ojeda, a first-generation Mexican-American creator, consultant, and industry superfan whose high-energy content reaches over 15 million followers and generates more than two billion annual impressions every year.

Named to the TIME100 Creators list as one of the world’s most influential digital voices, Alex is best known for his thrilling first-person videos spotlighting the planet’s most cutting-edge waterparks and attractions—from the U.S. and UAE to China, Brazil, and beyond. Now, he’s helping operators and brands translate viral storytelling into business impact.

Alex shares what it’s like to bridge both worlds—creator and consultant—and how attractions can thrive in the age of short-form video, influencer partnerships, and social-first guest engagement.

You’ll hear about:

• How Alex turned his passion for waterparks into a global creator career
• The moment that landed him a consulting role with Royal Caribbean International
• Why “authenticity” isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a brand strategy
• What most attractions get wrong about social media and influencer partnerships
• The physical reality behind “riding for the shot” (and what it teaches about storytelling)
• How to future-proof your brand through creator collaborations and C-suite alignment

Timestamps:

(00:00) — Why Alex's content drives real turnstile clicks, not just views

(08:28) — How social-first thinking is reshaping attraction marketing budgets

(14:00) — What attractions get wrong with social media hiring

(16:27) — Why every attraction already has an audience—you just need to engage them

(24:05) — How to leverage hate comments to your advantage

(38:48) — How to build sustainable in-house content capabilities

(42:02) – Global insights: what the next generation of guests expect

(53:53) — Lightning Round: biggest mistakes, favorite platforms, and what's next

Alex Ojeda is a first-generation Mexican-American creator, consultant, and industry superfan whose high-energy content reaches over 15 million followers and generates more than two billion annual impressions. He’s widely recognized for spotlighting the world’s most cutting-edge waterparks and attractions—often among the first to experience and share headline-grabbing openings across the U.S., UAE, China, Brazil, at sea, and beyond.

Named to the TIME100 Creators list as one of the most influential digital voices globally, Alex partners with brands like Royal Caribbean International, where he serves as a global creator ambassador and design consultant for their groundbreaking new waterpark in Mexico.

Beyond content creation, Alex works with attraction industry clients as a social media strategist and consultant, helping them better understand the evolving digital landscape—from short-form video and influencer strategy to in-house content systems—bringing a creator’s perspective to C-suite strategy.

🔗 Links & Resources

• Follow Alex Ojeda on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
• Learn more about RocketRez
• Follow John and Tim on LinkedIn

Signal is the podcast for attraction leaders shaping the future of guest experiences. Hosted by John Pendergrast and Tim Samson, we bring you candid conversations with industry innovators who are building the experiences that bring people together.

Subscribe to Signal wherever you get your podcasts, and visit signal-podcast.com for more episodes and resources.

This episode of Signal is brought to you by RocketRez - powering the world's most successful attraction operations.