Influencer Marketing for Travel in 2025: A Guide

1. Find the Right Influencers

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Micro vs. Macro Influencers: Micro-influencers (10k–100k followers) often boast higher engagement and niche audiences. They’re ideal for localized or specialized campaigns, like promoting a boutique hotel. Macro-influencers (100k+ followers) offer broader reach, suitable for global brands aiming for visibility. Here’s a complete guide on the different types of influencers.

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Audience Relevance: Analyze an influencer’s followers. Do they match your target demographic? For instance, a family-focused resort should collaborate with parenting or family travel creators. 

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Engagement Over Vanity Metrics: A high follower count means little if interactions are low. Prioritize engagement rates (likes, comments, shares) to check genuine followers from fake bots. 

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Use Google search or influencer search platforms like Favikon to streamline your search. Favikon’s 50+ filters let you search by niche (e.g., travel, adventure), follower size, location, and engagement rate.

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Here's how to use Favikon to find influencers:

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1. Sign up and log in to your Favikon account.

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2. Go to Favikon's "Advanced Discovery" feature.

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3. Filter by Criteria: Use the filters to narrow down your search based on:

• Niche: Select the travel industry of your choice.
• Location: Target influencers in specific regions or countries.
• Audience Demographics: Filter by age, gender, interests, and other relevant factors.
• Social Media Platforms: Choose the platforms where you want to find influencers (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, YouTube).
• Other Filters: Use filters for follower count, engagement rate, and other metrics.

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2. Crafting Authentic, Impactful Campaigns 

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Today’s audiences crave authenticity. Overly polished or scripted content can backfire. Instead, let influencers share genuine experiences. For example, a hiking influencer documenting their stay at your eco-lodge—blunders and all—resonates more than a flawless ad. 

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Plus, provide guidelines (key messages, hashtags) but let the influencer’s unique voice shine. Consider co-creating content, such as: 

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• Travel Diaries: Day-in-the-life vlogs showcasing your destination. 
• Guides & Tips: “Hidden gems” near your hotel or packing essentials for a cruise. 
• User-Generated Content: Encourage followers to share their experiences with your brand for a chance to be featured. 

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3. Multiplying Reach Through Platform Diversity 

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Each social platform offers distinct advantages. Tailor content to maximize impact: 

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• Instagram: Ideal for stunning visuals and Stories. Use carousel posts for itineraries or Reels for quick destination highlights. 
• TikTok: Leverage trending sounds and challenges to showcase your brand’s personality. Short clips of unique experiences (e.g., a chef’s table dinner) can go viral. 
• YouTube: Perfect for in-depth reviews, travel vlogs, or virtual tours. Partner with creators for series like “7 Days in Bali.” 

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Repurpose content across platforms. A YouTube vlog can become Instagram Reels, TikTok snippets, and a blog recap, amplifying reach without extra effort. 

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4. Building Long-Term Partnerships 

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One-off campaigns have value, but ongoing relationships yield deeper loyalty. Repeat collaborations let influencers become genuine brand advocates. Consider: 

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• Ambassador Programs: Offer exclusive perks or commissions for long-term partnerships. 
• Seasonal Campaigns: Align with holidays or peak travel seasons for consistent visibility. 
• Co-Branded Initiatives: Launch a signature tour or product line co-designed with an influencer. 

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Visit Philadelphia - Ongoing 2025

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Visit Philadelphia leveraged Instagram to position the city as a diverse, exciting destination for nearby audiences. By partnering with influencers to share unique activity ideas—from mural tours to cheesesteak crawls—they targeted local travelers and sparked inspiration. This multi-channel strategy contributed to their 2.1+ million organic impressions and 35 total posts (194% over goal).

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Badrutt's Palace Hotel - March 2024

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Badrutt's Palace Hotel partnered with hotel influencers to promote its luxury property. Influencers like Christina Tan created compelling visual content that not only boosted engagement but also directly translated into bookings.

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Explora Journeys’ Luxury Cruise Launch - December 2024

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Explora Journeys, a luxury cruise line under the MSC Group, worked with influencers in 2024 to promote its new ship, Explora I. A select group of 19 influencers produced over 500 pieces of content, reaching nearly 6 million people.

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What is travel influencer marketing?

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Travel influencers are online content creators who share their travel experiences, including destinations, culture, food, and accommodations.

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Do travel influencers get paid?

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Yes, payment varies based on factors like follower count, content type, and exclusivity.

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Who are the most popular travel influencers?

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Some prominent figures are @jackmorris, @muradosmann, @danielkordan, and @chrisburkard.

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Also See 👀

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How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Influencer?

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Does Influencer Marketing Work? [Examples & Statistics]

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How to Reach Out to Influencers: The Only Guide You Need

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