3 Ways to Monetize Hotel Content as a Travel Creator

If you’ve ever wondered how to collaborate with hotels to get free or paid stays, in this episode I break down the various ways you can monetize your hotel content as a travel creator.

Hotel collabs are one of the easiest ways to get work as a travel creator, whether you’re just starting out or already building your brand. In this post, I’ll cover three practical approaches to working with hotels, sharing the pros and cons of each, and giving you the tips you need to get started.

1. Sell Back Photos and Videos

A simple way to start collaborating with hotels is to sell back content you’ve already created. This is a great option even if you don’t have a large audience yet, because high-quality visuals are always in demand.

How to do it:

• While you’re staying at a hotel, take drone shots or other high-quality photos that showcase the property. If they don’t already have these types of shots on their website or social media, they might be interested in purchasing yours.
  
• After your stay, create a small portfolio of your best images and reach out to the hotel’s marketing team (try LinkedIn or email for a more professional approach). Offer one image for free and let them know that more are available for purchase.

Pro tip: If you don’t have a drone, no problem! You can use a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even your smartphone to capture stunning shots. Be sure to post them on your social media and tag the hotel—this can sometimes catch their attention before you even reach out.

Pros: You control the creative process and can work on your terms.

Cons: You’ll need to make sure your content matches the hotel’s brand style, which may require a bit of research.

2. Create Content for Your Own Channels

Another way to collaborate with hotels is by creating content for your own blog, YouTube channel, or social media accounts. This is an excellent option if you have an established audience or are building one.

How to do it:

• After staying at a hotel, create content that provides value to your audience, such as hotel reviews, travel tips, or destination guides.
  
  
• Monetize your content through methods like affiliate links or ad revenue from platforms like YouTube or a blog. Over time, as your content ranks in search engines, you can earn passive income from bookings generated by your recommendations.

Pros: You maintain full creative control and can generate long-term revenue from your content.

Cons: You need an audience or the skills to create SEO-friendly content that gets found.

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3. Work Directly with the Hotel

The third option is to work directly with hotels through partnerships, which can involve free stays or paid collaborations. This type of partnership usually comes with specific deliverables and expectations.

How to do it:

• Reach out to hotels before your stay and propose a collaboration. This could be a simple trade, like a free stay in exchange for social media posts or blog content.
  
  
• In paid collaborations, the hotel may have specific content guidelines for you to follow. They might want certain types of shots, posts on specific platforms, or even full campaigns. Be prepared to adjust your creative approach to fit their needs.

Pros: You develop a direct relationship with the hotel and can negotiate the terms, whether for a free stay or payment.

Cons: Working directly with hotels means you might need to follow their creative guidelines and deliver specific types of content, which can limit your creative freedom.

Bottom Line

Collaborating with hotels as a travel creator offers many ways to monetize your content. Whether you’re selling photos, creating content for your own channels, or working directly with hotels, the opportunities are endless. It’s all about finding the method that works best for you and being consistent in your approach.

Start with one of these strategies, and you’ll be on your way to building lasting partnerships and growing your travel creator career.

About the podcast

Everyday Badassery is a travel podcast of inspirational stories to help you be just 1% more badass than you were yesterday. This episode is part of the creator series, where you’ll find helpful tips and interviews with creators that will help you to be just 1% more badass as a travel creator or small business.

Find the creator series starting with the intro at episode 80.

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