Hey creators 🤍

Do you ever feel completely stumped when pitching, especially when it comes to travel?

You know you want to collaborate with hotels.
You have a trip coming up.
You open your laptop…

And then you freeze.

If you said yes, this post is for you.

Whether you’re brand new and pitching your first hotel, or you’ve been doing this for a while but feel like your pitch needs an update, I’m breaking down exactly how to pitch hotels as a travel creator, strategically and confidently.

Because pitching shouldn’t feel awkward. It should feel aligned.

Photo by Thorsten

First: Who This Is For

This guide is primarily for new travel creators.

But it’s also for:

• Creators who keep getting ignored
• Creators who send long essays instead of structured pitches
• Creators who haven’t updated their pitch in 1–2 years
• Creators who are growing and need to reposition their value

Sometimes it’s not that your content is bad. It’s that your pitch doesn’t match your level anymore. Let’s fix that.

Step 1: Stop Pitching Randomly

The biggest mistake I see?

Random outreach.

“Hi, I’d love to collaborate during my trip!”

That’s vague. And hotels receive dozens of those weekly.

Instead, anchor your pitch in context.

For example: “I’ll be visiting Bilbao from March 11–16 and am curating a solo luxury city guide focused on gastronomy, design-forward stays, and walkable neighborhoods.”

That instantly positions:

• Purpose
• Audience
• Angle
• Strategy

Specific converts. Generic gets archived.

If you want the foundational version of how I structured my very first hotel pitch, I broke it down inside this free Substack post: How to Pitch Your First Hotel Collaboration

But here, we’re going deeper.

Step 2: Research the Property Like a Marketer

Before you send anything, ask:

• What kind of hotel is this?
• Who is their target guest?
• Do they already work with influencers?
• What kind of content do they repost?

If they are:

• A business-forward hotel → emphasize productivity + location.
• A boutique design hotel → highlight aesthetic storytelling.
• A wellness resort → lean into slow mornings, spa, experience.

Your pitch should mirror their brand language.

Hotels are businesses. Speak their language.

Photo by cottonbro

Step 3: Structure Your Pitch Clearly

Here’s the simple structure I use:

1. Quick intro (who you are + niche)
2. Travel dates
3. Why their property specifically (bonus if you share analytics and the reason why it might be beneficial to work with you)
4. Deliverables
5. Media kit link

That’s it.

No life story.
No five-paragraph emotional essay.

Clarity builds trust.

Example Deliverable Section

Instead of:
“I’ll create content.”

Say:

In exchange for a hosted 2-night stay, I would provide:
• 1 Instagram Reel
• 1 TikTok (reposted)
• Daily Instagram Stories
• A featured blog review (SEO-optimized)
• Optional UGC clips for your marketing use

This removes confusion. Hotels need clarity to evaluate ROI.

Step 4: Finding the Right Email (This Changes Everything)

A huge reason creators get ignored?

They’re emailing the wrong inbox.

Instead of info@hotel.com, try to find:

• Marketing Manager
• PR Manager
• Communications Director
• Partnerships Team

Inside my paid Substack, I share:

• Exactly what to type into Google
• How to uncover hidden contact pages
• What message I send if I can’t find the marketing email
• How to follow up properly

If you want that breakdown:
How to Find Hotel Contacts for Your Next Collaboration

This alone can double your response rate.

Step 5: If You’re Updating Your Pitch

If you’ve been pitching for a while but feel stagnant, ask yourself:

• Does my pitch reflect my current audience size?
• Am I highlighting performance metrics?
• Am I positioning blog + SEO value?
• Am I mentioning affiliate tracking?
• Am I offering UGC as an add-on?

Your pitch should evolve as you grow.

What worked at 5k followers won’t necessarily work at 25k.

And if you’ve never updated your pitch template? It’s time.

Step 6: Be Patient (But Strategic)

Here’s something no one tells you:

Hotels move slowly.

Budgets need approval.
Management needs to sign off.
Marketing teams juggle campaigns.

Sometimes I’ve heard back:

• 2-3 weeks later
• 1 month later
• After a “ghost”

Good deals take time.

Follow up once after 5–7 business days.

Keep it short. Keep it confident. No emotional spiraling.

What If They Say No?

Sometimes:

• Budget isn’t available
• Campaign is closed
• Timing doesn’t align

That doesn’t mean your pitch was bad.

Pitching is volume + strategy + timing.

You win some.
You lose some.
But consistency compounds.

Are Hotel Collaborations Always Just “Gifted”?

Short answer: no.

While many hotels initially offer stay exchanges (complimentary nights in exchange for content), there is absolutely room for paid collaborations, especially as your platform grows.

Some hotels have:

• Dedicated influencer budgets
• Seasonal marketing campaigns
• UGC-only budgets
• Performance-based affiliate structures
• Hybrid models (hosted stay + paid content add-on)

The key is positioning.

If you present yourself strategically, with clear deliverables, performance metrics, and a defined audience, you open the door to paid opportunities instead of assuming it’s only an exchange.

When you’re just starting out, a hosted stay can be a valuable stepping stone.

But as your audience grows, so should your negotiation.

Overview

If you’ve been wondering how to pitch hotels as a travel creator, remember this:

It’s not about follower count.

It’s about:

• Context
• Alignment
• Clear deliverables
• Professional tone
• Consistency

And if you’re serious about leveling up your pitching strategy, inside my Substack I share:

• My actual pitch templates
• How I find decision-maker emails
• Follow-up scripts
• Negotiation insights
• Brands that have budgets

Because pitching shouldn’t feel confusing.

It should feel strategic.

I hope this post helps you feel more confident the next time you open your laptop to pitch 🤍

If you’re interested in learning more about pitching, negotiation, and building real brand partnerships, I share deeper strategy (including templates and breakdowns) inside my Substack.

You can subscribe here:
https://getpaidandgo.substack.com/

I’ll also continue sharing helpful guides like this on the blog, so stay tuned.

xo,
Nancy ✨