Travel Influencers Share Media Kits and Tips to Score Free Hotel Stays

Eric Stoen, @travelbabbo (332,000 Instagram followers)

Eric Stoen, 50, of @travelbabbo has accrued over 332,000 Instagram followers within the eight years he is been touring and logging his journeys on-line full-time. As his one-page media equipment states, he is been to 62 international locations throughout seven continents in that point.

Stoen informed Insider that 90% of the time accommodations will pitch him a free keep first. Nevertheless, he nonetheless workouts the muscle to pitch accommodations once in a while the place he is likely to be staying for an prolonged time period so he can get a greater charge. 

“I might estimate one-third of the time I am rejected, one-third I obtain a free keep, and one-third I am supplied a reduced media charge,” he mentioned.

For many who are nonetheless breaking into the trade, and will save much more cash upfront with comped accommodations, he suggests pitching to chains that may afford to surrender a room for promotion. And, most significantly, decide to selling the resort authentically.

“Attain out to accommodations the place you realize that there is a match together with your followers and the place you are assured your posts can ship income,” mentioned Stoen. “And do not have a look at something as a free keep; it is a advertising partnership the place you are anticipated to offer actual worth in trade for a keep.”

“Make sure that it is going to be a good partnership,” he added. “I often do not attain out to smaller accommodations – they want the income. Chains generally is a higher approach to go, particularly as you are beginning out.”