You’ve likely seen a travel blogger listing their favorite luxury hotels in Europe. Or uploading a video on their Instagram account about “Delish Food Tours in Thailand,”. And, also including a booking link in that blog or video.  Booking is just a Click away and they get the commission on every click on the link. It’s that easy! That’s known as luxury hotel affiliate programs. These programs are common, but in the travel industry, they’re grossly undervalued both for creators and for the brands in the background.

The underlying problem is that most of the people don’t do it well. Businesses rustle up affiliate programs and ask themselves – Why is no one signing up? Creators expect they can earn passive income by posting just a few links, not fostering trust, and not engaging the ideal demographic.

This blog post gives a glimpse of travel affiliate programs, who’s involved in these programs, and tips for running a successful affiliate program.

An Analysis of Travel Affiliate Program.

In simple words, it’s a business deal happening among a travel brand such as a hotel chain, airline, or online travel agency, and a creator who will do the promotions. The brand offers a unique link to the affiliate. When a potential customer clicks that link and books, the affiliate receives a commission. 

Let’s say Sam has a blog involving luxury travel in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. He creates a blog titled “Best Luxury Hostels in Philippines” and includes links to Booking.com. He has a sizeable number of trusted followers. A few of them click the link and book a room. For every transaction, Sam earns a cut. 

He’s not managing the bookings. He’s not dealing with customer support. His job is to create helpful content and is rewarded when people act on it. 

Who’re the Involved Parties?

• Businesses those, offering the luxury hotel affiliate programs – Airlines, hotel chains, tour operators, and Online Travel Agencies. 
• Affiliates those who are involved in the promotions– Bloggers, micro-influencers, creators, comparison websites. 
• Travelers who’re the customers – Individuals who click the links and book trips, rooms, or experiences.

Tips For Success in Affiliate Programs.

Make Achievable Goals

Focus on the following:

• Who would be your promoters? Backpacker bloggers? Luxury travel YouTubers? 
• How will you reward the promoters? A fixed fee per booking, or a percentage of each sale? 
• For how long will your tracking cookies last? One to 3 months is good, longer is better for affiliates.

Airbnb, when they first started an affiliate program, offered $200 for each new host referred. It was successful because it offered value to all involved parties. 

Give Affiliates Ease of Access

If an individual joins your program but cannot easily access: 

• A clear dashboard, 
• Copy-paste links, 
• A few visuals like banners, templates, and social assets.

They’ll be hesitant to proceed. So, it is advisable to offer them the ease of banding you into their content.

The Final Words

Both a travel brand and an affiliate should not treat luxury hotel affiliate programs like a side hustle. Rather, develop a well-thought-out strategy. Then, seriously work on it.