How to Pitch Hotels & Airbnbs

1. Target List

Before you send a single pitch, it helps to build a real list of properties worth reaching out to, rather than messaging randomly whenever you think of one.

What to look for in a hotel

Boutique or independent hotels tend to be more open to working directly with individual creators than large chain hotels, which often have more rigid marketing processes.
Hotels that are relatively new or recently renovated are often eager for fresh content and visibility.
Properties that already post creator style content, rather than only polished professional photography, are usually a strong sign they are open to this kind of partnership.

What to look for in an Airbnb

Superhost listings, since these hosts are often more invested in their listing's visibility and reputation.
Unique or standout properties, like a treehouse, a design forward space, or something with a clear visual hook, since these tend to perform best in content anyway.
Hosts who manage multiple properties, since one strong relationship can sometimes lead to being invited back for other listings they manage too.

Build your list in batches

Aim for a steady list each week, something like 15 to 20 properties, rather than only reaching out occasionally. Keep a simple spreadsheet with the property name, contact info if you have it, location, and the status of your outreach.

Prioritize based on fit, not just prestige

A smaller boutique hotel that is a strong visual and content fit is often a better first target than a huge luxury chain that gets outreach from hundreds of creators a week. Early wins with smaller, more responsive properties help you build the portfolio and confidence to eventually pitch bigger names.

2. Cold Email

Cold email is usually the most reliable way to reach hotels, and it is also the safest way to reach Airbnb hosts, which we will get into in a moment.

Finding the right email

For hotels, look for a general reservations or marketing email on their website, or search for a specific marketing or social media contact on LinkedIn if the property is large enough to have one. For smaller boutique hotels, a general inquiry email often gets forwarded to the right person anyway.

What to include in your pitch

Who you are, in one line.
Why you specifically fit their property, mentioning something specific about it, not a generic compliment.
A link to your portfolio or a short reel showing your content style.
A clear, simple ask, like offering a content package in exchange for a comped or discounted stay.

Keep it short

Property managers and hosts are busy and get a lot of outreach. A short, specific email that is easy to read in under a minute performs far better than a long, detailed pitch that takes real effort to get through.

An important note on Airbnb specifically

Do not pitch Airbnb hosts through the Airbnb app or platform messaging system. Airbnb's terms are strict about using their messaging system for anything outside of an actual booking inquiry, and pitching a content collaboration this way can get your account flagged or banned. Instead, look for a host's contact information outside the platform, like an email listed in their profile, a linked website, or their social media, and reach out there instead.

3. Media Kit

A simple, travel focused media kit makes it much easier for a hotel or host to say yes quickly, without needing a long back and forth to understand who you are.

What to include

A short bio and your content style or niche within travel.
A few of your best travel or lifestyle content examples, linked or embedded.
Any past hotel or travel partnerships, if you have them.
Basic audience info if relevant, like where your audience is located or what kind of travel content they engage with most.
A clear note on what you are offering, like a content package in exchange for a stay.

Keep it visual

Since this pitch is inherently about visual content, lean more heavily on strong images and video clips in your media kit than on text. A property deciding whether to host you cares most about whether your visual style fits their brand.

Update it as you build more travel content

Even a few strong hotel or Airbnb collaborations can meaningfully strengthen your media kit. Keep it updated so your most recent and best work is always what a new property sees first.

4. Sample Reels

Sample reels are one of the most persuasive things you can include in a pitch, since they let a property immediately picture what content of their own space could look like.

Why a sample reel matters so much here

A property owner or manager is not just evaluating your general content skills, they are specifically imagining their own rooms, pool, lobby, or view being shown off. A strong travel or hospitality style reel makes that leap much easier for them than your general portfolio alone.

What to include in a travel sample reel

A mix of wide shots showing off a space and closer, more personal shots that make the content feel authentic rather than purely promotional.
A day in the life style clip, if you have one, since these tend to perform very well for hotels and vacation rentals specifically.
Any past hotel, resort, or Airbnb content you have created, even if it was not a formal paid partnership.

If you don't have travel specific content yet

Use your strongest general lifestyle or location based content instead, and be clear in your pitch that you are building out a travel specific portfolio. Many smaller properties are still happy to work with a strong creator even without extensive past hotel specific work, especially in exchange for a comped stay rather than cash.

Keep it short

A 30 to 60 second sample reel is usually enough to make your case. A property deciding whether to host you does not need a long showcase, just enough to see your style and quality clearly.

5. Follow-Up

Follow up matters just as much here as it does in any other kind of outreach, and it is especially important with hotels and hosts, who are often slower to respond than a typical brand.

Why follow up matters so much for this category

Hotels in particular often have slower internal approval processes, and a single email can easily get buried under day to day operations. A lack of response usually is not a no, it is just a busy inbox.

When to follow up

Send one polite follow up about a week after your first message if you have not heard back. If you are pitching around a specific travel window, mention your dates again in the follow up, since availability and timing can sometimes be the actual reason for a slow response.

Keep the follow up short

A short, friendly bump works well, something like checking in to see if they had a chance to see your previous message, with your portfolio link included again for convenience.

Track your outreach

Just like your target list, keep a simple record of when you reached out, whether you followed up, and any response you got. This makes it easy to stay organized as your list of properties grows, and helps you see which types of properties tend to respond best over time.

Recap

Build a steady target list of boutique hotels and standout Airbnb listings, prioritizing strong fit over big name prestige.
Reach out through cold email, keeping your pitch short and specific, and never pitch Airbnb hosts through the Airbnb app messaging system, since it can get your account flagged or banned.
Keep a simple, visual focused media kit updated with your best travel content and any past property partnerships.
Include a short, strong sample reel so a property can easily picture their own space featured in your content.
Follow up once after about a week, since hotels and hosts are often just slow to respond, not uninterested.

Landing hotel and Airbnb partnerships is less about one perfect pitch and more about a steady, organized process, reaching out consistently, following up patiently, and letting your content do most of the convincing.