How Many Followers Do You Need to Land Hotel Collabs?

If you've ever wondered how many followers you need to start collaborating with hotels, you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions among travel content creators and influencers looking to turn their passion into partnerships. The good news? The number might be lower than you think.

Follower count isn't the only (or even the most important) factor when it comes to landing hotel collaborations. In fact, creators with just 1,000 followers, or even less, have successfully partnered with hotels by focusing on other, more impactful elements.

Engagement over followers

Hotels are increasingly prioritising engagement over follower numbers. Why? Because a smaller but highly engaged audience is more valuable than a massive but passive following. If your followers are liking, commenting, sharing, and genuinely interacting with your content, you're demonstrating influence, which is exactly what hotels are looking for.

Quality content is king

Beautiful photography, creative reels, and compelling storytelling will always stand out. Hotels want content that showcases their property in the best light, so having a visually cohesive and high-quality feed can be a game-changer. Even if you're new to collaborations, if your content reflects a professional and appealing style, you're already ahead of the game.

Build a strong portfolio

Think of your Instagram or TikTok as your digital resume. Even if you haven’t done many paid collabs yet, build a portfolio of travel content that highlights your unique style and experience. Showcase stays, reviews, and travel tips - even if they’re from personal trips. Hotels are more impressed by a strong portfolio than a high follower count.

Niche and audience alignment

Hotels often target specific types of travellers - luxury seekers, digital nomads, families, or eco-conscious adventurers. If your niche aligns with their ideal guest profile, you're more likely to catch their attention. Make this clear in your pitch and profile.

Final thoughts

So, how many followers do you need to land hotel collaborations? While having a larger audience certainly helps, it's not a dealbreaker. If your engagement is strong, your content is polished, and your pitch game is solid, you can land hotel collabs, even with under 1,000 followers.

It’s not about the size of your audience - it’s about the strength of your influence.