Why Tourism Boards Should Work with Travel Content Creators (And How We Do It)
We’ve been lucky enough to work with Tourism Boards all over the map. From the mountains of West Virginia to the charming waterfront streets of New Bern, NC, the rugged beauty of Colorado’s Royal Gorge Region, and beyond. We’ve partnered with states, counties, cities, and even smaller tourism offices tucked away in places we’d never even heard of before we were invited.
But what does it actually look like for DMO’s (Destination Marketing Organizations ) to work with creators like us? And why is this kind of marketing one of the most powerful (and fun) tools Tourism Boards can invest in right now?
Let’s spill the tea and dive into it.
What We Actually Do (And Why It Works)
Sure, we create content, but our work goes way beyond the pretty pictures and fun videos. What we offer is personal, authentic storytelling that connects with real travelers.
Here’s what that includes:
Short-form videos (like IG Reels and TikToks) that tell a story of what it looks like to visit each area in an immersive, experience-driven, forward-facing way
Professional photography of destinations, experiences, food, and lodging
Blogs optimized for search engines and written with our audience in mind
Story-driven captions and Carousel Posts
Behind-the-scenes content that builds trust and shows the human side of travel
Usage, whitelisting, and licensing rights so the DMO can re-share the content across their own channels, website, run ads, etc.
We typically stay for a minimum of 3 nights in an area, which gives us enough time to explore, get creative, and fully immerse ourselves in the experience.
And the real magic? We’ve built a community that values curiosity, intentionality, authenticity, and how we travel. When we share a destination, people take note, ask questions, and often add it to their list, which results in real conversions for our partners.
Why This Kind of Marketing Matters
Let’s face it, traditional ads don’t hit the same way as they previously did. Travelers want to see real people exploring real places. They want to imagine themselves walking through that charming small town, sipping on local coffee, or hiking that hidden trail.
That’s where creators come in.
We help destinations:
✅ Boost visibility
✅ Drive tourism revenue
✅ Reach new audiences
✅ Tell local stories with heart
✅ Make travelers feel the magic before they ever arrive
Our content doesn’t just live on Instagram for a day, it often becomes part of a destination’s long-term marketing strategy. We've had Tourism Boards pay to reuse our work in ads, brochures, print work, and presentations, because it continues to inspire action LONGGG after it's posted.
Local Businesses & DMOs: You Benefit Too
Tourism Boards aren’t the only ones who win when creators get involved.
We love working with local businesses within each campaign, from coffee shops, boutiques, kayak tours, museums, unique Airbnbs, and more. It all adds up to a richer story and stronger local impact.
We’ve had people follow our exact trips and itineraries down to a T, staying at the same places, eating at the same restaurants, and visiting every spot we featured. It’s not uncommon for us to hear from local business owners saying, “Someone came in today because they saw your video”.
That ripple effect? It’s real.
Budget Talk: What It Costs to Work With Creators
Every campaign is different. We’ve been paid anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 for a single project/campaign, depending on the Deliverables, location, and scope of work and licensing. But we always approach it with flexibility and honesty.
Typically, all of our travel costs and expenses are covered, in addition to the content fees. The content creation fees vary based on what’s needed; how many videos, blogs, photos, platform usage, and if usage rights are included. Another thing to note is we are also given a stipend to use for the meals or experiences not already covered from a Tourism Partner, but still wanted as a highlight in the itinerary.
We’ve found that every place has a different budget, so we tailor our packages to meet goals, timeline, and deliverables. Whether you're a small-town DMO or a statewide tourism board, we’ll work with you to make it feasible.
And we’re not just showing up and checking boxes, we’re emotionally investing in your destination and creating content around your vision.
One other important note is we typically over-deliver, past what we agreed to. We always aim to go above and beyond past our hired scope of work and share additional content in some format because we end up falling in love with each destination and organization so much.
How You Can Work With Tourism Boards (If You’re a Creator)
Here’s something we always tell other creators: if you’re already sharing your travels online, you’re halfway there.
We didn’t wait for a Tourism Board to knock on our door. We started by sharing our adventures organically (on our own dime), showing off dog-friendly finds, quirky coffee shops, unique Airbnbs, scenic trails, and curated itineraries.…just because we LOVED them. And Tourism Boards noticed.
Here’s how other creators can do it too:
🏃♂️ Are you a runner? A city known for its greenways and scenic trails could be a perfect partner.
🧘♀️ Are you a wellness creator? Partner with a mountain town known for spas, hot springs, or hiking retreats.
👨👩👧 Family creator? Destinations with zoos, museums, waterparks, or kid-friendly hotels are ideal.
🧑🎨 Art or culture blogger? Work with towns rich in history, murals, museums, or street art festivals.
🐶 Got a dog with more followers than you? Pitch pet-friendly towns, trails, and accommodations.
📸 Photographer or videographer? Offer destination visuals in exchange for showcasing their scenery.
The key is to find places that naturally align with what you already love creating and then pitch it with purpose. Highlight how your audience overlaps with their target visitors. Be specific, be professional, and always include previous examples of work.
What Makes a Great Creator - Tourism Board Partnership
If you’re a Tourism Board wondering how to work with creators (or a creator hoping to pitch one), here’s what makes these partnerships shine:
✅ Clear Goals
Whether it’s off-season travel promotion or showcasing local businesses, knowing what you’re trying to achieve helps us deliver better content.
✅ Creative Freedom
When Tourism Boards let us do what we do best while throwing in their own recommendations; storytelling, the results are always more natural, engaging, and impactful.
✅ Authenticity Over Perfection
Our content isn’t overly polished or scripted. It’s real, relatable, and shows what a trip actually feels like.
Behind the Scenes: The Good, The Great, and That One Time We Got Sick
Let’s be honest this job is SO much fun, but it’s not always glamorous.
It can be long days and late nights. We’ve filmed in the rain, fallen off bikes, faced our fears and once had to extend a trip because Scott got so sick we couldn’t finish filming on schedule (don’t worry, we rallied and still made magic happen).
But we’ve also eaten the most amazing meals, watched the sunrise in places we never knew existed, and have been able to bring our families along, like the time we partnered with Folly Beach and flew Scott’s parents in from England.
And one of our favorite things? Discovering places we might have never visited without this job, like New Bern, NC, which completely stole our hearts.
What We’re Dreaming About Next
Our biggest goal? More long-term partnerships with Tourism Boards that let us keep telling stories over time different seasons, deeper dives, and follow-up visits that show growth and change.
We’d also love to expand into more of the Northeast and out West, and eventually partner with Tourism Boards in England (Scott’s home country).
And if your destination is dog-friendly? Even better. Our two pups, Tank and Toffee, are extremely good on camera and some of the best travelled talent out there.
TL;DR – But You Should Still Read It All 😉
We work with state, county, and city tourism boards on a minimum of 3-night content trips
We create videos, photos, blogs, and promotional material with strategy + soul
We help drive real tourism interest through authentic storytelling
We work with small towns and major DMOs
We share our travels organically, and so can other creators, Tourism Boards want real stories
Budget flexibility is key, we’ve worked on projects ranging from $1K to $10K
We’re excited to keep growing and exploring, one destination at a time
Want to Work Together?
Whether you're a Tourism Board ready to bring your destination to life, or a creator hoping to break into this space , we’d LOVE to be part of the journey. Click HERE to fill out a “Work With Us” Form.
Let’s tell unforgettable stories together.