Top 100 Travel Bloggers Hotels and Airlines Should Fly Out First Class
If you run a major airline or hotel chain having graduated with an MBA in the 80’s, you probably don’t have a full picture of how powerful travel bloggers are. And you’d mostly be right. On their own, a single travel blogger with 273 Facebook friends and 131 Twitter followers doesn’t have much, if any, impact on your business.
But when you get no more than a couple dozen together, you’re staring at an exponential power curve.
If you had one lunch meeting open and you had to pick between speaking with a few bloggers or the Editor of Conde Nast Traveler, you’d likely brush off the bloggers. Here’s why bloggers are more powerful and influential than the Editor in Chief of an International Travel Magazine.
1) Who even knows the name of the E. Chief of Conde Nast Traveler Anyways?
For that matter, who knows the names of any of the writers? Print writers have absolutely no rapport with their readership. When’s the last time you were able to comment and have the writer of a magazine comment back?
2) Magazine writers, and even Travel TV show hosts have little influence over your target market
Magazines and TV shows, by their nature, must be broad and general to capture a wider market segment. Bloggers don’t. Every issue of a magazine and TV network syndication costs money. Every view of a travel blog costs nothing. So, bloggers have the luxury to micro target their readership. Magazines and TV shows, no matter how popular, don’t.
In other words, you could be jumping up and down because your boutique hotel or airline got rave editorial reviews in some Travel magazine with an annual 10,000,000 circulation (ref: http://www.echo-media.com/mediadetail.asp?IDNUmber=5451). But you know as well as everyone else does, it didn’t translate into a single sale.
For those of you who don’t know why, circulation numbers are NOT reader numbers. About 60% of the “circulation” actually happens through “clearing houses” that just throw magazines away. So of the 4,000,000 left, if another 10% is going to addresses where the residents have moved, your down to 3,000,000. Then, out of the 200 pages, if your feature covers a 2 full page spread, you only have a 1/100 shot of being glanced at by a reader who’s flipping through that Conde Nast Traveler. So lets factor that down into the 3,000,000. It leaves us with 30,000. My guestimate is that half of the magazines you still subscribe to go straight to the toilet without you even reading it.
Who has time when there’s Hulu, Netflix, and Tivo. So that leaves only about 15,000 people on this planet who will see your big exciting two page spread in the Conde Nast Traveler. Of them, how many do you guestimate actually really want to visit San Diego or Hong Kong? Maybe 2%? So in the end, your big fancy magazine spread hit 300 people who actually fit in your demographic.
3) People who subscribe to a blog are 100% interested
Even if a blog only has 300 readers, these 300 readers are precisely and 100% in the demographic sweetspot.
4) Bloggers have personal relationships with their readers
A blogger’s influence with their readers is far greater than that of a magazine. When’s the last time you flipped through a magazine editor’s private facebook photos? Chatted with them on facebook at 2am? Drunk texted them at 3?
Just look at how many people actually have ongoing personal conversations with @thedelicious, a food blogger. Repeat the same search for the name of a magazine editor who doesn’t blog.
So out of that same 300 people, I’d venture to guess that you’d get a 1000% conversion rate difference over a magazine feature.
5) Trending topics
If you get just a couple of dozen travel bloggers to Tweet about your airlines or hotel, you’ll become a trending topic on twitter. Everyone from the Huffington Post to CNN follows that list of trending topics. If you still love old media so much, bloggers are the fastest way to get you in front of the world press.
6) Google
When’s the last time you saw the front page of the NYTimes in google? Google your company name right now. Chances are, you see a blog or thousand come up.
7) Page One of Google
If a blogger posts a comment about your company, very often, another will reblog it. If you only get two dozen bloggers to write about your “San Diego Boutique Hotel,” You’ll be #1 in Google for that search — for a long time. What’s that worth?
Is it possibly worth flying a couple of bloggers out first class and letting them buzz about your luxurious hotel? Here’s who you want to talk to:
Top 100 Travel Bloggers You Want to Fly Out First Class and Put Up for 2 Days
ps. We’re putting together a Twitter list with everyone below on it (so you can chat with all of them). Click “Like,” HERE to be notified when it’s ready
Also, to reach most all of them in one fell swoop, contact @HackingTravel. Most of them already follow us.
Gary Arndt contact
Name Gary Arndt location Nomadic Web Everything… Bio Travel blogger and photographer. I’m a one man National Geographic. … twitter.com/everywheretrip
Tamy Emma Pepin contact
Name Tamy Emma Pepin location Montreal Web touris… Bio Travel Blogger and Brand Ambassador of Tourism Montreal by ad agency Sid Lee … twitter.com/tamyemmapepin
Travel Blogger contact
Name Travel Blogger location Around the world Web geotra… Bio Loves to blog and loves to travel. That’s why I am a traveling blogger with a … twitter.com/geotravelblog
Chris Gray Faust contact
Name Chris Gray Faust location Seattle Web caroun… Bio Travel blogger, Chris Around The World. Winner, 2010 Lowell Thomas travel writing … twitter.com/caroundtheworld
Hilarye Fuller contact
Name Hilarye Fuller location Salt Lake City…for now Web dottin… Bio Travel Blogger, Social media Specialist, avid snowboarder and … twitter.com/hilaryetravels
Theresa Travels contact
Name Theresa Travels location Florida USA The World Web thetra… Bio Travel Blogger traveling often to big cities and small towns, islands and … twitter.com/thetraveltweet
Mary Jo contact
Name Mary Jo location Seattle, Washington Web Travel… Bio Travel blogger & Flight Attendant, loves good food, wine, and friends. … twitter.com/travelingwithmj
Eva Escape contact
Name Eva Escape location Irvine, California Bio Travel Blogger that loves to find new fashion ideas, great location s and travel adventures! … twitter.com/evaescape
Mary Ann contact
Name Mary Ann location Rochester, MN Web enchantedt… Bio Travel & Tech insider, Travel Blogger, Certified France Destination Specialist, … twitter.com/enchantedtravel
Travel Blogger contact
Bio 2-day event in Orlando where travel bloggers network , hear a dynamic series of educational seminars and panels and meet the travel industry. … twitter.com/trvlbloggershow
Gray Cargill contact
Name Gray Cargill location South Burlington, Vermont Web solofriend… Bio Solo Travel Blogger for SoloFriendly.com and VegasSolo.com … twitter.com/solofriendly
Kathika Travel Blog contact
Name Kathika Travel Blog location US Web kathika.com Bio kathika.com I’m a travel blogger losing myself in destinations around the world … twitter.com/kathika
Rebecca Arnold contact
Name Rebecca Arnold location Melbourne Web rebeccaand… Bio Travel blogger, dreamer, always wanting to be somewhere but here! … twitter.com/rebecca_arnold
Runaway Jane contact
Independent Travel Blogger, and Writer. … The key to location independence bit.ly/h91mkW 5:00 AM Dec 11th via web … Name Runaway Jane location Europe Web runawa… Bio Independent Travel Blogger, and Writer. … twitter.com/runawayjane
Jessica Reeder contact
Name Jessica Reeder location Reno, NV currently Web loveandtra… Bio Eco-travel blogger. Volunteer. Nomad. Greentastic. Make believer. … twitter.com/jessicareeder
Dylan Lowe contact
Name Dylan Lowe location London, UK Web thetra… Bio Travel blogger/writer. Brit. Sorta Kiwi. Hitchhiker. Friend, rarely foe. … twitter.com/travelingeditor
Leslie G contact
Name Leslie G location Los Angeles, CA Web cgtravelsb… Bio Travel blogger, hotel publicist, art history junkie, Venetophile, wanderluster, … twitter.com/cgtravels
Matthew Kyhnn contact
Travel blogger exploring the world. … A Year of Traveling Savage t.co/ix96Tbe via about 7 hours ago via Tweet Button · more. Name Matthew Kyhnn location Iowa Web backpa… Bio Travel blogger exploring the world. … twitter.com/backpackingmatt
Rori Paul contact
Name Rori Paul location Orlando, Florida Web roritr… Bio Travel Blogger & Freelance Writer - RoriTravel’s Florida - I enjoy Florida, travel, … twitter.com/roritravel
The Points Guy contact
Name The Points Guy location Airborne / NYC Web thepoi… Bio Travel blogger/ Business traveler/ Loyalty programs expert / Points travel … twitter.com/thepointsguy
Joe Hunkins contact
Name Joe Hunkins location Oregon Web techno… Bio Travel, Medical Tourism, Blogger, Real Estate, Technology, CES, China, Internet, Oregon, … twitter.com/joeduck
Teresa Rodriguez contact
Name Teresa Rodriguez location San Francisco Web jetset… Bio Travel Expert, author of FLY SOLO and founder of TangoDiva.com and JetsetExtra.com Blogger on Huffington Post … twitter.com/flysolo
Nancy D. Brown contact
Name Nancy D. Brown location San Francisco, California Web nancydbrow… Bio Travel writer/blogger. lodging.uptake.com/blog/ … twitter.com/nancydbrown
eatlikeagirl contact
Name eatlikeagirl location Usually London or Ireland Web eatlik… Bio Food & Travel blogger based in London, from Ireland. I love wine & music … twitter.com/eatlikeagirl
Ben Reed contact
Name Ben Reed location Orlando, FL Web adventures… Bio Travel Blogger writing about Making Traveling Fun around the World & Central FL. … twitter.com/adventureswben
Renee King contact
Name Renee King location Atlanta, GA Web aviewt… Bio Travel blogger, creative writer, prolific gardener, continual seeker of blissful … twitter.com/aviewtoathrill
alison brick contact
freelance writer/editor. travel blogger. … Name alison brick location berkeley, ca Bio freelance writer/editor. travel blogger. … twitter.com/alisonbrick
Jennifer Laceda contact
Name Jennifer Laceda location ÜT: 43.619554,-79.553882 Web myfolieade… Bio Travel & Food Blogger + Writer juggling 2 sites: … twitter.com/jenlaceda
Giulia contact
Name Giulia location Cairo, Egypt Web travel… Bio Travel blogger + photographer. Currently in Cairo, Egypt. On a slooow RTW trip. … twitter.com/giuliaccia
Miles McAlpin contact
Name Miles McAlpin location Siem Reap, Cambodia Web kickin… Bio travel blogger living in siem reap learning wassadeal with cambodia and … twitter.com/JMilesM
Y NOT Travel contact
Name Y NOT Travel location India Web ynotgo… Bio Travel consultant, travel blogger, corporate travel consultant … twitter.com/ynotravel
Swan contact
For Travel Blogger check these blogs tours-a-n-d-travel.blogspot.com … Name Swan location Mumbai Web rezote… Bio Travel Lovers … twitter.com/swan1234
Abbey Hesser contact
Name Abbey Hesser location New York, NY Web achick… Bio A travel blogger for A Chick with Baggage and avid do-er of all things cool. … twitter.com/ahesser
Zhiqiang contact
Name Zhiqiang location Singapore Web passpo… Bio Singapore Travel Blogger Sharing Travel Tips, Itineraries, Reviews and Photos … twitter.com/passportchop
Angela Dollar contact
2:24 PM Sep 19th via web. more. Name Angela Dollar location Seattle Web wander… Bio Responsible travel blogger and planet-hugger … twitter.com/travelpurpose
coqui2008 contact
Name coqui2008 location Puerto Rico Web visit-… Bio Travel Blogger - Spreading the word about the beautiful island of Puerto Rico in the … twitter.com/coqui2008
Jennifer Huber contact
Name Jennifer Huber location Port Charlotte, Florida Web friendfeed… Bio Blogging to support travel habit by day travel marketing pro by night travel blogger & roller derby girl on quest for bragging rights. … twitter.com/jenniferhuber
Emma Gardiner-Deans contact
Name Emma Gardiner-Deans location Sydney, Australia Web shegoe… Bio Travel blogger from from Sydney, Australia … twitter.com/shegoesoz
Stephanie Hicks contact
Name Stephanie Hicks location Bend, Oregon Web peachy… Bio Freelance travel blogger, mom, runner, lawyer, photographer, Social networking … twitter.com/stephhicks
Abi Dare contact
Name Abi Dare location Bristol UK and beyond Web travel… Bio Chocolate-munching, cat-loving travel blogger, aspiring writer and … twitter.com/abidare
Enlist Travel contact
Name Enlist Travel location USA Web enlist… Bio Travel Writer, Blogger, A professional blog on global travel destinations. … twitter.com/enlisttravel
Andrew Hickey contact
A Guinness fueled travel blogger. … Name Andrew Hickey location Brooklyn, NY Web TheBrookly… Bio A Guinness fueled travel blogger. … twitter.com/brooklynnomad
TravMonkey contact
Name TravMonkey location London Web travmo… Bio Travel the world with TravMonkey.com producer of travel articles and tips. … twitter.com/travmonkey
Kara Williams contact
Name Kara Williams location Colorado Web thevac… Bio ASJA, SATW, TBEX. Freelance writer and travel blogger who loves spas, the outdoors, … twitter.com/karasw
Mark Ashley contact
Name Mark Ashley location North Carolina, USA Web upgrad… Bio Traveler, blogger, and thus travel blogger at Upgrade: Travel Better. … twitter.com/upgradetravel
Fiona Hilliard contact
Name Fiona Hilliard location Ireland Web blog.argus… Bio Dublin-based Travel-blogger/writer for award-winning car hire site … twitter.com/fionahilliard
Sarah Evans contact
Name Sarah Evans location New York, NY Web glamglobet… Bio Hospitality Publicist. Travel Blogger. World Traveler. Obsessed with all things food, … twitter.com/glamglobetrtr
Bob Glaze contact
Name Bob Glaze location Chicago Web weybri… Bio World traveler, travel blogger, art collector, photographer, real estate developer with home … twitter.com/bobglaze
Alison Garland contact
Name Alison Garland location Atlanta, GA, USA Web aliadventu… Bio Eternal travel junkie. Travel blogger. I’ve been to all 7 continents before my … twitter.com/aliadventures7
Jools Stone contact
Name Jools Stone location Edinburgh Web trains… Bio Journalist, travel blogger, rail fan, bon vivant, marketer, tweet addict, you name it! … twitter.com/jools_octavius
Nellie Huang contact
Name Nellie Huang location the world Web wildju… Bio A travel writer, blogger, and adventure-seeker. Obsessed with languages, culture … twitter.com/wildjunket
Jen contact
Vacation Travel Blogger. … Name Jen location New York Web overseastr… Bio Vacation Travel Blogger. 1270 Following · 712 Followers · 6 Listed … twitter.com/overseas_travel
Natalie Surowiecki contact
Name Natalie Surowiecki location Seattle, WA Web natala… Bio Hawaii travel blogger, Public relations executive, Dexter fan and Animal lover! … twitter.com/natalanihawaii
Sy Yuan contact
Name Sy Yuan location Singapore Web sylistic.com Bio A travel blogger & regular twitter - there’s no chance you’ll miss me here Read my travel … twitter.com/SYLISTIC
CuriousTravelerNtwk contact
Great travel blogger community called the Travel Blog Exchange: … Name CuriousTravelerNtwk location South Florida Web curioustra… Bio The place for Curious Georges & Janes who LOVE to Travel & Share their Stories … twitter.com/ctravelnetwork
Rich Whitaker contact
Name Rich Whitaker location Marblehead, MA Web RichWhitak… Bio Avid Traveler. Travel Industry. Airline Brat. Travel Blogger. Likes indie music. … twitter.com/rmwhitaker
David C. Reynolds contact
Name David C. Reynolds location San Francisco Bio Travel expert, blogger, author. Love flowers Dahlias, Roses, Glads, … twitter.com/traveltipsguy
Diana Edelman contact
Name Diana Edelman location The World Web dtrave… Bio Ex-publicist turned travel blogger figuring out this 30-Life-Crisis buzz kill through … twitter.com/dtravelsround
Ray Bentz contact
Name Ray Bentz location Puerto Rico Web Puerto… Bio Puerto Rico Travel Blogger and Innkeeper living in PR and writing about things to do on … twitter.com/rayinpr
Jasmine Stephenson contact
Name Jasmine Stephenson location South America Web jasminewan… Bio Mid-20s vegetarian nomad. Travel blogger. Colombian pueblo lover. … twitter.com/jasminewanders
Ross Corbett contact
Name Ross Corbett location ÜT: 52.97333,-1.118369 Web blight… Bio Follow travel blogger Ross Corbett on his travel adventures around Great … twitter.com/Blightytraveler
Glennia contact
Name Glennia location Bay Area, California Web glenniacam… Bio mom, lawyer, blogger, liberal, traveler, coffee achiever. MOMocrats Co-Founder. … twitter.com/glennia
Bunkycooks contact
Name Bunkycooks location Atlanta, GA Web bunkycooks… Bio Food and travel blogger in the Atlanta area that focuses on farm visits, local foods and … twitter.com/bunkycooks
Kevin Partridge contact
Name Kevin Partridge location UK Web the-tr… Bio Aspring Travel Writer Check out my Blog the-travel-times.blogspot.com … twitter.com/thetraveltimes
Jennifer Fields contact
Name Jennifer Fields location Portland-to-Tampa Web savori… Bio Writer, food/travel blogger, VP of Portland Culinary Alliance, Le Cordon Bleu … twitter.com/savor
BridgetASmith contact
Travel Writer, Blogger, Mom, Dreamer. … also melting #tmom, #sosparks 5:47 PM Nov 1st via web in reply to TravelMamas · more. Name BridgetASmith location California Web family… Bio Travel Writer, Blogger, Mom, Dreamer … twitter.com/bridgetasmith
eileenludwig contact
Name eileenludwig location Orlando Web freela… Bio Photographer, writer, Travel Blogger, instructor, eclectic, blogger, Social Media … twitter.com/eileenludwig
Kelly Harmon, TRAVEL contact
Ireland & Italy, a travel blogger’s video adventure. youtu.be/-UHOfQcDAr8?a … Name Kelly Harmon, TRAVEL location La Jolla, CA Web flickr… Bio hardcore traveler, photographer, foodie & travel expert . … twitter.com/hiptraveler
Joan Nova contact
Name Joan Nova location South Florida Web foodalogue… Bio food and travel blogger with a passion for cooking and photography … twitter.com/foodalogue
Hery Zo contact
Name Hery Zo location Madagascar Web madafa… Bio madagascar travel blogger, solution-enabler for online distribution of madagascar digital … twitter.com/saveoursmile
Travel Monkey-Minkey contact
Name Travel Monkey-Minkey location Dallas, Texas Web travel… Bio Hi! I’m The Mink & I the world with Minkey Mama’s friends, family, … twitter.com/TravelMinkey
Chérie King contact
Name Chérie King location Wherever my heart desires Web flight… Bio I am a Deaf Travel blogger that simply adores Traveling. … twitter.com/thetravelbee
Chanel Ward contact
Name Chanel Ward location Louisiana, Worldwide Web hipcan… Bio Fashion & travel blogger, desktop publisher, bargain hunter, designer of cute … twitter.com/hipcandy
No Place To Be contact
Great post RT @spunkygirllogue: NEW| Being a Travel Blogger is NOT Easy … Bio We are Poi & Kirsty - an English couple sharing our backpacking experiences. … twitter.com/noplacetobe
stump contact
Name stump location VT Web travelingm… Bio lover of travel, food, cooking, cheese, and coffee* freelance writer* travel blogger *mom *wife to the … twitter.com/ramblingstump
Priscilla Pilon contact
@Jodi_Kendall @spencerspellman Like the article on apps for travel. … Bio Travel Addicted Francophile, Blogger &Marketer/Design Editor … twitter.com/weekendinparis
Jessica Orquina contact
Name Jessica Orquina location Washington DC via Boston + SF Web jessica-tr… Bio Marketer for work / travel + food blogger for fun! … twitter.com/jessica_travels
Bryan H. contact
Name Bryan H. location Southwest Missouri Web bryansvaca… Bio Certified Travel Associate and travel blogger specializing in Disney, Japan, … twitter.com/theCTA
JamesHayward contact
Name JamesHayward location iPhone: -33.793846,151.261261 Web littlenoma… Bio Family travel blogger, always learning and sharing with … twitter.com/littlenomads
Fontella Willliams contact
Name Fontella Willliams location Atlanta, GA Web thealp… Bio Life-long entrepreneur, love to travel, blogger, network marketer. … twitter.com/fontella_w
Vertical Blogger contact
New #Blogger opportunities available this week in the #Travel & #Accommodation see … Name Vertical Blogger location Edinburgh Web vertic… Bio Vertical Bloggers allows bloggers to monetise blogs through articles … twitter.com/verticalblogger
Glen Abbott contact
Name Glen Abbott location Orlando, FL Web travel… Bio Motorcycle touring and travel writer, photographer, videographer and blogger. … twitter.com/travelingringo
Tracy Burns contact
Name Tracy Burns location Penang, Malaysia Web ourtravell… Bio Traveller, wife, mother of 2 young kids, avid travel blogger, artist, … twitter.com/tracy_burns
James Henderson contact
Name James Henderson location London, often the Caribbean Bio I’ve been a travel writer, with a speciality in the Caribbean, for 20 years and more. … twitter.com/Jamesh5
Gawaya Travel Blog contact
Name Gawaya Travel Blog location Canada Web gawaya.com Bio I’m Shamis, a newbie travel blogger. Visit my travel blog Gawaya.com for travel news, … twitter.com/travelweblog
elaineschoch contact
Name elaineschoch location Denver Web travel… Bio Blogger, Social Media strategist, mom, wanna be world traveler. I tweet about travel, … twitter.com/elaineschoch
Ben Keene contact
Name Ben Keene location Brooklyn, NY Web whereandba… Bio Freelance Writer & Editor, Travel Blogger, Beer Drinker, Author of Best Hikes Near New … twitter.com/whereandback
Ryan contact
… Professional Bargain Hunter, Adrenaline Junkie, Travel Blogger, and Self-Proclaimed World Traveler! … Name Ryan location Massachusetts Web pausethemo… Bio Tech Geek, Wannabe Photographer, Professional Bargain Hunter, … twitter.com/pausethemoment
Josh Hostels contact
Name Josh Hostels location San Francisco & Amherst, MA Web hostel… Bio Hostels, tech and travel blogger, Web publishing, Drupal, WordPress, … https://twitter.com/joshhostels
