About 80% of travelers rely on media recommendations to choose where they stay. Capturing their attention requires more than a great location or upscale amenities—it demands strategic media coverage that elevates your hotel’s reputation and visibility. With countless publications, websites, and blogs shaping travel decisions, knowing where to pitch is critical. But how you tailor those pitches can be the difference between being featured and being forgotten.

Keep reading to discover the top influential media outlets and actionable tips for securing the coverage that builds your brand and boosts bookings.

Condé Nast Traveler

Why It’s Influential: Condé Nast Traveler is synonymous with luxury and experiential travel, appealing to affluent audiences seeking upscale, unique experiences. Its high-quality visuals and in-depth features set it apart.

Typical Coverage: Destination guides, hotel reviews, travel trends, and personal travel stories.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight luxury amenities, one-of-a-kind guest experiences, or exclusive partnerships.
• Provide high-resolution images that showcase the property’s aesthetic appeal.
• Focus on authenticity—how does your hotel immerse guests in the local culture?

Travel + Leisure

Why It’s Influential: With a wide audience spanning luxury seekers, families, and budget travelers, Travel + Leisure offers broad reach and diverse coverage. Its annual “World’s Best Awards” is a major driver of visibility for top hotels.

Typical Coverage: Hotel and resort reviews, destination recommendations, travel tips, and rankings.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight awards, exclusive packages, or standout guest experiences.
• Consider timely angles, such as seasonal travel or family-friendly getaways.
• Align your pitch with the publication’s editorial calendar to increase your chances of placement.

Forbes Travel Guide

Why It’s Influential: As a trusted authority in luxury travel, Forbes Travel Guide provides credibility through its renowned Star Ratings and expert recommendations.

Typical Coverage: Luxury property reviews, fine dining, and high-end travel trends.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight your efforts to meet or maintain Forbes Star Rating standards.
• Emphasize unique service offerings, architectural design, or exclusive amenities.
• Showcase recent upgrades or luxury renovations.

Lonely Planet

Why It’s Influential: A go-to resource for independent and budget-conscious travelers, Lonely Planet focuses on off-the-beaten-path experiences and cultural exploration.

Typical Coverage: Destination guides, eco-friendly accommodations, and cultural insights.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Emphasize sustainability efforts, such as eco-friendly initiatives or local partnerships.
• Highlight affordable, authentic experiences that connect guests to the local community.
• Pitch immersive experiences, such as cultural workshops or nature excursions.

The New York Times – Travel Section

Why It’s Influential: The New York Times’ Travel Section carries significant prestige, appealing to affluent readers interested in in-depth travel stories and hotel reviews.

Typical Coverage: Travel essays, city guides, hotel reviews, and trend pieces.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Share unique stories about your property’s history, location, or local ties.
• Ensure pitches are timely and newsworthy, offering exclusivity when possible.
• Provide data or trends to back up your story.

National Geographic Travel

Why It’s Influential: Known for its captivating storytelling and emphasis on cultural and environmental sustainability, National Geographic Travel resonates with adventure and eco-conscious travelers.

Typical Coverage: Photo essays, cultural travel features, and sustainable tourism profiles.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight sustainability initiatives, such as conservation programs or community-driven efforts.
• Include visually compelling content—this outlet thrives on impactful imagery.
• Share measurable outcomes of your environmental or cultural initiatives.

Hospitality Net

Why It’s Influential: A niche platform covering industry innovations and trends, Hospitality Net is ideal for promoting business-focused stories, such as hotel openings or technology adoption.

Typical Coverage: Industry news, tech innovations, and thought leadership.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Pitch data-driven insights or case studies, especially regarding new technologies.
• Focus on topics that show your property as an industry innovator.
• Share success stories about operational improvements or sustainability wins.

Skift

Why It’s Influential: Skift is a leading resource for travel industry professionals, known for its analysis of trends and technology.

Typical Coverage: Travel industry reports, market analysis, and business trends.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Provide data-backed insights into traveler behavior, technology integration, or market shifts.
• Position your property as a thought leader through case studies or surveys.
• Share new initiatives that set your hotel apart from competitors.

Travel Weekly

Why It’s Influential: Travel Weekly is a go-to resource for travel agents and industry professionals, making it ideal for promoting B2B partnerships or corporate travel offerings.

Typical Coverage: Hotel openings, group travel, and corporate travel trends.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight amenities and packages geared toward business travelers or group bookings.
• Emphasize partnerships with travel agencies and corporate clients.
• Share information on meeting spaces or event services.

Influencer Platforms (Instagram, YouTube, etc.)

Why They’re Influential: Social media influencers can amplify your hotel’s visibility by showcasing it to engaged followers through visual content and authentic recommendations.

Typical Coverage: Hotel tours, travel vlogs, and lifestyle experiences.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Partner with influencers whose audience aligns with your target demographic.
• Offer unique, memorable experiences that influencers can document.
• Collaborate on campaigns that feature user-generated content for wider reach.

Local Publications and Blogs

Why They’re Influential: Regional publications and lifestyle blogs help hotels connect with local audiences and travelers interested in discovering hidden gems.

Typical Coverage: Local events, boutique accommodations, and regional highlights.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Build long-term relationships with local writers and bloggers.
• Pitch stories that highlight your hotel’s role in the community or participation in local events.
• Share seasonal promotions or exclusive packages tied to the area’s attractions.

Additional Outlets to Expand Hotel Visibility

USA Today – Travel Section

Why It’s Influential: With a broad national readership, USA Today’s Travel Section reaches a diverse audience, including families, business travelers, and leisure seekers. Its mix of practical and engaging content makes it ideal for broad exposure.

Typical Coverage: Family-friendly destinations, budget travel tips, and trending locations.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight family-friendly amenities, group discounts, or corporate offerings.
• Emphasize accessibility and convenience to align with the publication’s audience.
• Tie pitches to national or seasonal travel trends for better placement.

Fodor’s Travel

Why It’s Influential: Fodor’s Travel is renowned for its detailed guides and practical advice, catering to a wide variety of travelers, from budget explorers to luxury seekers.

Typical Coverage: Destination guides, travel itineraries, and hotel recommendations.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Emphasize proximity to major attractions or unique experiences.
• Include practical details such as pricing, amenities, and accessibility.
• Highlight packages or offers that enhance convenience and value.

The Wall Street Journal – Travel Section

Why It’s Influential: The Wall Street Journal’s Travel Section is a go-to for affluent readers, business professionals, and luxury travelers. Its in-depth coverage of luxury and business travel trends makes it highly prestigious.

Typical Coverage: High-end travel experiences, business travel insights, and trend analysis.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight luxury amenities, VIP services, or exclusive offerings.
• Provide data-driven insights on emerging travel trends.
• Share success stories of innovation, such as tech-driven enhancements or sustainability milestones.

CNBC – Travel

Why It’s Influential: CNBC provides a mix of industry news and consumer-focused travel content, appealing to professionals and high-net-worth audiences.

Typical Coverage: Industry insights, travel tips, and exclusive hotel or destination features.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Position your property as a leader in innovation or sustainability.
• Share exclusive data, trends, or case studies tied to current events.
• Pitch unique experiences or packages that set your property apart.

Afar

Why It’s Influential: Afar focuses on experiential and transformative travel, appealing to culturally curious and adventure-driven audiences.

Typical Coverage: Unique experiences, cultural insights, and sustainable travel stories.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight immersive guest experiences tied to local culture or sustainability.
• Share authentic stories about community involvement or eco-friendly initiatives.
• Provide visuals that capture the essence of the destination and the experience.

BBC Travel

Why It’s Influential: BBC Travel’s global reach and captivating storytelling make it a trusted source for travelers seeking meaningful and immersive experiences.

Typical Coverage: Cultural features, destination highlights, and human-interest travel stories.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Emphasize your property’s cultural significance or global appeal.
• Share compelling stories that connect guests with the local community.
• Include visuals and narratives that highlight authenticity and depth.

Thrillist

Why It’s Influential: Thrillist’s younger audience craves fun, trendy, and Instagrammable travel experiences, making it a perfect match for boutique hotels or hip destinations.

Typical Coverage: Quirky accommodations, hidden gems, and food-centric travel.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight trendy amenities, local flavors, or photogenic spots within the property.
• Use a fun and casual tone to match Thrillist’s vibe.
• Emphasize unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Business Insider – Travel

Why It’s Influential: Business Insider covers emerging travel trends, budget-friendly tips, and unique experiences, appealing to millennial and Gen Z audiences.

Typical Coverage: Affordable destinations, travel hacks, and innovative guest experiences.

Tips for Hotels on What to Pitch:

• Highlight value-added amenities, affordability, and convenience.
• Pitch stories involving tech-savvy innovations, such as app-based check-ins or smart rooms.
• Share data or trends that resonate with younger, experience-driven travelers.

General Tips for Pitching Media Outlets

• Know Your Audience: Tailor your pitch to the outlet’s readership and editorial focus. Journalists can tell when you’ve done your homework and you “get” their publication.
• Be Timely: Align your pitch with seasonal themes or current trends. Take time to look at their media kit to see what their editorial calendar is and reach out far in advance with ideas based specifically around those topics. 
• Showcase Unique Angles: Highlight what sets your property apart, whether it’s eco-friendly practices, cultural immersion, or cutting-edge technology. It’s got to be something newsworthy or unique! 
• Provide Visuals: Include high-quality images and videos to make your pitch more compelling. Pitches without images or videos are very very rarely picked up. This is a crucial point! 
• Follow Up: Be persistent but respectful with follow-ups, ensuring your pitch isn’t overlooked. We suggest waiting 7 to 10 days before following up. After two follow ups with no response, it’s best to hold off. Remember, journalists are doing you a favor if they choose to include your resort in their story. You aren’t promised or entitled to any coverage. That’s why it’s called a pitch!
• Offer Exclusive Access: Media outlets love exclusivity, so provide unique experiences or early access to your story if that’s appropriate. If you offer this, you have to actually uphold your word or you may seriously damage your reputation and relationship with that publication for the rest of your career. 

By leveraging these media outlets and refining your pitching strategy, your hotel can achieve meaningful media exposure, broaden its audience reach, and convert visibility into valuable bookings.

Elevate Your Hotel’s Visibility

Effective media coverage is more than a publicity boost—it’s a catalyst for sustained growth, brand loyalty, and increased bookings. By aligning your hotel’s unique story with the right media outlets and delivering tailored, compelling pitches, you can secure features that attract travelers and set your property apart from the competition.

Whether you’re showcasing luxury amenities, local experiences, or sustainability efforts, a well-executed PR strategy can position your hotel as a sought-after destination. And with persistence and the right strategic partners, you’ll turn media exposure into tangible results. Ready to make headlines? Start crafting your next winning pitch.