Last week I shared a note on 5 Client Types That Pay Travel Writers. This week in Write Your Way Around the World, I’m going into more detail on each of these areas for you with examples, and tips on how to approach each client type.
5 Client Types That Pay Travel Writers (Beyond Magazines)
When most people picture “travel writing,” they imagine glossy magazines, double-page spreads, and a byline in Condé Nast Traveler or Nat Geo. And while those kinds of opportunities do exist, they’re competitive, limited, and—if we’re honest—often don’t pay nearly as well as you’d expect.
Here’s the good news: magazines aren’t the only way (or even the best way) to build a sustainable income as a travel writer. In fact, there’s a wide ecosystem of clients who actively need travel-related writing—and they’re often easier to break into, pay better, and provide more consistent work.
Here are five client types to focus on, with examples of what they commission and how to get your foot in the door.
1. Tourism Boards & Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs)
Tourism boards exist to get people to visit their city, region, or country. They commission everything from blog posts and itineraries to press releases, social media copy, and long-form storytelling pieces that highlight what makes their destination unique.
Example: Visit Scotland features a series of itineraries — 7 days in the east of Scotland, castle & history itineraries, island itineraries — you’ll find similar content on many tourism board websites. All this content needs to be written.
How to approach: Think about where you are a ‘local’ expert, or an area you know particularly well. Start by researching smaller or regional tourism boards rather than giant national ones. Pitch a content idea that ties into their current campaigns (for example: “Family-Friendly Winter Activities in Vermont” if the board is promoting winter travel). Demonstrate that you understand their audience and can write with authority and enthusiasm about the place.
2. Hotels & Hospitality Brands
Hotels aren’t just selling beds—they’re selling experiences. That’s why many invest in blogs, in-room magazines, travel guides, and branded storytelling that makes their property feel irresistible.
Example: The Marriott Bonvoy Traveler features articles that cover cities, travel trends and insider tips worldwide. Boutique hotels, too, often run blogs highlighting nearby attractions.
How to approach: Smaller boutique hotels and luxury properties are often more approachable than giant chains. Reach out with a sample story idea like “The Perfect Weekend in [City], Starting at Your Hotel’s Front Door.” Hotels want copy that subtly says, “Stay here and you’ll experience this lifestyle.”
There are also opportunities beyond articles or blog posts in creating user-generated content (UGC) for hotel and hospitality brands. If your photography/videography skills and storytelling skills are strong, and you can evidence this in a portfolio or can mock-up pdf examples to show potential clients how you could help them promote their brand through your content, then this might be an area for you to explore.
3. Tour Companies & Experience Providers
Walking tours, adventure outfitters, cooking classes, safari lodges—these businesses live or die by how compelling their experiences sound. They need itinerary descriptions, blog posts, email campaigns, and behind-the-scenes features that spark bookings.
Example: Intrepid Travel’s blog is packed with first-person narratives and destination guides that make readers want to book tours and showcases stories that resonate on a deeply emotional level. Read their guidelines to understand exactly the type of content they look to publish.
Smaller companies—like a food tour operator—also need content for their sites and brochures.
How to approach: Find local or niche tour companies in destinations you know well. Offer to revamp their web copy or create engaging itineraries that highlight what sets them apart. Show them how professional writing can translate into more bookings.
4. Travel Tech & Apps
From booking platforms to trip-planning apps, travel tech is booming—and they need destination content, blog posts, and user guides written by people who understand how travellers think.
Example: Culture Trip needs writers to create destination guides. Apps like Roadtrippers, Tripadvisor, and Rome2Rio commission content that blends storytelling with utility.
How to approach: These companies often advertise freelance roles on job boards, but cold pitching can work too. Highlight your expertise as both a traveller and a writer who understands UX-friendly, reader-first content. Understand SEO? – then this is a good space for you. Offer to write guides that feel both inspiring and practical.
5. Lifestyle & Brand Partnerships
Think a bit wider: many brands outside of traditional travel—like luggage companies, outdoor gear makers, skincare brands, or even financial services—want to associate themselves with wanderlust and adventure. That means they hire writers to create blogs, branded content, campaign copy, and customer stories that tie their product to travel.
Example: Away (the luggage brand) published Here Magazine, essentially a travel magazine designed to connect readers with their brand, and now has The Away Pages (online blog full of travel content).
How to approach: Look at brands you already use when you travel. Ask yourself: how could you tie their product into a travel story? Then pitch a branded blog post, a “how-to” guide, or even a series of travel tips that show off their product in action.
Why This Matters
Magazines might give you prestige and credibility, but the wider world of travel writing clients often pays more, faster, and with less red tape. If your goal is to build a career that actually supports you—rather than just collecting impressive bylines—you need to look beyond the glossy spreads.
Ready to dive deeper?
If this feels exciting but you’re not sure where to start:
Grab my Travel Writer’s Starter Kit — it walks you through how to position yourself, find opportunities, and build a portfolio that gets noticed.
Already dreaming of pitching? Check out my Pitch Pack — with proven templates, sample pitches, and guidance to help you land your first (or next!) client.
Your travel writing career doesn’t have to wait for a magazine editor’s approval. There’s a world of clients out there who need your words—right now.
Laura McVeigh is an internationally bestselling Northern Irish novelist and travel writer. Her work is widely translated. She has authored books for Lonely Planet, DK Travel, bylines in the Irish Times, Irish Independent, featured by the BBC, Newsweek, New Internationalist & many more. A former CEO for a global writers’ organisation, she has worked with writers from 145 countries. She is founder of Travel-Writing.Com and Green Travel Guides. Laura writes on storytelling, travel writing and mindful travel on Substack.