Here Are Travel Brands Doing Instagram Right

When is a picture worth more than a thousand words? Here’s one answer: When travel suppliers and travel sellers leverage Instagram effectively to connect with consumers.

Instagram has become a popular way for consumers to share their lives with one another and for brands to share their products, attitude and brand values with consumers. The service is an especially powerful tool for lifestyle brands looking to show the kinds of experiences they provide.

Here are a few examples of how top travel brands and other travel players are using Instagram to reach consumers. For agents, these examples also show the kind of popular content you may want to use on your own Instagram page.

Airlines have fun on Instagram
Virgin America, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are three of the most visible airline brands on Instagram and the social web. But they don’t post frequently, and especially not on Instagram.

When they do post an image or video, they make the most of it. Southwest likes to post images tied into world events, for instance:

Virgin America tends to play with the image of its gregarious owner:

And JetBlue has fun with video:

For its part, Air New Zealand knows how to bring fun to potential flyers:

TSA seeks kudos with canines
While thoughts of the Transportation Safety Administration may conjure images of uniformed men and women overseeing airport safety, the organization has taken a slightly different tack with its presence on Instagram.

Alongside images of confiscated weapons and contraband, the TSA also shows its softer, canine side:

Hero dog trading cards may also be in the offing:

Cruise lines lead with imagery
While cruise line Instagram pages may not have as many followers as the airlines, they do an effective job of showing off their ships and enticing cruisers in the process.

Carnival posts copious photos of its fleet, enticing future cruisers to chime in with their vacation plans:

Royal Caribbean posts every day, including imagery of shore excursions and other adventures:

Norwegian Cruise Lines asks cruisers to share their vacations under the hashtag #cruiselikeanorwegian. Their most recent call garnered more than 20,000 responses.

Globetrotting photographers dazzle
Some of the most interesting travel photos come from professional photographers or travel experts who are constantly exploring the world.

Professional photographers like Dave and Deb offer stunning views from around the globe:

National Geographic’s digital nomad Andrew Evans regularly updates his Instagram page with destination photos that can offer your clients inspiration:

The next time you are on the road, consider posting a snapshot to Instagram; you never know who will be watching. Or go one step further and map out an Instagram strategy for your agency, then make it happen.

Editor’s note: Has your agency used Instagram successfully? Are there supplier images on Instagram that struck a chord with you? Drop us a line and let us know, at editorial@travelmarketreport.com.

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