As the creator economy continues to gain momentum, estimated to generate $250 billion in revenue, Plannin is poised to put a unique twist on travel booking. Founded by Andrew Loewen and Randy Schartner, co-founders of Hotelsbycity.com and former Priceline executives, Plannin is a global travel booking platform that empowers creators to monetize their hotel recommendations and share travel-focused content.
A New Approach to Travel Booking
Plannin aims to disrupt the traditional travel booking model by leveraging the power of influencers. By partnering with creators who have built trust with their audience, Plannin provides travelers with authentic recommendations from people they know and trust. This approach is particularly appealing in an era where consumers are increasingly seeking personalized experiences.
How Plannin Works
The platform allows creators to share their travel experiences, including hotel reviews and photos, on social media platforms. To earn income, they share an affiliate link across these platforms for their followers to sign up on Plannin. Meanwhile, travelers can access thousands of creator recommendations and directly book hotels through the platform.
"We believe that one recommendation from the right person is worth more than 1,000 anonymous reviews," said Loewen in an interview with TechCrunch. "It’s about helping people experience travel through creators they trust."
The Lifetime Commission Model
What sets Plannin apart from other travel booking platforms is its lifetime commission model. Creators earn a 5% commission on bookings made through their affiliate link, even if the traveler doesn’t book that day. This approach recognizes that travel planning is often a long-term process, with many bookings happening weeks or months after initial account creation.
"Many of our bookings happen between 15 to 60 days after the original account is created," explained Loewen. "Our lifetime commission model allows creators to earn from their audience even if they don’t book that day."
The Benefits of Influencer-Powered Recommendations
By placing creators at the forefront, Plannin ensures a steady flow of content and traffic to the platform. This approach also benefits travelers, who can rely on authentic recommendations from influencers they know and trust.
However, some may question whether honest reviews can come from influencers driven by financial gain. Schartner, former president of the Priceline Partner Network, doesn’t think it will be a problem.
"You would assume that they would give an honest review because it’s to their audience," he said. "Most people wouldn’t lie or mislead on their personal socials because they have a deeper connection with their audience."
Plannin’s Onboarding Process
To ensure high-quality content and recommendations, Plannin has implemented a rigorous onboarding process. The company requires creators to have more than 10,000 followers but may also consider micro-influencers who specialize in travel-focused content.
As of now, Plannin has onboarded over 600 influencers, with about 5,000 posts and 1,500 recommendations on the platform.
Search Capabilities and Partnerships
Plannin’s search capabilities feature over 2 million hotels worldwide. The platform is partnered with Booking Holdings, which owns Priceline, Agoda, Booking.com, and OpenTable.
In addition to its partnerships, Plannin plans to integrate more features and services in the coming months. These include:
- Improved search functionality
- Personalized recommendations
- Enhanced user experience
Conclusion
Plannin is revolutionizing travel booking by leveraging the power of influencers. By providing authentic recommendations from people travelers know and trust, Plannin is changing the way people plan their trips.
As the creator economy continues to grow, Plannin is poised to capitalize on this trend. With its unique approach to travel booking and lifetime commission model, Plannin is an exciting development in the travel industry.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends in the travel industry by subscribing to our newsletter. Each week, we’ll bring you the most important stories and insights from around the web.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve. Subscribe now and start receiving our newsletter today!
