Transform your itineraries with storytelling.

Being a travel designer is inherently creative. The art of crafting imaginative and compelling narratives to transport travellers to new destinations, serves as your distinctive beacon in the noisy world of tourism. Sometimes, creativity can be a drain, and you need some fresh ideas. So, dive into our selection of useful strategies for enhancing your storytelling prowess.

Infuse your brand persona.

First things first, it’s imperative to consider the persona that your travel brand embodies. Think of your brand as a character with its own unique traits, values, and voice. Integrating your brand personality into your storytelling narratives ensures consistency, and gives authenticity to your offering. It might be a touch of elegance, a spirit of adventure, or a commitment to sustainability. Let those defining characteristics shape your stories. When travellers sense that your brand persona resonates throughout their journey, it creates a coherent and memorable experience that sets you apart in a competitive landscape.

The power of words.

Whether it’s writing item descriptions, captioning a social media post, or even describing an offering in a sales email, your choice of language is crucial. The words you choose might be the difference between painting a compelling picture for your potential clients, or unfortunately, missing the mark. 

Rather than just describing an activity or accommodation, for example, elevate it by embellishing, incorporating enticing hooks, and diving a little deeper:

Through the artful use of words, travel designers have the ability to turn each aspect of an itinerary into a story waiting to be explored.

Give it a personal touch.

Harnessing emotion and evoking connection are essential skills when crafting stories that resonate with people. Integrating personal stories is a fantastic way to do that, as research shows that consumers deeply crave connection to place, people, and past. As travel designers, leveraging personal storytelling effectively bridges the gap between the traveller and their destination, enhancing the likelihood of booking with your company, and importantly, fostering enduring loyalty in return visits and recommendations. 

Below are a few strategies you might want to implement into your offering:

• Shift the narrative by infusing your own stories and travel anecdotes. This approach will not only impart a unique perspective, but also showcases your expertise and familiarity with the itineraries you curate. 
• Amplify a local perspective. Elevate your storytelling by sharing the insight of locals, who really are the experts when it comes to understanding a region. Hearing their stories can empower travellers to forge deeper connections with their chosen destinations.
• Similarly, sharing local stories, legends, and traditions will provide travellers with a tantalising glimpse into the character of their chosen destination. 

Let those who have been before tell their stories. Leveraging user-generated content has been validated as an effective approach that resonates with audiences.

Consider your imagery.

It might seem obvious, but visual imagery evokes emotions, builds anticipation, and plays a pivotal role in converting interest into bookings. Images and videos can describe aspects of the itinerary and give customers more insight into the destinations they are booking. However, they also have power as storytelling features in and of themselves. 

Rather than adding a couple of descriptive photos to your itinerary, think about the role they play within the story. Each image and video serves as a visual chapter, conveying not only the scenery but also the ambiance, emotions, and experiences that await. Just as carefully chosen words shape the narrative, every visual element contributes to the overarching story, so it’s important to think about how these aspects complement one another, and the bigger picture.

Be strategic.

When considering the journey from lead to client, it’s essential to align your methods of storytelling delivery with each stage. There are essentially three channels through which potential travellers might be captivated by your storytelling: Here’s how to effectively leverage these channels in a cohesive way: 

• TikTok and Instagram: These platforms are your initial touchpoints, and demand a hook that captures attention quickly. Here, bite-sized visual stories are your go-to, enticing customers to explore further. This might be where you centre the destination, focussing on showcasing the unique culture travellers will encounter, the community they will meet and the experiences they can enjoy. 
• The website: Your website functions as the canvas for your overarching story. Here, you have the opportunity to showcase your personal touch. Build a narrative that weaves together the essence of your brand, the destinations, and the unique experiences you offer. 
• The itinerary: As leads become clients, the itinerary becomes a personal embodiment of their narrative. Tailor the journey to their preferences and aspirations, bringing them in as the main characters of the story. 

AI can help.

Creative writing can be daunting. Sometimes we just aren’t in the right headspace to craft awe-inspiring item descriptions, and captivating Instagram captions. Luckily, there are artificial intelligence tools that you can utilise to help you do this. Chat GPT can be a fantastic tool for travel designers.

If you have already had a play around with Chat GPT, you might know that sometimes the language it comes out with is a bit verbose and lacks a human touch. A useful tip is instead of requesting an entire paragraph. Have a go yourself, and then consult Chat GPT for refining or rephrasing your content. Our example below, shows how Chat GPT can enhance your writing and give you further inspiration. 

In the realm of travel design, crafting narratives that captivate and resonate is an art that merges imagination and strategy. By infusing your brand persona, mastering the power of words, adding a personal touch, harnessing imagery, and being strategic in your storytelling delivery, you can shape journeys that leave an indelible mark on your audience.