What starts as a scroll-worthy POV can now end in a booking, thanks to TikTok Travel Ads built from the ground up for travel advertisers, which is TikTok’s latest announcement for travel brands.
In a few words, it turns everyday travel content into actionable journeys and travel brands can finally bridge inspiration and conversion with TikTok Travel Ads.
It’s only about time they’ve developed this new feature, since we already know TikTok has become the world’s favorite travel guide, with 84% of users watching travel content at least once a month and 66% saying it’s their #1 source of inspiration.
Now TikTok is making it easier than ever for advertisers to turn that discovery into bookings. Let me help you discover how!
TikTok Travel Ads, powered by Smart+, is a catalog-based performance solution built specifically for travel advertisers. Think of it as your all-in-one toolkit to automatically promote hotels, flights, and destinations at scale with personalized, catalog-integrated creatives that adjust to each traveler’s journey.
Unlike generic ad solutions, Travel Ads use travel-specific optimization models. These models are trained to recognize high-intent audiences, users who are actively exploring, planning, or ready to book, and match them with the right offer based on their browsing behaviors, in-market signals, and preferences. The result? More relevant ads, higher engagement, and stronger campaign performance.
When considering this type of ad, these are some of the main benefits you’ll get:
Every TikTok Travel Ad comes with interactive travel cards, clickable overlays that give viewers the exact details they need to move from dreaming to booking. Think of them as mini booking engines inside your ad. Each card can showcase:
Surfacing these key details in real time is what helps travelers make smarter, faster decisions without ever leaving the TikTok experience.
This design keeps the ad experience fluid, native, and highly actionable.
Make sure your catalog includes rich data, such as names, prices, ratings, etc., so your cards provide real value.
Highlight discounts or perks (like “free breakfast” or “20% off”) in your first few cards to capture attention fast.
Pair your influencer-driven video with cards that reinforce the narrative (e.g., a creator raves about a hotel, and the card shows its price and rating).
Place your strongest offers upfront and use analytics to see which card placements drive the most clicks.
Remember, cards appear alongside video. Use them to complement, not overwhelm, the creative.
TikTok Travel Ads aren’t one-size-fits-all. You have three powerful formats to choose from, each designed to showcase your hotels, flights, or destinations in ways that maximize engagement and conversions.
Upload a standard video during campaign setup. Up to 10 travel cards are dynamically pulled from your catalog and overlaid on the video.
Cards appear 2 seconds into the video and auto-slide every 4 seconds, keeping attention high.
It’s perfect for immersive storytelling, pair an influencer’s POV with dynamic cards that show prices, routes, or property details in real time.
Video assets are uploaded directly into your catalog and tied to a single product item (e.g., one hotel, flight, or destination).
It’s a dynamic overlay. A single travel card is generated from the catalog, reinforcing the featured product with details like price or availability.
This is great for deep dives into specific offerings, whether you’re spotlighting a luxury property, a flight route, or a trending destination.
TikTok dynamically pulls images from your catalog to create a swipeable carousel. Each image includes a clickable product tag that links to your catalog.
Since it’s built for engagement it requires looping background music and one caption across all images, creating a seamless, scroll-stopping format.
Perfect for variety-driven campaigns, showcase multiple destinations, hotel options, or bundled offers in a single ad.
Before choosing one, keep in mind that each format is optimized for different moments in the traveler journey:
For brands and agencies, the real value is flexibility. You can mix formats across campaigns to match intent, reduce fatigue, and guide travelers smoothly from “wow” to “book now.”
For travel brands, in particular, OTAs, and even lifestyle creators, this means:
Expedia, Vrbo, and Hotels.com are already onboard, using Travel Ads to meet travelers right where the inspiration strikes.
Update your hotel, flight, or package details regularly. Dynamic creatives are only as good as the data you feed them.
Pair your catalog with authentic influencer POVs or UGC-style video for a native, scroll-stopping feel.
Use your catalog to highlight different products for different audience segments (e.g., luxury hotels vs. budget stays).
Experiment with Single Video, Catalog Video, and Carousel to see which drives the most conversions for your audience.
Track bookings, conversion lift, and repeat engagement to prove the ROI of your campaigns.