A portfolio to get you started
What to include and how to show a hotel the value you can bring.
COMING SOON · YOUR NEXT DESTINATION.
The Travel
Playbook
You already capture your travels.
Why not turn that creativity into hotel partnerships?
NOTIFY ME
HOTEL STAYS · BEAUTIFUL CONTENT · PAID COOPERATION
CREATE BEAUTIFUL CONTENTEXPLORE NEW PLACESPITCH YOUR NEXT PARTNERSHIP
01 / YOU ALREADY HAVE A START
Your phone holds
more possibilities
than you think.
Morning coffee on the balcony. A beautiful room. Light you want to remember. You already notice these moments, take photos, and share your experiences.
The next step is learning how to turn that perspective into content you can offer a hotel — for its social channels, website, or your own audience.
What if your next trip became your first creative project?MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. MAKE IT VALUABLE.
02 / START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
You don’t need
to wait for
100,000 followers.
01
Start with your phone
Use your smartphone to create your first portfolio pieces. Learn to work with light, composition, and a simple story.
02
Show your perspective
With UGC, you offer the hotel the content itself. A small audience doesn’t stop you from building a strong portfolio.
03
Make the first move
Choose a hotel, develop an idea, and send a proposal. The guide gives you a structure and templates to make getting started easier.
JK
03 / A NOTE FROM JEANNA
For me, this is
part of my work.
I’m Jeanna Kotenko, a fashion, beauty & lifestyle creator based in Los Angeles. I work with brands and hotels to create visual stories about style, beauty, and travel.
My experience includes W Hotels, Four Seasons, Belmond El Encanto, Acqualina Miami, and Grand Beach. I know that beautiful content is only part of the process — your first email, a clear proposal, and agreed details matter just as much.
Jeanna
THE IDEA BEHIND THIS PLAYBOOK
Make the journey from
“I’d love to do that”
to your first pitch
clearer and simpler.
The essential steps and messages, ready to adapt to your own approach. Concise, practical, and with room for your personal style.
04 / WHAT’S INSIDE
Less guesswork.
More actionable steps.
Hotels and the right contacts
How to find places that fit your style and reach their marketing or PR teams.
Messages you can make your own
Your first email, DMs, follow-ups, discussing your fee, and confirming the details.
Planning, terms & content
What to agree on before your trip, how to prepare your shoot, and how to wrap up the project.
6 CONCISE CHAPTERS · 5 TEMPLATES · YOUR NEXT STEP
05 / MORE THAN ONE POSSIBILITY
Beautiful stays. Content.
And the opportunity to earn.
HOSTED STAY
A stay in exchange for content
Agree on a stay in exchange for specific photos, videos, or posts. Discuss all included expenses before you travel.
HOTEL UGC
Your creativity is a service
Create content for the hotel’s own channels. Offer content production as a paid service.
STAY + FEE
A stay and a creative fee
Discuss a project that includes accommodation and payment for an agreed scope of work.
06 / A FEW THINGS YOU MAY BE WONDERING
What if I’m just getting started?
Is this for me if I have a small audience?
Yes. You can start with UGC — creating content for the hotel itself. Your portfolio and the quality of your work matter here. If you offer posts on your own account, the hotel will also consider your audience and reach.
Do I need a professional camera?
You can start with your phone. Focus on light, steady shots, clean sound, and editing. Choose equipment to suit the project and the hotel’s requirements.
Is this only about complimentary stays?
No. The guide covers hosted stays, paid UGC, and stays with a creative fee. These are different types of partnerships, with terms agreed individually with each hotel.
How will I know when the guide launches?
Click Notify Me and leave your email. I’ll let you know when The Travel Playbook is available. Joining the waitlist is free.
