Plannin: A New Way to Monetize Travel Recommendations

Introduction
Plannin is a global travel booking platform created by former Priceline executives Andrew Loewen and Randy Schartner. The platform allows creators to monetize their hotel recommendations and share travel-focused content with their audience.
Empowering Creators
- Plannin aims to leverage the growing creator economy, estimated to generate $250 billion in revenue, by using influencers as an alternative to traditional travel agents.
- Creators can share their travel experiences, hotel recommendations, and photos with their followers and earn income through affiliate links.
Lifetime Commission Model
- Creators receive a 5% lifetime commission on their referrals, ensuring continuous earnings as long as the referred account remains active.
- This unique commission model recognizes that travel bookings are not impulsive and can take place days after the initial referral.
Authentic Recommendations
- Plannin places creators at the forefront, offering authentic recommendations from influencers that travelers trust and relate to.
- The platform currently has over 600 influencers and 5,000 posts with 1,500 recommendations, ensuring a diverse range of content for users.
Partnership and Expansion
- Plannin has partnered with Booking Holdings, which owns popular platforms like Priceline, Agoda, and Booking.com, to offer access to over 2 million hotels worldwide.
- The platform plans to expand its services to include restaurant recommendations, tours, attractions, and activities, partnering with GetYourGuide and OpenTable to provide a comprehensive trip experience.
Future Features
- For enhanced user experience, Plannin will introduce "Trip Boards" where creators can curate full itineraries with recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and activities in one place.
- This feature will allow influencers to showcase their travel experiences in a visually appealing and organized manner.
Funding and Growth
- Plannin secured $2.5 million in funding last year from investors like Golden Ventures and former Booking Holdings CEO Jeffery Boyd.
- The company is currently seeking additional venture capital to support its growth and upcoming official launch.
In conclusion, Plannin offers a fresh approach to travel booking by empowering creators to monetize their recommendations and provide travelers with authentic and personalized travel content.