Luxury travel agents share Instagram hacks for increasing sales and winning clients

As the most visual of the major social media brands, Instagram is a natural fit for inspiring travel content. 

Unsurprisingly, agents who prioritise the platform are reaping the rewards. Travel Counsellor Sarah Holstead says she receives new business from Instagram on a weekly basis, attracting 3,800 followers over the past four years. Some were existing clients; others came onboard because an account they followed shared her content or friends tagged them into holidays they thought they’d like. 

“You’re penalised [by the algorithms] on Instagram if you don’t show up consistently, so I ensure I show up most days. If I don’t for two or three days, my engagement falls off a cliff,” Holstead explains. “It’s more chatty than other social media platforms, so you can build a rapport.” But she warns conversions are a slow burner: “They’ll watch you for a while, about a year, before interacting.”