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TikTok has long been a place to daydream about vacations. Now it wants to be the place where you actually book them and get rewarded for promoting them.
In a bold new move into the travel and e-commerce space, TikTok has launched an in-app hotel booking feature through a partnership with Booking.com, allowing users to reserve rooms directly within the app. In tandem, the company is rolling out a new creator monetization program called TikTok Go, giving influencers the opportunity to earn commissions or perks for promoting venues and destinations.
This dual push commerce plus creator empowerment could mark a turning point for how Gen Z and Millennial users plan trips, engage with travel content, and even turn wanderlust into income.
Scroll, Book, Go: TikTok’s Booking Feature Goes Live
TikTok’s hotel booking feature is now live in limited testing for U.S. users, allowing travelers to browse and book hotel rooms directly on the platform. Partnering with Booking.com, the new integration lets users input travel dates and browse rates, amenities, reviews, and nearby attractions on dedicated hotel landing pages.
Even more, the feature is layered with TikTok's native strengths: video content and social engagement. Each hotel’s page includes user-generated videos, allowing potential guests to see what their stay might actually look like and maybe even find a familiar influencer showing off the breakfast buffet.
Travelers can also tag hotels in their videos, adding a viral layer to travel marketing that extends far beyond static listings on traditional travel sites.
Introducing TikTok Go: A New Way for Creators to Earn
In addition to booking functionality, TikTok is rolling out TikTok Go, a performance-based affiliate marketing platform that gives influencers the chance to earn commissions or perks like vouchers for promoting local businesses starting with hotels.
A TikTok spokesperson confirmed the expansion of TikTok Go into the U.S., though Booking.com declined to comment on the partnership.
Under TikTok Go, creators can access a dashboard of local merchants including hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues with specific promotional tasks, such as creating and posting a video. If the creator drives a booking or sale, they earn a commission. Think of it as an Airbnb-meets-Influencer-Marketing hybrid, powered by TikTok’s unique discovery engine.
Creators must meet basic requirements:
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Be 18 years or older
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Have at least 1,000 followers
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Maintain an account in good standing
These relatively low thresholds open the door for micro-influencers, a rapidly growing segment that often commands high engagement rates despite smaller audiences.
Why This Could Be Big for Creators And TikTok
While TikTok has already launched various e-commerce tools like TikTok Shop for products and in-video ticketing through platforms like Ticketmaster and Fandango TikTok Go represents a new type of opportunity: driving traffic to offline, local businesses.
For creators in the travel space, this could be a significant new revenue stream, especially as travel returns in force post-pandemic.
“I think the program's cool,” said Amanda Dishman, a travel creator who runs the family blog Salty Vagabonds and recently gained access to TikTok Go.
“They slashed the barrier to entry in half and really made it accessible to a lot more people.”
Of course, commission-based rewards for higher-ticket items like hotel stays may not be as frequent or scalable as those from TikTok Shop, where creators routinely earn by selling low-cost goods like T-shirts or beauty products. Still, the trust and visual proof of a creator staying at a destination offers a powerful form of social validation and may drive highly motivated bookings.
TikTok’s Bigger Bet on Local Discovery and Travel Commerce
TikTok's hotel integration also plays into its broader local discovery strategy. The platform has been quietly building Yelp-like tools, such as a “Places” tab that allows users to explore restaurants, attractions, and hotels. TikTokers can leave reviews, earn explorer badges, and bookmark destinations a clear sign that the platform is going beyond entertainment and into the utility space.
For many Gen Z and younger Millennials, TikTok has already replaced Google or TripAdvisor for initial trip inspiration. With the ability to now book those locations directly, TikTok is streamlining the travel funnel from curiosity to checkout all within the same feed.
Add in its heavy investment in influencer marketing, and TikTok is well-positioned to become a serious travel commerce player, blending immersive content with shoppable outcomes.
With this latest move, TikTok isn’t just chasing viral trends it’s transforming into a full-fledged commerce engine, enabling creators to monetize content in more meaningful ways while offering users the convenience of booking experiences without leaving the app.
From hotel bookings to creator commissions, TikTok Go may be the platform’s next breakout feature and a signal that travel and tech are more connected than ever.
