Travel Industry Email Marketing: Templates and Tips

✈️ Why Email Marketing Matters in Travel

The travel industry thrives on inspiration, trust, and timing—three things email marketing does incredibly well. Whether you’re a travel agency, tour operator, airline, or booking platform, email can:

• Build anticipation for travel

• Nurture leads with personalized offers

• Recover abandoned bookings

• Drive loyalty and repeat trips

📊 Travel Email Marketing Stats

• 66% of travelers prefer email as the primary communication channel.

• Email open rates for the travel industry average around 20–25%.

• Triggered emails (abandoned carts, price drops) have 2–3x higher CTR than general campaigns.

🧭 Types of Travel Emails

1. Welcome Series

Trigger when someone subscribes or creates an account.

Purpose: Make a strong first impression and set expectations.

Example Content:

• “Explore the world with us – what’s your dream destination?”

• Introduction to services and customer testimonials

2. Inspirational / Destination Emails

Showcase dream destinations, local secrets, or trending spots.

Purpose: Drive desire and browsing behavior.

Example Content:

• “5 Hidden Beaches in Thailand You’ll Love”

• “Why Iceland Is 2025’s Most Magical Trip”

3. Time-Sensitive Deals

Promote limited-time discounts or flash sales.

Purpose: Create urgency and spike bookings.

Example Content:

• “📆 72-Hour Sale: Save 30% on Summer Escapes”

• “Book by Friday and get 1 night free in Bali”

4. Abandoned Search or Booking Reminders

Trigger when someone views a trip but doesn’t book.

Purpose: Recover potential customers.

Example Content:

• “Still dreaming of Paris?”

• “Rooms are going fast – finish booking your Lisbon trip”

5. Pre-Trip Emails

Send after a booking is made.

Purpose: Reduce anxiety and boost satisfaction.

Example Content:

• “Your Italy trip checklist 🧳”

• “Top 5 restaurants near your hotel in Rome”

6. Post-Trip Emails

Follow-up once a customer returns.

Purpose: Get reviews, re-engage, or upsell future trips.

Example Content:

• “How was your trip to Croatia? Tell us!”

• “Where to next? Get 15% off your next adventure”

7. Loyalty / Re-Engagement Emails

Target inactive subscribers or loyal customers.

Purpose: Bring them back or reward their loyalty.

Example Content:

• “We miss you! Here’s 10% off your next trip 🌍”

• “Exclusive for Members: Early Access to Fall Getaways”

✏️ High-Converting Travel Email Templates

📨 Template 1: Welcome Email

Subject Line: Welcome to [Brand Name] – Where Will You Go First?

Body:

Hi [First Name],

We’re thrilled to have you on board. Whether you’re dreaming of sunny beaches, mountain escapes, or cultural cities, we’ve got the perfect journey waiting.

🧭 Start exploring top destinations
✈️ Get exclusive travel tips & offers
💬 Have a question? Our travel pros are here to help

👉 [Start Planning Now]

Let’s make your next adventure unforgettable.

– The [Brand Name] Team

🧳 Template 2: Destination Inspiration

Subject Line: 3 European Cities You’ve (Probably) Overlooked 🇪🇺

Body:

Think you’ve seen it all in Europe? Think again.

Discover hidden gems that offer charm, culture, and fewer crowds:

🏰 Tallinn, Estonia – Fairytale Old Town vibes
🚤 Ljubljana, Slovenia – Venice without the chaos
🌲 Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Europe’s oldest inhabited city

✈️ Ready for your next underrated adventure?

[Explore Hidden Cities]

⏳ Template 3: Limited-Time Deal

Subject Line: 🚨 48-Hour Flash Sale – Up to 40% Off Maldives Resorts!

Body:

Dreaming of turquoise waters and luxury stays? Don’t wait.

For the next 48 hours, enjoy up to 40% off all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives.

✅ Beachfront villas
✅ Private butlers
✅ Free airport transfers

📅 Travel between June–September

[Book Now] – Availability is limited!

📝 Template 4: Post-Trip Follow-Up

Subject Line: How was your trip to Greece? 🇬🇷

Body:

Welcome back, [First Name]!

We hope your journey to Greece was everything you imagined.

We’d love to hear your thoughts—your feedback helps future travelers too.

📝 [Leave a Review]

PS: Planning your next trip? Here’s a special 15% off code just for you: WELCOMEHOME15

[Explore Destinations]

💡 Tips for Effective Travel Emails

✅ Personalization

• Use the recipient’s name

• Tailor content to location, preferences, past bookings

📸 Visual Appeal

• High-res imagery or video thumbnails

• Consistent brand colors and tone

🧭 Mobile Optimization

• Over 60% of travel emails are opened on mobile

• Use short subject lines (under 50 characters)

⏱ Timing Matters

• Send destination emails midweek

• Flash sales do well Monday or Thursday mornings

• Follow-ups should be within 48–72 hours post-trip

🔁 Automation Opportunities

• Welcome series

• Abandoned booking flows

• Birthday/anniversary offers

• Seasonal travel ideas based on previous bookings

🔍 Travel Email Marketing KPIs

🛠 Recommended Tools for Travel Email Marketing

• Mailchimp / Moosend / ConvertKit – Easy to use, great automation

• ActiveCampaign – Advanced segmentation and lead scoring

• Klaviyo – Good for ecommerce-style travel businesses

• Litmus / Email on Acid – Email testing across devices

• Canva – Visuals for headers, banners, and buttons

📌 Final Thoughts

Email marketing is one of the most effective channels for travel brands to inspire, engage, and convert customers—if done right. By aligning your emails with the traveler’s journey and segmenting your audience properly, you can create personalized, timely, and irresistible experiences.