I’m sure many travel writers have encountered a situation where they have been offered a ‘media rate’ by hotels, airlines and tour operators. And I’m sure many of us have struggled to know how to word the most appropriate response.
Well never fear – just alter the details on this template letter to suit your individual circumstances and e-mail it straight back.
Template letter
Dear marketing manager of hotel/ airline/ tour operator X,
Thank you for your kind offer of a media rate for me to come and write about your hotel/ airline/ tour. The price of $xxx is indeed a generous one – only slightly more expensive, I note, than the one that I can obtain by booking directly through your website.
Despite finding the room/ flight/ tour cheaper on third party booking engines, I would be delighted to take you up on the media rate. Taking your offer in the spirit it was intended, I am pleased to let you know that the level of coverage for your direct competitor will only be slightly higher than I originally intended it to be.
I can also confirm that the lengthy factbox mention you have insisted goes along with the article will only be slightly shorter than the seven words I was initially going to cut it down to. I will also ensure that the level of accuracy I apply to your phone number and URL will only be slightly more careless.
Yours sincerely,
Writer X
Tags: airlines, hotel, tours, travel pr, Travel Writing
Dear Marketing Manager,
And of course there will be no problem with including extensive coverage (with photos) of the fascinating conference facilities and exciting breakfast buffet at your hotel in my piece on Baroque architecture in xxx
Fantastic!
I’ve seen rates be a bit more than just ‘slightly’ higher too, especially when run through some of the more aggressive comparison sites for the same hotel.
I’m copying this into my ‘drafts’ folder