There was a time when travel-related brands heavily relied on influencers to sell a fantasy. These partnerships often resulted in a Facetuned photograph of a popular figure on a sandy beach, standing in crystal-clear waters with a candy-colored cocktail. Or they could be seen enjoying a picturesque view from their fancy hotel room, perhaps quietly anticipating all the other Instagram-ready moments that lied ahead. Regardless, the center of these curated moments were rarely the brand or even the influencer themselves; it was aspiration.
