How to Get Featured in Travel + Leisure Using HARO
A Travel + Leisure backlink (DA 91) is worth more than 50 directory links. Here's the exact strategy travel brands use to get featured in premium publications through HARO.
The Problem: You want backlinks from Travel + Leisure, Forbes Travel, or Condé Nast Traveler. But these publications don't accept guest posts. They don't respond to cold outreach. They only quote established experts you can't access.
The Solution: Premium publications use HARO to find expert sources. When Travel + Leisure needs quotes about sustainable tourism or luxury travel trends, they post HARO queries. You can respond. They don't care whether you paid £5,000 to a PR agency—they care whether you can answer their question.
Here's how travel brands actually get featured in premium publications through HARO.
Why Premium Publications Use HARO
Travel + Leisure publishes 15-20 articles daily. Each needs 3-5 expert quotes. That's 45-100 expert sources needed every single day. They can't rely on their existing rolodex—they need fresh perspectives constantly.
Speed
HARO gets them 50-100 responses within 6 hours. Faster than calling PR agencies or hunting LinkedIn.
Variety
They get perspectives from boutique operators, startups, and specialists they'd never find otherwise.
Quality
Real experts with specific data beat generic agency spokespeople every time.
What Makes Premium Publication Queries Different
Not all HARO queries are equal. Premium publications write different queries than small blogs. Spotting the difference helps you prioritize.
| Query Type | Premium Publications | Smaller Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline | "Need responses by 2pm EST today" | "Collecting responses this week" |
| Specificity | "Looking for data on luxury travellers aged 55-70" | "Looking for travel experts" |
| Requirements | Lists 4-5 specific questions to answer | Open-ended "share your thoughts" |
| Attribution | Asks for headshot and specific title | Just needs your name and website |
When you see tight deadlines, specific requirements, and detailed questions—that's likely a premium publication. Prioritize these.
The Premium Publication Pitch Formula
Standard HARO pitches work for blogs. Premium publications require more sophistication. Here's what they actually select:
1. Lead With Quantifiable Expertise
Don't say "luxury travel expert." Say "CEO of a luxury tour operator that organised 240 trips averaging £12,000 per booking in 2024."
❌ Weak:
"I'm a luxury travel consultant"
✅ Strong:
"I design bespoke luxury itineraries, average client spend £15,000"
2. Answer Every Single Question
Premium publications list specific questions in their query. Answer ALL of them. If they ask 5 questions, provide 5 distinct answers. Skipping questions gets you rejected.
3. Include Trend Data or Statistics
"Luxury bookings increased 34% year-over-year" beats "luxury travel is growing." Travel + Leisure loves specific numbers that support narratives.
4. Write Publication-Ready Quotes
Read recent Travel + Leisure articles. Notice the quote style? Sophisticated but accessible. Not academic jargon. Not casual blog speak. Match their tone.
5. Respond Within 2 Hours
Premium publications have tighter deadlines. "Need by 2pm EST" means they're choosing sources by 1pm. Speed matters more for high-tier publications.
Real Example: Travel + Leisure Winning Pitch
This pitch earned a sustainable tour operator a quote in Travel + Leisure's "Future of Eco-Tourism" feature. Notice the specific structure:
Subject: Eco-Tourism Data from 300+ Sustainable Tours (2024)
Hi Jennifer,
I saw your query about eco-tourism trends for 2025. As founder of GreenWander Tours, I organised 312 carbon-neutral trips in 2024 and tracked detailed customer preferences.
Your Questions Answered:
1. What percentage of travellers prioritise sustainability?
"67% of our 2024 customers specifically requested carbon offset certificates before booking. This jumped from 34% in 2023. They're not just asking if trips are sustainable—they want proof."
2. How much more are people willing to pay?
"Our average booking includes a £147 carbon offset fee. 89% of customers opt in without hesitation. The key is showing exactly what it funds—we send certificates showing their trip planted 47 trees in Thailand."
3. What destinations see the most eco-conscious bookings?
"Portugal leads at 23% of bookings, followed by Costa Rica (19%) and Iceland (16%). Travellers choose these because they can verify eco-certifications easily."
Happy to provide our full 2024 dataset or customer survey results if helpful. I've attached a headshot as requested.
Best,
Emma Chen
Founder, GreenWander Tours
Featured
in: The Telegraph, National Geographic Traveller UK
greenwander.co.uk
emma@greenwander.co.uk
✅ Why This Worked:
- • Specific credentials with numbers (312 trips, not "many")
- • Answered all three questions completely
- • Every answer included specific data/percentages
- • Quotes were publication-ready (no editing needed)
- • Mentioned previous premium placements (social proof)
- • Responded within 90 minutes of query posting
Common Mistakes That Lose Premium Placements
Generic Credentials
"Travel industry professional with 15 years experience" sounds like everyone else. Premium publications want unique angles: "I surveyed 500 luxury travellers about post-COVID preferences" stands out.
Partial Answers
Query asks 4 questions, you answer 2. Rejected. They need all questions answered to build their article. Answer everything or skip the query entirely.
No Previous Placements Mentioned
If you've been featured in credible publications before, mention it. "Previously featured in The Telegraph, Forbes Travel" signals you're a reliable source. Omitting this wastes social proof.
Missing Deadlines
"Need by 2pm EST" means 2pm, not 2:30pm. Premium publications work to strict schedules. Late pitches get ignored, no matter how good they are.
Want Premium Publication Strategies?
Our HARO Travel Backlink Blueprint course includes advanced modules specifically for targeting Travel + Leisure, Forbes Travel, and Condé Nast. Learn the query patterns, pitch formulas, and timing strategies that work for premium placements.
Premium Publication Questions
Start Targeting Premium Publications
Getting featured in Travel + Leisure or Forbes Travel through HARO isn't luck. It's understanding their query patterns, matching their sophistication level, and responding faster than 99% of other pitches.
Start with mid-tier publications to build your pitch quality. Once you're getting 25-30% success rates on standard queries, start targeting premium ones. Your success rate will drop to 5-15%, but the SEO value is 10x higher.
Want the complete premium publication strategy? Our HARO course includes advanced modules specifically for Travel + Leisure, Forbes, and Condé Nast. Or explore our link building service where we handle premium HARO pitching for you.
Either way, stop settling for low-tier backlinks. Premium publications use HARO. You can get featured.