How Lisa Wei Leveraged Her Love for Travel to Build a Diverse Influencer Career
Jan. 20 2024, Published 5:11 p.m. ET
Last edited Sept 9, 2024.
Content creators worldwide are increasingly turning their passion for travel into paid opportunities. Among them, Lisa Wei stands out as a distinguished influencer who has successfully navigated the travel niche while maintaining influential brand collaborations in sectors such as beauty, lifestyle, jewelry, and fashion. Her journey is particularly notable for its unique trajectory, marked by a strategic evolution from personal to professional content and the expansion of her brand through significant collaborations, audience targeting, and broadening influence.
Inspiration and Corporate Experience
In 2017, while studying abroad as an exchange student in Milan, Italy, Wei seized the chance to document her six-month European travels. This pivotal experience inspired her to transition her Instagram account from a personal to a professional one, aiming to cultivate a presence as a content creator. Initially, her aspiration was to explore the world, reflected in her creative username "getawei," a play on her last name "Wei" and the concept of a getaway.
Recognizing that building a loyal following requires time and effort, Lisa entered the corporate sector in Canada, joining a major telecommunications firm for two years while keeping her dream alive. Her travel opportunities were constrained by corporate vacation days, prompting her to diversify her content beyond travel to sustain audience engagement. Alongside her 9-to-5 job, she diligently worked on her Instagram and YouTube channels, treating this as her "5-to-9 job."
Despite the constraints, Lisa leveraged every opportunity during her vacation days to travel and produce content. Her dedication paid off in 2021 when her earnings from content creation surpassed her annual corporate salary. Freed from the limitations of vacation days, Lisa was able to travel at will and develop a comprehensive portfolio encompassing travel, beauty, and fashion content.
Current Success and Notable Collaborations
Today, Lisa Wei is a rare influencer who seamlessly integrates travel with fashion and beauty content. Her multifaceted portfolio has attracted collaborations with major travel brands, including Air Transat, which recently hosted her at the luxurious Grand Velas Riviera Maya Resort in Playa Del Carmen. There, she enjoyed world-renowned amenities such as the SE Spa, one of only six in Mexico to receive a five-star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide.
Air Transat's continued partnership with Lisa extended to European travel promotions in May and June. As a devoted Air Transat customer, working with this renowned Canadian airline has been a dream come true for her.
Lisa's success in the influencer industry is a testament to her strategic approach and hard work. Her achievements in the travel, fashion, and beauty sectors are the result of deliberate actions and a clear vision. Her background in business has enabled her to leverage growth in the influencer market, which is projected to reach $21.1 billion by the end of 2024. This growth underscores the increasing influence of social media personalities on consumer behavior and brand strategies. As brands recognize the value of authentic engagement, influencers like Lisa, who have established a strong reputation and loyal following, are in high demand. This trend has facilitated the transition of many content creators from traditional careers to thriving full-time roles in the digital arena.
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Upcoming Collaborations
This month, Lisa will continue her partnership with Air Transat, showcasing a new resort in Cuba. Her previous collaboration yielded impressive engagement rates, leading to this exclusive, paid opportunity. This time, she will be featuring The One Gallery Hotel in Cayo Santa Maria, a five-star resort offering four world-class restaurants and beachfront access.
Looking ahead, Lisa aims to further expand her brand by reviving her podcast, enhancing her presence in the US, and continuing to inspire her followers' wanderlust.
