Viator Affiliate Program: In-Depth Review, Pros, And Cons

Viator Affiliate Program: In-Depth Review, Pros, And Cons

The Viator Affiliate Program offers a lucrative opportunity for content creators and travel bloggers, allowing them to earn commissions by promoting tours and activities across the globe.

Viator, owned by TripAdvisor, boasts a catalog of over 300,000 bookable experiences, with affiliates earning up to 8% commission on each sale. With the global travel industry projected to reach $9.25 trillion by 2029, the demand for such experiences continues to grow.

This article dives into the program's structure, benefits, and potential drawbacks to help you assess its value for your affiliate marketing strategy.

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What Is The Viator Affiliate Program?

The Viator Affiliate Program allows content creators and website owners to earn commissions by promoting Viator’s extensive selection of tours, activities, and travel experiences. Affiliates can earn up to 8% commission on completed bookings made through their referral links. This program is ideal for travel bloggers, influencers, and websites looking to monetize their traffic by offering their audience curated travel experiences from Viator's catalog.

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What Do You Get As A Viator Affiliate Partner?

As a Viator affiliate partner, you get:

• Commission percentage: Earn up to 8% commission on completed bookings.
• Cookie duration: Benefit from a 30-day cookie window, ensuring you receive credit for referred sales within that period.
• Access to tools: Utilize banners, deep links, and widgets to promote Viator’s catalog of over 300,000 experiences.
• Reporting and tracking: Get real-time tracking and performance insights through a dedicated affiliate dashboard.
• Support: Receive dedicated affiliate management and support to optimize your performance.

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What Are The Benefits Of The Viator Affiliate Program?

The Viator Affiliate Program offers several additional perks that make it an attractive option for travel content creators. These benefits go beyond commissions, helping affiliates maximize their earning potential and optimize their promotional efforts.

• Global Audience Reach: Viator’s platform provides access to over 300,000 experiences in more than 200 countries, allowing affiliates to target a worldwide audience. This broad reach enables affiliates to cater to diverse travel preferences, increasing the likelihood of conversions.
• Comprehensive Marketing Resources: Affiliates have access to an extensive library of marketing tools such as banners, deep links, and widgets, making it easy to promote specific tours and activities. These tools help enhance the user experience while ensuring that affiliates can easily integrate Viator offers into their websites or social media.
• Strong Brand Recognition: Viator is part of the TripAdvisor family, a trusted brand in the travel industry. Affiliates benefit from the credibility and trust that comes with promoting such a well-known name, which can help improve click-through rates and conversions.
• Reliable Payments: Affiliates receive regular, timely payments based on their earnings, ensuring financial reliability and predictability. This consistency makes Viator a dependable partner for long-term affiliate marketing strategies.
• Easy-to-Use Tools: The program provides plug-and-play tools designed to help affiliates seamlessly monetize their content across social media platforms.
• Weekly Payouts: Affiliates enjoy the convenience of weekly payouts, with PayPal as a payment option for added flexibility.

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How To Become A Viator Affiliate Partner  

Becoming a Viator affiliate partner is a straightforward process, and here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Sign Up on Viator’s Affiliate Page

‍Head over to the Viator Affiliate Program website (https://partnerresources.viator.com/) and fill out a quick registration form. You'll need to provide basic details about your website or social media platform.

2. Get Approved

‍Once you’ve submitted your application, Viator’s team will review it. The good news is that there are no traffic or follower minimums, making approval accessible for most applicants.

3. Access Affiliate Tools

‍After approval, you'll gain access to a suite of marketing tools, including banners, widgets, and deep links. These are plug-and-play tools that make it easy to integrate Viator’s experiences into your content.

4. Start Promoting Viator Experiences

‍Use your custom affiliate links to promote Viator’s 300,000+ travel experiences across your channels. These can be integrated into blog posts, social media, or newsletters.

5. Track Performance & Earn Commissions

‍Monitor your sales and performance through Viator’s affiliate dashboard. You can earn up to 8% commission on every completed booking and get paid weekly through PayPal.

By following these simple steps, you can become a Viator affiliate and start monetizing your travel-related content with ease!

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Best Options To Sign Up For The Viator Affiliate Program

You can sign up for the Viator Affiliate Program through multiple affiliate networks. Below is an overview of the platforms, including commission rates, cookie durations, countries supported, and the direct links to sign up.

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Viator’s Affiliate Program Directly

• Commission Rate: Up to 8%
• Cookie Duration: 30 days
• Countries: Global
• Sign-Up URL: https://partnerresources.viator.com/

Awin Affiliate Network

• Commission Rate: Up to 8%
• Cookie Duration: 30 days
• Countries: Global
• Sign-Up URL: https://ui.awin.com/merchant-profile/11018

DCM Network

• Commission Rate: Up to 8%
• Cookie Duration: 30 days
• Countries: Global
• Sign-Up URL: https://www.dcmnetwork.com/affiliate-marketing/viator-affiliate-program/

Travel Payouts

• Commission Rate: Up to 8%
• Cookie Duration: 30 days
• Countries: USA, Europe, and other regions
• Sign-Up URL: https://www.travelpayouts.com/en/offers/viator-affiliate-program

FlexOffers

• Commission Rate: Up to 8%
• Cookie Duration: 30 days
• Countries: USA
• Sign-Up URL: https://www.flexoffers.com/affiliate-programs/viator-us-affiliate-program/

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What Are The Requirements Of Becoming A Viator Affiliate Partner?

‍The Viator Affiliate Program has minimal requirements, making it accessible to a wide range of content creators and website owners:‍

• No Traffic or Follower Minimums: Viator does not impose strict requirements on the amount of traffic your website or social media must have, allowing both small and large creators to join.
• Relevant Content: While no follower or traffic thresholds are enforced, having content related to travel, tourism, or activities is recommended to maximize your success as an affiliate.
• Active Platform: You need to have an active blog, website, or social media account where you can promote Viator's travel experiences.
• Legal Compliance: You must comply with local laws, including GDPR or CCPA if relevant, and ensure that your website or platform aligns with Viator's guidelines and terms of service.

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Viator Affiliate Program vs Other Brands

When comparing the Viator Affiliate Program to other major brands in the travel affiliate category, several key factors stand out, such as commission rates, cookie duration, and range of experiences.

Viator vs. GetYourGuide

• Commission Rate:  Both platforms offer a 8% commission. ‍
• ‍Cookie Duration: Both Viator and GetYourGuide provide a 30-day cookie window, giving affiliates ample time to earn commissions on referred bookings.‍
• Range of Experiences: Viator offers over 300,000 experiences globally, while GetYourGuide features around 60,000 tours and activities. Viator has a wider range, which can attract affiliates looking to promote a larger selection of activities.

Viator vs. TripAdvisor

• Commission Rate: Viator offers 8% on completed bookings, while TripAdvisor pays affiliates 50% of the revenue they receive from clicks (not completed bookings).‍
• Cookie Duration: Viator’s cookie duration is 30 days, whereas TripAdvisor’s is shorter, lasting only 14 days.‍
• Target Audience: While Viator focuses on promoting tours and activities, TripAdvisor allows affiliates to promote hotels, flights, and experiences. Viator’s targeted focus on travel experiences makes it more appealing for those specializing in adventure and activity-based content.

Viator vs. Expedia

• Commission Rate: Viator offers a higher commission of up to 8%, while Expedia’s commission is 4%‍
• Cookie Duration: Viator provides a 30-day cookie duration, while Expedia offers a much shorter 7-day window, limiting the opportunity to earn commissions.‍
• Travel Services: Expedia covers a wide range of travel services, including flights, hotels, and car rentals, whereas Viator focuses exclusively on experiences. Affiliates interested in promoting diverse travel services may find Expedia more versatile, but Viator’s niche in experiences makes it better for those specializing in activity-based content.

Viator vs. Booking.com

• Commission Rate: Viator offers 8% commission on bookings, while Booking.com’s commission is typically around 4-5% of the total booking value.‍
• Cookie Duration: Both Viator and Booking.com offer a 30-day cookie window, ensuring affiliates have a sufficient period to earn commissions.‍
• Product Focus: Booking.com specializes in accommodations with over 28 million listings, whereas Viator’s focus on tours and activities gives it a different edge, catering to travel content creators who prefer to promote experiences rather than accommodations.

In summary, Viator offers competitive commission rates, a standard 30-day cookie duration, and access to a wide range of global travel experiences, making it a strong contender in the travel affiliate space. While platforms like TripAdvisor and Expedia offer broader travel services, Viator’s specialization in tours and activities gives it a distinct advantage for affiliates looking to promote adventure and experiences.

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What Are The Drawbacks Of Viator’s Affiliate Program Compared To Other Similar Programs?

While the Viator Affiliate Program has many strengths, there are some drawbacks when compared to other travel affiliate programs:

• Limited Product Focus: Viator focuses solely on tours and activities, while competitors like Expedia and Booking.com offer a broader range of travel services, including flights, hotels, and car rentals. This limits affiliates who may want to promote a more comprehensive travel experience.
• Lower Commission for Top Performers: Some competitors, like TripAdvisor, offer higher commission rates (50%) for top-performing affiliates, whereas Viator caps at 8%.
• Fewer Customization Options: Platforms like TripAdvisor provide more advanced customization and integration tools for affiliates, while Viator's tools are simpler but less flexible for those looking for in-depth customization.
• Shorter Cookie Duration with Competitors: Viator’s 30-day cookie window is competitive, but other platforms, like Booking.com, also offer 30 days, meaning Viator doesn't have an edge in this area. Meanwhile, some affiliates may prefer platforms with longer cookie durations or recurring commissions, which Viator lacks.

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Final Takeaways On The Viator Affiliate Program

The Viator Affiliate Program offers a competitive opportunity for content creators and travel enthusiasts to earn commissions through promoting over 300,000 global experiences. With an attractive 8% commission rate, a 30-day cookie duration, and easy access to plug-and-play tools, Viator stands out for affiliates focusing on tours and activities. While the program is more niche compared to broader services like Expedia or Booking.com, its specialization in unique experiences makes it a top choice for affiliates looking to target adventure and activity-based audiences.