If you’re a creator on TikTok and you travel often, listen up!

TikTok just launched a new program that might literally pay you to post your vacation content. It’s called TikTok GO, and it lets creators earn commissions just by sharing hotel content with location tags. 🎥💸

Here’s the full breakdown of how it works, how to get in (spoiler: it’s invite only), and how creators like me are already testing the best ways to maximize income with it.

Watch on TikTok and YouTube.

What Is the TikTok GO Program?

TikTok GO is a brand new creator monetization program where you can:

• Get commissions from hotel and travel brands
• Collaborate with merchants for sponsored perks
• Earn money by tagging location-based outlets
• Grow your engagement and visibility through location based content

The focus is on hospitality content

Think hotels, resorts, restaurants, and experiences. TikTok provides an affiliate style opportunity to promote places you’ve visited (or plan to), and pays creators when their content helps drive bookings.

How to Apply to TikTok GO

Right now, you must be invited to join. I didn’t have the invite at first either, but here’s what worked for me:

1. I posted 3 times (photo carousels & longform video) using location tags and then left reviews for each location, by clicking the tag on my post.
2. After that, the TikTok GO banner appeared inside my Creator Tools dashboard.
3. I tapped “Explore More” under the TikTok GO section and followed the setup steps.

Tip: Check under “Tools” in your TikTok Studio. If TikTok GO is available to you, it’ll show up alongside options like “Series” and “Creator Rewards.”

TikTok GO Requirements

To join and start promoting merchant outlets, you need to:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have at least 1,000 followers
• Be in good standing (no recent guideline violations)

What Counts as a Valid Post for TikTok GO?

Some FAQs from the creator community:

• Do you need to be at the location in real time?
  Nope! You can post content from past trips. Just make sure you tag the correct location.
• Do you need a special tag?
  Yes. There’s now a difference between a green tag and a white tag. The green one indicates a monetizable location (eligible for TikTok GO commissions). You must tag the specific location vs doing a broader city/state/country location.
• Can you double dip and earn from both TikTok Creator Rewards AND TikTok GO?
  This is something I’m currently testing, but I believe yes. If your video is over a minute long and eligible under both programs, it should qualify.

How Cities & Locations Are Listed on TikTok GO

This is a bit tricky. When setting your preferences, the city selection is tied to counties, not just metro areas. For example, in Arkansas, you might only see hotel options, but in Texas (especially big cities like Dallas or Houston), you’ll see a mix of hotels, resorts, and restaurants.

You can select multiple cities when setting up your task preferences to expand the offers available to you. You can also search other cities too. So pick where you stay next time wisely.

How Much Can You Earn with TikTok GO?

Each location has a listed payout or commission range. Some examples I’ve seen:

• The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria: $8.13–$23.58
• Gaylord Texan Resort: $25.63–$45.15
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott: $7.33–$48.00

Others are listed as a 5% commission, depending on the outlet.

What are the Benefits of TikTok GO?

• Brand collaborations
• Fixed monetization tasks
• Official guidance and support
• Community access via the TikTok GO Discord
• Follower and engagement growth through location-based discovery

To join the Tiktok Go Discord group, you’ll need to submit your TikTok handle to get verified and invited into the Discord, and it can take 1–3 days to be approved.

My Honest Thoughts on TikTok GO So Far

Okay, so here’s the deal.

There’s a lot of hype flying around about TikTok GO being the next big “get paid to travel” program. And while yes, the potential is there, I want to be real with you…

You only get paid if your content converts.

This isn’t like TikTok Shop where someone sees a cute $10 gadget, taps it emotionally, and checks out two seconds later. Travel purchases are different. People plan. People save. People wait.

As a travel creator, I’ve seen firsthand that hotel content rarely converts immediately. It can take multiple exposures to convince someone to book, especially when it’s more of a splurge or a family decision. Unless the stay is ultra unique or experience based (think overwater bungalows or treehouses), you’re probably not going to get those instant clicks.

That said, I do think categories like:

• 🍽️ Restaurants
• 🍹 Food & Drink
• 🧘‍♀️ Leisure & Experiences
• 💅 Beauty / Wellness

…might offer better short-term ROI for creators inside the program. Those types of bookings tend to be lower commitment and more spontaneous, making them more likely to convert within that one video window.

But I’m just getting started and I’ll keep testing different content types, locations, and niches to see what actually brings in commissions. I’ll keep this post updated as I learn more. Tiktok is an amazing platform and I have no doubt they have ways to make this worth it incentivise creators to post, beyond the standard commissions.

Bottom line? I wouldn’t call this a free travel paycheck. It’s a monetization opportunity with potential if you’re strategic, consistent, and play the long game.

A Note on Views & Visibility

One of the biggest concerns I’m hearing from creators right now is whether joining TikTok GO will tank your views.

Here’s what I’ll say: there’s no opt-out button once you’re in, and yes, your views can and will likely take a dip, especially if you’re promoting places with lower search volume on creator search insights (think small towns, boutique hotels, or lesser known restaurants).

That’s not necessarily the algorithm punishing you. It’s just that some content won’t perform like a viral TikTok because the audience is smaller, or because conversion and seasonal content plays a different game.

If your goal is chasing views, this program might not be the right fit. Especially if your content doesn’t visually sell the experience. You’re asking someone to spend their money, not just like your post.

But if your goal is conversions, and you’re willing to build trust over time, TikTok GO has potential. Even if it’s not the most glamorous path to a viral moment. This can be a great way on becoming a strong trusted influence in a specific community.

Just something to keep in mind before jumping in. 👀

Final Thoughts: Should You Join TikTok GO?

If you’re already posting travel, food, or lifestyle content… This is a no-brainer. You don’t need new footage, you just need to tag your content the right way. Combine it with TikTok Creator Rewards, and you might just turn your old hotel clips and photos into a brand new income stream. 👏

Still have questions about TikTok GO? I’m documenting everything I learn as I test it out. Including whether you can stack commissions and Rewards. Follow along on Tiktok or drop your question in the comments.

@saltyvagabonds