Imagine unlocking an exclusive overseas trip filled with beautiful scenery, a fantastic hotel stay, and unique excursions — all made possible through owning a non-fungible token (NFT).

Travel NFTs are upgrading the travel industry by introducing a new way to own and experience travel-related services. These digital items are minted on blockchain technology, representing unique items or experiences that can be bought and sold. Similar to a membership NFT, owning a travel NFT grants you access to exclusive travel experiences, luxury hotel stays, or even unique airline perks. These digital tokens offer a secure, transparent, and efficient way to manage and book travel-related services, sometimes even accommodating payments in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as well as traditional methods like credit and debit cards.

Several brands and operators in the hospitality space have jumped into this emerging area of web3, crafting unique stays and experiences for travelers who purchase from their collections. Ahead, we share five travel NFTs that gained attention in 2022 and 2023, thanks to their innovative approach, and continue to garner interest today. 

If you’re a travel enthusiast or enjoy the finer things, check out these NFT collections. One of them just might unlock something amazing for your next trip.

Michelin 3xplorer Club

Michelin, the multinational tire manufacturing company known for its travel guides and star ratings for restaurants, launched the Michelin 3xplorer Club in October 2023 and minted 2,400 NFTs. The digital art features an animated version of the Bibendum, Michelin’s mascot made of tires and more commonly known as the Michelin Man.

When the 3xplorer Club launched, Michelin said holders would be entered into raffles to win real-life experiences on par with the kinds usually featured in Michelin’s Red and Green travel guides. Some prizes would be entirely random draws and others driven by participation in marketing activities and campaigns. Michelin's use of NFT sales in the 3xplorer Club is part of their innovative marketing strategies to engage customers and enhance their brand. Today, the Michelin 3xplorer site hints at some fun games and experiences, including races, diners, Michelin-starred restaurants, and more. 

Travel Tiger Club

Travel Tiger Club is a collection of 1,000 NFTs bearing generative tiger avatars in locations around the world and metaverse. It was launched in Feb. 2022 by Travala.com, a travel booking site headquartered in the Cayman Islands that accepts cryptocurrency as payments. The platform is connected to over 2.2 million properties and 600 airlines and features a “Smart Diamond” loyalty program activated by ownership of a Travel Tiger NFT.

Travel Tiger Club says holders are entitled to several travel-related benefits from Travala.com, including the ability to earn Marriott Bonvoy Points, concierge services, and access to over 1,300 airport lounges. Learn more about the benefits on the website.  

NOT A HOTEL

NOT A HOTEL is a Japanese hotel chain that launched a collection of 105 membership NFTs called “The Key” in October 2022. Holders of the NOT A HOTEL membership NFTs can book stays for free at a random hotel operated by the chain, three months in advance and once a year. The company says the Key NFTs will continue to offer these free stays for 47 years.

The NFTs come in three tiers which offer different amounts of free nights to book: based on the labels, the S tier allows its holders to book for one night, the Y tier enables its holders to book stays for two consecutive nights, and the X tier lets holders book stays for three consecutive nights. 

In addition to giving holders three nights’ stays in the same location with each booking, MEMBERSHIP X NFTs also open Exclusive House locations across Japan to their holders, though additional fees may apply for those bookings.

Private Jet Pyjama Party

After launching in Dec. 2021 initially as a profile picture (PFP) collection, Private Jet Pyjama Party (PJPP) now positions itself as a membership collection. It features two sets of trendily-dressed owl avatars riding in private jets, one female and one male. After being acquired by venture capitalist Mo Abrishamchi in March 2023, PJPP has pivoted into a membership club “bringing a global community together through experiences and shared passion for the finer things in life.”

Next, the collection began offering its holders benefits of exclusive events like golf tournaments and collaborations with brands that interest the community: liquor brand Padre Azul, blockchain-enabled watch marketplace Watchype, and private members’ club Onda (which offered memberships to holders discounted by 80%). In 2024, PJPP spoke about plans to launch its own lifestyle clothing brand and an app for various NFT communities to connect.

Embracing the future of travel experiences with NFTs

Collecting NFTs and high-end travel experiences go hand-in-hand: they’re exclusive and they can appeal to the same desires of the luxury traveler persona. It’s exciting to see brands big and small jump into web3-powered travel experiences and innovate further in an already innovative industry.