Expedia Uses IShowSpeed to Pull Gen Z From Livestreams to Trips

Expedia announced a global partnership with IShowSpeed, making the popular livestreamer its official travel partner.

The company also launched Exspeedia.com, a dedicated hub where fans can follow his trips, watch extra content, explore destinations, and book travel inspired by his journeys.

The campaign began with a 12-hour Caribbean livestream across Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Maarten. Instead of using a traditional travel ad, Expedia built the launch around IShowSpeed’s usual content style: fast-moving, real-time, and highly interactive.

Expedia wants Gen Z attention

Expedia is trying to reach younger travelers before they start a normal travel search. Many Gen Z users discover destinations through creators, livestreams, and social platforms first, then move to booking websites later. Expedia wants to shorten that path.

The Exspeedia hub is the main tool for doing that. Fans can track IShowSpeed’s route, learn about the places he visits, enter sweepstakes, and vote on future stops. This turns the campaign from simple brand promotion into a direct travel-planning experience.

Creator marketing becomes a booking channel

The partnership reflects a larger shift in travel marketing. Brands are no longer using creators only for awareness. They now want creator content to drive website visits, searches, loyalty signups, and bookings.

 iShowSpeed brings the audience, while Expedia provides the travel inventory and planning tools. The timing also fits the market: IAB, a digital advertising trade organization, said creator advertising reached $37 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $44 billion in 2026.

Expedia said travelers are increasingly using AI for trip ideas and recommendations, but they still prefer to complete bookings with trusted travel brands. A similar shift is already visible in Asia. Klook partnered with TikTok in 2024 to let users in seven Southeast Asian markets and Japan book travel experiences directly inside the app, turning short-form travel inspiration into an immediate booking path.

Photo by Utunzaji wa Mazingira on Unsplash