Inaugural Klook Kreator Awards Celebrates Leading Travel Content Creators in PH

“Let’s make the world a smaller place, and let’s make sure that we democratize traveling because everybody in the world deserves to travel.”- Jax Reyes, Kreator of the Year, Gold Awardee

Klook Philippines recently launched the inaugural Kreator Awards, celebrating the most beloved travel content creators in the country.

“Just a year ago, we had a community of 300 passionate Kreators. Today, that number has skyrocketed to over 3,000 dedicated and talented individuals in the Philippines. This remarkable growth is a testament to your talent and commitment,” said Michelle Ho, General Manager of Klook Philippines and Thailand, as she welcomed guests to the star-studded event.

“In just the past eight months, your Kreator codes have enabled nearly half a million transactions and inspired travelers from the Philippines to destinations around the globe,” Ho proudly stated. “At Klook, we remain committed to supporting you and our Kreator program, and we are dedicated to growing and evolving alongside you.”

Launched in Q4 of 2022, Klook’s Kreator Program was designed to foster mutually beneficial relationships with public figures through an influencer affiliate initiative. Aiming to build a community united by a shared passion for travel and content creation, the program has achieved significant success since its inception.

During the awards ceremony, Klook presented 15 awards to 27 deserving Kreators across three categories. The first, People’s Choice, allowed the public to vote for their favorite Kreators. Next was Partners’ Choice, where Klook’s valued partners selected their top Kreators. Finally, Klook’s Choice recognized winners based on their performance in the Kreator Program from July 2023 to July 2024.

The event not only highlighted the winners’ speeches but also showcased the immense passion, dedication, and sense of community among the attendees.

The title of ‘Favorite Female Travel Kreator’ was awarded based on votes from 10,000 netizens on Klook’s social media platforms. The winner, Jen Barangan, a former flight attendant who has transitioned into a travel, food, beauty, and lifestyle creator, expressed her gratitude to Klook, her peers, supporters, and her fiancé. She shared the award with her fellow travelers, urging, “Let’s continue to create adventures and share them with the world!”

Joining Jen Barangan, Arshie Larga was named ‘Favorite Male Travel Kreator.’ That evening, he also received the ‘Dapper Explorer Award’ for Best Dressed in the Male Category and the coveted ‘Trendsetter Award’ for bringing attention to Sapa, one of Vietnam’s hidden gems.

“When I began creating content in 2016, my dream was to work with Klook because I wanted to focus on travel content, but it didn’t pan out at the time,” he shared. Despite those early setbacks, Arshie has since built a TikTok following of 4.1 million, where he is celebrated for his informative content as a pharmacist and now as a travel creator. “Keep finding inspiration to create content; don’t do it all just for money. Enjoy what you’re doing, and the opportunities to shine on your platforms will come,” he concluded.

“Nung estudyante pa lang ako, iniipon ko yung baon ko para makapag-travel kahit once a year,” shared Ivan De Guzman, the recipient of the ‘Top Hotel Kreator’ award. As the Kreator with the highest hotel booking sales from July 2023 to July 2024, he reflected on his journey in the program: “Since becoming a Klook Kreator, I’ve traveled to 13 countries, 12 of which I booked through Klook.” Known for his insightful travel tips and engaging vlogs, he concluded his speech with an inspiring message for his fellow Kreators: “Together, we will reach places we never thought possible with Klook.”

Travel and food creator Maine Ybiernas received the ‘Rising Star Traveler Award,’ sharing a deeply personal journey. “During the construction of our dream house, we hit a pause for nine months. It was Klook that enabled me to earn more and ultimately finish the house,” she revealed. Celebrating her remarkable ascent from the top 100 to now being in the top 5 Kreators, Maine expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities that have shaped her path to success.

Jm Banquicio, recipient of the ‘Top Outbound Kreator Award,’ was celebrated for achieving the highest sales for international destinations like Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. As a travel, food, and lifestyle creator, Banquicio emphasized the importance of community support in his content creation journey. “This award is just a bonus for us. Being part of the Kreator Community means a lot to me. Let’s keep creating content and supporting each other. Thank you, Klook!” he stated.

Chuck and Joe celebrated their win as recipients of the ‘Top Domestic Kreator Award,’ which honors creators with the highest sales for local travel destinations. “Our main goal when we started creating travel content was to promote local tourism. Thank you, Klook, for being one of the platforms that gave us the opportunity to explore and showcase different places,” the duo happily shared.

The Cenzons, a dynamic and well-loved travel duo, took home the Kreator of the Year, Silver Award. “This has truly been the most rewarding time since becoming Klook Kreators. We were supposed to be somewhere else, but it’s a long story. Honestly, I believe Klook saved us, and I’m incredibly proud of this chapter in our journey,” Moe Cenzon shared.

Jax Reyes took home the Gold Award for Kreator of the Year, recognized for his engaging content on personal finance and travel. With 327.5K TikTok followers, Jax emerged as the top sales-generating macro Kreator from July 2023 to July 2024, consistently ranking among the Top 5 Klook Kreators each month. Earlier in the night, he also won the ‘Travel Luminary Award’ under the People’s Choice category, reinforcing Klook’s mission to empower travelers. In his acceptance speech, Jax expressed, “Klook makes travel easier and more accessible. Everyone has the right to travel, and it should be budget-friendly. Klook is one of the best platforms out there. Let’s continue creating content, making the world smaller, and ensuring travel is democratized because everyone deserves the chance to explore.”

The complete list of winners for the Kreator Awards 2024 can be found below:

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

PARTNER’S CHOICE

• Hop Inn Traveler’s Choice | Nana Silayro
• The Travel Club Globetrotter Awards
• Johnnie Walker KEEP WALKING Award | Hershey Neri