Picture This: Creative Ways to Use SnapSea Galleries on Your Destination Website

Review best practices, explore common use cases, and unlock new strategies for using SnapSea galleries to showcase authentic visitor experiences, inspire travelers, and support your destination’s community.

Authentic stories resonate. Studies have shown that about 60% of consumers say their purchase decisions are influenced by content shared by friends or family (Forbes), and people are far more likely to trust a brand that highlights user-generated content over one that relies on influencer promotions. In fact, 86% of consumers say they’re more likely to trust a brand that shares UGC (Hootsuite).

In today’s competitive digital landscape, SnapSea galleries help destinations cut through the noise by embedding real visitor moments directly into their websites, connecting with audiences in a way that feels trustworthy, relatable, and inspiring.

As a strategic partner of Tempest, SnapSea empowers destinations to curate and display user-generated content (UGC) seamlessly across their websites. Below are real-world examples of how our clients use SnapSea galleries to enhance content and engage audiences — plus a look at how easy it is to add galleries on Craft CMS.

Showcase Your Destination’s Character

Visitors travel to your destination for the sights, the stories, and the feeling of being there — and SnapSea galleries help bring all of that to life in the digital space, through the eyes of fellow travelers. Destinations like Flagstaff use galleries to spotlight iconic attractions like Route 66. Others, like Parksville Qualicum Beach, highlight natural beauty, changing seasons, and hidden natural gems captured by visitors and locals alike. And destinations such as Visit Detroit use galleries to showcase authentic cultural moments — from car culture to nightlife — that make the destination unique.

Spotlight Marquee Events

Nothing conveys the energy of an event like photos from attendees themselves. Visit Pittsburgh brings the quirky spirit of its Picklesburgh festival to life with a SnapSea gallery, using similar galleries to promote its Fourth of July and Anthrocon events. Visit Saint Paul also leverages galleries to showcase the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, and the Hmong International Freedom Festival — all through the lens of attendees.

Creatively Fill Photography Gaps with Authentic UGC

For content where professional photography may be scarce — or when authenticity is key — UGC can really shine. Experience Olympia’s breakfast sandwich guide and kid-friendly breweries blog both use SnapSea galleries to feature approachable, real-life moments. This approach not only saves on production costs but also helps tell a more relatable and human-centered story that resonates with visitors.

Share Organizational Milestones

Galleries don’t have to be visitor-facing only — they can also showcase your team’s impact and community presence. Visit Saint Paul’s 2024 Annual Report page features a gallery of tradeshow and community engagement moments, making their achievements feel lively and social-first, while also filling a creative gap where professional photography was not available.

Promote Campaigns & Seasonal Activations

SnapSea is an excellent way to amplify seasonal promotions or campaigns. For example, Visit Saint Paul’s Patio Passport features real visitor participation, inspiring others to join in. Incorporating a branded hashtag on the page can also encourage visitors to tag their photos on social media, helping populate your galleries with fresh, authentic content well into the future. Visit Pittsburgh encourages locals and visitors alike to snap a photo of a 2026 NFL Draft countdown clock and upload to SnapSea directly (or via a branded hashtag) to be featured in future galleries.

Inspire Stays with Real Guest Experiences

Where visitors stay is a big part of their overall experience — and SnapSea galleries help showcase lodging options through the eyes of real guests. Destinations like Parksville Qualicum Beach use galleries to highlight cozy cabins, charming inns, and full-service resorts, all captured in authentic, relatable moments.

These galleries not only inspire travelers by showing the variety of accommodations available, but also help drive partner referrals and bookings by connecting users directly to specific properties via linking directly from the featured images. Instead of relying solely on staged or outdated professional photography, SnapSea galleries let potential guests see what it’s really like to stay in these spaces — from morning coffee on a balcony to cozy evenings by the fire.

Easy to Integrate with Tempest Websites on Craft CMS

One of the biggest advantages of SnapSea is how seamlessly it works on Tempest-built websites. Once your SnapSea API is connected to your site, embedding a gallery is quick and intuitive:

  • In the Page Builder/Blog Builder, select the 3rd Party Media dropdown.
  • Choose SnapSea Gallery to add a new block.
  • Use the dropdown to search for and select the gallery you want to embed.

Here’s a look at the simple interface in Craft:

Best Practice: To make galleries easy to find in the CMS dropdown, give them clear, straightforward names in SnapSea — like “Picklesburgh 2024” or “Cabin Rentals — Parksville.”

With just a few clicks, you can bring authentic, dynamic content into your destination storytelling, supporting your partners, engaging your audience, and inspiring travelers.

SnapSea and Tempest are proud to collaborate in helping destinations showcase their stories through real visitor perspectives. If you’re ready to bring your destination to life with authentic UGC, we’re here to help you make it happen.

More Growth Marketing Tips

Discover proven strategies to increase visibility, traffic and conversions for your destination website.

Growth Marketing A broad, data-driven approach focused on ensuring visitors connect with your at every stage of the travel planning process. Learn More
Destination Websites Tempest websites connect millions of visitors to destinations around the world. Learn More