What You Should Know About a FAM Trip

Annie Brigham, Digital Marketing Coordinator

What is a FAM trip?

Who attends a fam trip, who pays for a fam trip.

What are the benefits of a FAM trip for Travel Agents and Media Personnel?

What are the benefits of a FAM trip for the Hosts?

What are some things to keep in mind when planning a FAM trip?

A FAM trip stands for “familiarization trip” and is one incentive of being in the travel industry. FAM trips are exclusive educational trips for travel agents, media personnel, and resellers. These familiarization trips provided by travel businesses such as travel operators, tour operators, and accommodation suppliers allow them to experience their services and destinations first-hand. FAM trips are opportunities for travel businesses to familiarize agents and media personnel with their destination and immerse them in the local culture, introduce them to local operators, and highlight the benefits their company offers, essentially take them backstage. For instance, they can have the opportunity to meet a celebrity chef that they have been referring their clients to.

The usual people presented on these trips are Travel Agents, suppliers, and media partners such as Journalists, Editors, Influencers, & Tour Operators. These individuals are necessary for countless travel businesses’ success, and as suppliers and travel operators, you are looking to build a long-term working relationship with them. The aim is to keep track of key industry influencers and invite people relevant to your industry’s success. These invitations may rope in a travel agent you have worked with in the past, who you want to enhance your relationship with or introduce new offerings to, or a new prospect who has recently jumped on your radar who can potentially help you collect new business.

Though FAM trips are endlessly changing and evolving, and differentiate per business, tour operators, cruise lines, and hotels interested in showcasing their points of interest typically provide everything for these trips. FAM trips are more often than not fully sponsored invite-only events unless there is a partnership with a rental car company or airline that exists. Sponsorships are customary because the host provides the money or product in exchange for their visit.

What are the benefits of a FAM trip to Travel Agents and Media Personnel?

Familiarization trips present numerous benefits to the attendees. The head benefit of a FAM trip is that it allows travel agents and other travel industry providers to gain ideal first-hand experience. This involvement enables them to understand better the several benefits that different kinds of trip excursions offer to their clients. As a result, they can better supply the perfect services and vacations to their client based on their desires and needs and effectively inform their clients on what they can expect. In addition, media personnel, travel writers and editors, and photographers can gain first-hand experience that can help provide better content, details, and photographs for their future publications. These trips grant journalists opportunities to develop tailored stories that they may want to develop further. For example, the trip may introduce them to a chef who has a fascinating life story or recipe to share. A further benefit is that the FAM trip guests can expand their professional network by building connections with other travel agents, suppliers, and media personnel; most FAM trips embrace downtime to relax with other professionals. This schedule allows them time to get in touch with industry experts and exchange stories on what has worked for their business. By developing long-lasting relationships with travel operators and suppliers, they will also acquire better deals for themselves and their future clients.

What are the benefits of a FAM trip to the Hosts?

Arranging a “familiarization trip” is a valuable marketing tool. As a host of a FAM trip, one benefit is that you can generate new leads and business for your company. By permitting these professionals to gain first-hand experience with your products, they will better understand and share the benefits of your travel offerings with their clients. When it comes to benefits from hosting media personnel is that you are enhancing your media coverage; travel writers and photographers take part in these trips to photograph your offerings and compose content. If you can impress and inspire your guests during a FAM trip, then you should be able to generate first-rate reviews and recommendations for your travel business. For example, one of our clients , Arizona, invited an Editor in Chief on a FAM trip to their destination. The Editor in Chief made a customized trip with a luxury angle and published over 20 full pages of material about the destination and included them in the cover. The clients were very thankful for these results and said that the benefits of these results were worth more than five times that than the overall cost of the FAM trip.

After conversing with some of our employees regarding their client’s FAM trip success stories, we have put together some things we think you should consider when planning your FAM trip: You must research and plan the trip and itinerary during the FAM trip planning stage according to your media personnel and travel agent’s profiles. Look at their previous publications and create activities that they will find appealing, craft experiences with multiple “wow factors” that they can share in their publications. Keep in mind that it is up to the criteria of your guest when it comes to what will get published; not everything that they experience will be incorporated. Provide thorough itineraries and trip information as soon as possible in the planning process; this will allow your FAM trip guests to raise any concerns or questions ahead of time and will enable you to customize their stay exceedingly well. When crafting a detailed itinerary for your guests, you must also be mindful of their time on your trip; you must provide a good balance of activities and educational events with free time to relax and take a breather. Lastly, put together a plan for contingencies; keep in mind that not everything will go to plan. It would be safest to prepare for anything from a last-minute guest cancellation up to flight cancelations, emergencies, or lockdowns. But, again, it is better to over plan.

Special thanks to our Connect Worldwide FAM trip experts Eduardo Peraza and Pedro Berruecos for contributing to this article. Contact us today if you are looking for a destination marketing partner or are interested in learning more about attending, planning or hosting a FAM trip.

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Travel Agent FAM Trips: What is a FAM Trip?

Written by: Guest on April 16, 2018

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There are a lot of perks to becoming a travel agent and one of them is FAM Trips. FAM Trip stands for “familiarization trip” and it is a trip exclusively for travel agents (and sometimes their guests!) that are provided by suppliers or travel operators. Seminars at Sea are similar to FAM trips, but they are offered by cruise lines and give agents the chance to experience the ships and sailing itineraries that they’ll be selling.

These trips are provided as a way for agents to gain an understanding of the benefits of different trips that they can sell to their clients.

When you’ve seen a resort or on a cruise for yourself, you can better help your clients understand what to expect. The more first-hand experience you have, the better you will be able to choose the perfect vacation for your clients based on their wants and needs .

familiarization trips

KHM Travel Group agents participate in various FAM Trips and Seminars at Sea throughout the year. We have excellent relationships with many of the top preferred suppliers in the industry, and that allows our agents to get great deals and have wonderful experiences on FAM trips.

One of many benefits to becoming a travel agent, these “working trips” allow our agents to have fun, enjoyable and useful experiences at resorts and destinations across the country and around the world. When you go on a FAM Trip, you will return with the education and confidence you need to make new bookings! In fact, you can take photos and post them on your own social media accounts or share them directly with your clients to spark their desire to reach out to you about their next trip.

familiarization trips

Another benefit to FAM trips and Seminars at Sea is that while you’re having fun, you also get the opportunity to network with other travel agents! While these trips are “working trips” there is usually time set aside for agents to relax and enjoy the pools, beaches, bars and other activities. Take advantage of the “down time” and mingle with fellow agents and discuss what has and hasn’t worked for their business. Make sure to exchange information and stay in contact. It’s a great way to extend your professional network!

Curious about what these trips are like? Check out our recaps from a few of our past FAM trips and Seminars at Sea:

KHM Travel Agents Experience Culture & Adventure on Azores FAM

Club Med FAM Highlights an Action-Packed, All-Inclusive Punta Cana Experience

Exploring the Western Caribbean on the Norwegian Getaway Seminar at Sea

Want to become a KHM travel agent? Contact us to learn more about this rewarding career, or easily get started online today .

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Diversity Dictionary: What is a fam trip?

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Many hotels, tours and cruise lines offer discounted rates to travel agents so that they can experience what a traveller would get .  Travel and accommodation suppliers and tour operators embrace the opportunity to raise awareness of their services and provide the best portrait of their business . They should aim to answer any and every question a travel agent may have, so that this information makes its way to potential new customers !

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Company Updates

Fora FAM Trips: Everything You Need to Know About Our Travel Advisors' "Workcations"

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https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/fora-fam-trips-everything-you-need-to-know-about-our-travel-advisors

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Picture this: You’re sitting around a campfire at a luxury resort just steps from the Yellowstone River in Montana. During the day, you’re horseback riding and fly fishing. In the evening, you’re sipping an Old Fashioned in a hot tub. At a certain moment you think to yourself, “Is this even real?”

Not only is this completely real, but for a Fora Advisor, it’s one of the epic perks of the job. It’s called a FAM trip, or “familiarization trip,” and it's one of the many community benefits offered to Fora Advisors. Read on to learn more about Fora’s recent FAMs, and how you can get on board. Want to get started? Join us and become a Fora Advisor today.

What are Fora FAM trips?

familiarization trips

FAM trips, or “familiarization” trips, are when a group of travel agents (at Fora, we call them advisors), visit a property to “familiarize” themselves with it. They stay at the hotel, sample the activities and meet with the General Manager and other hotel leadership. Advisors get first-hand experience to recommend the hotel and destination more effectively to clients. 

The best part? Travel advisors attend FAM trips for a fraction of the cost of staying at the hotel or visiting the destination on their own, due to Fora’s existing relationships with hotels. Hotel managers love hosting Fora Advisors because travel advisors are decision-makers for dozens (even hundreds) of clients. This means when FAM trips happen, our advisors benefit from VIP treatment, behind-the-scenes access and exclusive introductions, all while networking and connecting with other travel advisors.

Note: There are also industry FAM trips, which are available to a select group of Fora Advisors. These FAMs are hosted by hotels and resorts, cruise lines, tourism boards and other travel providers like tour operators. Fora FAMs, however, are exclusive to advisors in our community.

What do Fora FAM trips entail?

familiarization trips

Fora has hosted two amazing FAM trips in our first six months as a business, each wildly interesting and a whole lot of fun.

The first FAM was to Sage Lodge, a luxury resort just 35 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. Fora Advisors stayed three nights in their own room in one of Sage Lodge’s ranch houses, enjoying meals and activities (including dinner at The Grill, an on-site restaurant that serves magnificent regional cuisine like beef and bison, cooked over an open fire). Fora Advisors were welcomed to their FAM weekend with a cocktail reception, a mixologist lesson, a tour of Yellowstone National Park, a spa day, an evening of stargazing and even an afternoon of ax throwing. Plus, Fora Advisors were able to meet with Justin Robbins, Sage Lodge’s General Manager, creating lasting relationships that will benefit Fora travelers for years to come. 

Our second FAM happened on Cape Cod, along the coast of Massachusetts. (Check out our guide on what to do in Chatham, MA .) Fora Advisors visited Chatham Bars Inn, a stunning resort situated along a private quarter-mile beach. There, they walked along the inn’s boardwalk and gazed at the blue waters of Aunt Lydia’s Cove, sipped beverages under private cabanas and participated in a tour of the on-site farm. This farm produces 100,000 pounds and 125 varieties of vegetables and features innovative farming techniques such as hydroponics and Slovenian beekeeping.

While the activities are certainly a highlight of the FAMs, many Fora Advisors shared that their favorite aspect is the ability to get to know other Fora Advisors and build meaningful relationships with each other.

“It was really a great cast of characters,” says Fora Advisor Gaya Vinay , reflecting on the Montana FAM. “Everybody was so kind and lovely and could not be more different, which was so nice. There were people who had been in the travel business for a while. And then there was a younger crowd that was just sort of starting out. We had a great time.”

Deb Swacker , who was also on the trip, recently reconnected in New York with other Fora Advisors who went on that same Montana trip. 

“It was like a high school reunion,” she laughs. “We were so excited to see each other.”

(Psst: FAM trips can be sea-bound, too. Check out our FAM trip on a Virgin Voyages adults-only cruise .)

What are the benefits of Fora FAM Trips?

familiarization trips

There are a lot of reasons to go on a Fora FAM trip. Getting first-hand experience of a destination is not only fun, but makes it that much easier to recommend a place to your clients and to give them helpful tips along the way. 

Many advisors use FAM trips as built-in marketing opportunities, taking pictures and sharing them on their websites, social networks and other media to inspire wanderlust and build bookings.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to really experience a place without paying out-of-pocket for a vacation, a FAM trip is a great way to get a “lay of the land” through a quick, and much less expensive visit. Because the intention of a FAM is to familiarize , Fora Advisors are able to experience a lot of different parts of a place at once. They participate in site visits, seeing multiple room styles at a hotel property, and often hear directly from the General Manager and other hotel management staff, ultimately giving them a well-rounded and informed view of a destination.

familiarization trips

All of these perks happen while simultaneously building your network and tapping into Fora’s in-person community. Fora Advisors are able to form relationships with hotel management to make sure their clients’ experiences are top-notch. They also take time to interact with Fora Advisors and our HQ team. This has a lasting impact not just on future trips to the FAM destination, but on Fora Advisors’ ability to refer their clients or get valuable support and help from other advisors in the future.

FAM trips are just one of the many benefits of being a Fora Advisor, and the benefits of community and connection don’t just stop after a FAM is over. Fora Advisors have access to a wide network of hundreds of other travel advisors around the world who can help them build their knowledge and destination expertise. This happens inside Fora’s own community platform, called Forum, where Fora Advisors have the ability to post questions and message other advisors, get advice and feedback from the Fora team, participate in virtual destination trainings and business management skills, and more.

“I have been incredibly thankful for Forum and being able to ask questions about properties and locations,” says Kerry Boyd , who recently went on Fora’s Chatham FAM. “Having Forum there is sort of a support system. And for me, it’s been incredible to know that the Fora team is available and able to help you.”

Eager for more? Learn how to turn your passion for travel into $$$ with Fora.

How can I attend a FAM trip in the future? 

familiarization trips

The Fora team is already planning its next FAM trips for Fora Advisors to see, taste and experience the world. We currently offer these FAMs to select groups of certified Fora Advisors (who are invited based on their expertise, training level and Fora training participation), and look forward to welcoming more advisors as our community grows.

Not only do Fora Advisors get to travel the world, but they also can make meaningful income planning travel for others. Want to get started? Learn more about our Fora 's training and sign up to become a Fora Advisor today.

Looking for more intel? Read our piece on how to become a travel agent . Or, check out resources on other types of travel agent careers:

How to Become a Travel Agent from Home

How to Become an Independent Travel Agent

How to Become a Luxury Travel Agent

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent

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The idea is simple: In order for a travel agent to sell to a client, they need to know about the product. For example, hotels will put a travel agent up in a room, and then take them on a tour of the place. Hopefully, when the agent goes home, they will then be so satisfied with what they saw that they will recommend the hotel or airline or resort to their clients.

Not only will you experience a hotel or airline on a fam trip, but you may take cooking classes, enjoy a safari, go hiking or backpacking, swim with the dolphins, or stomp grapes. The opportunities are endless.

However, the most important part about a FAM trip isn’t to enjoy a free vacation (in many cases, the trip isn’t free, but it is seriously discounted and you can usually bring a companion or several at the same rate). A travel agent is there to learn when on these excursions. You should be making notes about what you are enjoying on the trip so you can share this information with your clients. Here are some other tips about FAM trips:

  • Bring a camera. You can document your trip in photos and even share these photos on your blog or website.
  • Be professional: remember that this isn’t your vacation. You’re working and you should make sure that you, and any party you bring, is on their best behavior.
  • Don’t cancel. If you paid for a FAM trip and cancel, many operators and destinations can bill you for a higher rate.
  • Jam-packed trip: For most of these trips, it’s busy, busy, busy. You are expected to see so much in such a small amount of time.
  • Get an agenda: You should know what you will be expecting on the FAM trip before it begins. There’s typically a schedule of events, so if you do not get one, ask.
  • Provide feedback: Let the FAM operator know if there were any problems on the trip. Sometimes they may not realize that a leader of the tour struggled explaining information to you or that other travel agents weren’t being professional.

Taking a fam trip is only one part of educating yourself as a travel agent. Reading travel publications and industry news and networking with other professionals in the field will ensure that you are a well-educated travel agent that your clients need.

TammyLevent

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Travel with us in 2024!

See the world the Intrepid way and experience the joys of small group travel that’s good all over.

Get to know us a little better and take your pick from these trips.

Spaces are limited – don’t miss out!

familiarization trips

Croatia Sailing FAM trip

Travel Dates: 27 Jul - 3 Aug, 2024

Start / End: Split, Croatia to Dubrovnik, Croatia

Cost: $650 USD

  • Tick another country off your bucket list as you sail up the spectacular Neretva River in a traditional wooden boat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Taste some local olive oil at the local museum in Brac – the longest island in central Dalmatia – before exploring this gorgeous island at your own pace.
  • Drop anchor in the middle of port towns like Hvar or Korcula and explore straight off the boat – one of the many benefits of small-ship cruising.

Applications closed on March 17, 2024.

Download itinerary

India Women's Expedition Experience

Travel Dates:  23 Sep - 30 Sep 2024

Start / End: Delhi, India

Cost: $400 USD donation to Intrepid Foundation partner Pink City Rickshaw Company

  • Starting in Delhi, take the metro train in a women’s-only care into Old Delhi, to experience how women travel around Delhi, before spending the day touring the city. 
  • Then you’ll visit one of India’s most iconic sights, the Taj Mahal, inspired by the love of an exceptional woman. 
  • Your journey also includes the remote countryside village of Tordi Garh, and the iconic city of Jaipur. 

Applications are open from March 25th - April 7th, 2024.

Costa Rica Experience

Travel Dates:  5 Oct - 11 Oct 2024

Start / End: San Jose, Costa Rica

Cost: $400 USD 

  • Start with a visit to a homestay in Santa Rosa de Pocosol, where you’ll experience an authentic slice of life in the Costa Rican countryside.
  • Then it’s on to La Fortuna, where you’ll marvel at the iconic Arenal Volcano, and perhaps go for a dip at the nearby thermal hot springs.
  • Then you’ll embark on incredible journeys through the Cloud Forest of Monteverde and the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, getting an up-close look at the incredible biodiversity of the region, before returning back to San Jose. 

Applications are open from May 24th - June 9th, 2024.

  For more information, please email us at [email protected]

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Travel Agent FAM Trips: What They Are + How to Find Them

Ahhhh.... the travel industry. It's a beautiful industry and one we here at HAR are lucky enough to work/play in! One of the greatest perks in travel are travel agent familiarization trips, or FAM trips for short. They're also sometimes called FAM tours.

Here's the thing, people outside the industry usually have two conflicting thoughts about travel agents:

1) When they find out I work with travel advisors they ask if travel agents still exist.

2) Then they immediately think I'm a travel advisor and ask, " Do you get to travel a lot? For free?!? "

Here's the answers to those questions:

1) Ooooooh, my friend, travel agents sure do exist! In 2022, traditional travel agencies market share was 21% and online travel agencies was 22% ? True story. Here's more on a travel agent career outlook .

2) And yes, as a producing travel advisor you get to travel a lot and sometimes for free or at a significant discount. Producing is the key word here. :)

What I can never figure out is how you can think travel agents aren't around if they get to travel all the time to gorgeous destinations for free or reduced costs. 🤔 Wouldn't the market be flooded with people wanting to become a travel agent if that was the case?!

Jumping off waterfall on mexico familiarization trip

These enviable trips are called FAM trips and they're key to travel advisors being invaluable resources to their clients.

(For those of you dying for some 'me time' on the beach, don't worry, FAM trip is short for familiarization trip. It DOES NOT mean you have to bring your family with you on the trips. 😂 In fact, if +1s are allowed, it is often at a little higher cost but often FAM trips are just for advisors.)

So let me break down what a FAM trip is, what happens on FAM tours, where you can find FAM trips, and the question I know you all are asking, how you can get invited on a familiarization trip!

What is a FAM trip for travel agents?

A travel agent FAM trip is a trip offered by a vendor, destination or another entity in the travel industry

Jamaica travel agent FAM tour

Let's clarify one thing. A FAM trip is not the same as travel agent discounts on personal travel. For that, you can check out our article with over 200+ travel agent rates we lovingly keep updated for you. :)

A travel agent FAM trip is a trip offered by a vendor, destination or another entity in the travel industry—like an industry association, a host agency or a travel consortium to travel advisors—allowing the travel agent to experience the product/destination so that they can better sell it.

Travel advisors are salespeople at their core and like any salesperson, they can sell more when they experience the product or service.

Vendors and destinations know that travel agent FAM tours are a cost-effective way to increase sales. All the pics the travel agents post while on FAM trips are darn good PR and advertising!

I'll tell you a secret: once you become a travel agent and start connecting with industry colleagues

a) you will get out of offices all. the. time. from colleagues traveling to awesome places and

b) your social feed will be crammed full of pics from your industry besties traveling around the world. :)

What are the different types of familiarization (FAM) trips?

Those social feeds crammed with enviable travel photos I just mentioned? Well, they are meant to be marketing the destination/property/etc. So you should definitely be feeling FOMO and jealousy.

BUT! That could literally be the only hour the advisor was able to enjoy the pool or beach during their 3-day familiarization trip. Like most things on social, the reality of a FAM trip is often much different than what the photos painted.

Let's break down FAM tours into a few categories so you have a better idea of what to expect.

And for the record, I just created these categories since I really feel like we need to differentiate them so please help me grow this industry lexicon and start throwing them around in industry forums! 😂

Vatnajokull Glacier, Lagoon, ATV Excursion travel agent familiarization trip

Working FAM trips

These FAM trips are exactly what they sound like. Working FAMs are the majority of familiarization trips and they are meant to maximize your time in the destination.

This means that you're often up at 6 am, on your feet all day visiting multiple properties (called site inspections ) or having in-destination experiences like a pasta-making class or white water rafting.

After a full day of action, you sit down for your dinner and do some serious networking. You don't hit the bed until 10 or 11 pm. FAM trips are tons of fun, but they are also tiring! It's like traveling with your ADHD friend that is inexhaustible. :)

The company or destination that organized the FAM trip wants you to see and experience as much as possible so you often have a jam-packed schedule from sun up to past sundown.

EXPERIENTIAL FAM trips

Experiential FAM trips are still working familiarization trips but have a more relaxed schedule, as in you won't be touring 4 resorts in Jamaica a day and then have evening activities. :)

You might be staying at a dude ranch and each day have an activity or two planned.

Or you might have attended a travel conference and signed on for the pre/post tours where you get to do a guided activity each day and then return to your hotel at night.

Experiential FAM tours are my favorite FAMs because they're easier to remember more vividly. Plus, I don't come away completely overstimulated and sleep deprived!

Iceland lagoon travel agent FAM tour

AWARD FAM TRIPS

When your agency starts really producing, award FAM trips will open up for you.

Simply put, they're awards trips for top producing travel agencies but they also function as a FAM because they may include visiting a few properties. Plus, when most people think of FAM trips, they're wondering about free or discounted tours and award FAM trips fall into that category.

On award FAM trips, the host really pulls out the stops so you can experience all the host and the destination have to offer

On award FAM trips, the host really pulls out the stops so you can experience all the host and the destination have to offer! After all, these are the agencies that bring in a lot of sales.

Award FAM trips are typically fully comped and the familiarization trip host will have all sorts of great things planned for you! It's a lot of networking and fun, and less work. :)

What happens on a travel agent FAM trip?

Your itinerary will vary based on the type of travel agent FAM trip you're on. As I mentioned earlier, working FAMs have jam packed schedules!

If I were to generalize, I would say that on a FAM tour expect to be wined and dined at different properties or restaurants. You'll tour various properties where you'll see different room categories as well as meet with key staff that will allow you to better serve your clients.

When it comes to cruise ships, cruise FAM trips are often called Seminars at Sea when you get to sail on the ship and ship inspections when you tour it while it's in port.

Travel Agent Fam trip Ship inspection

And equally as important on FAM tours is the networking and bonding that happens with your host and fellow travel colleagues. Most advisors have their family and then they have their 'travel family', which are the colleagues they get to travel around the world with. As we all know, travel bonds people like nothing else!

Cruise FAM trips are often called Seminars at Sea when you get to sail on the ship and ship inspections when you tour it while it's in port.

Travel agent FAM trip technology + FAM trip marketing

You'll take tons of pictures and videos to share with clients and use for marketing.You'll also take a lot of notes. How do you keep all that FAM trip info straight? Here's a few resources for you.

Fam with Intention has a paid course on what to do before, during and after your travel agent FAM tour to make sure you maximize the experience.

Keeping track of everything you see and do, as well as the people you meet on travel agent FAM trips is challenging. HAR has free ship inspection forms as well as free site inspection forms that can help you out. They're old school PDF but can't beat free!

And if you are looking for something way more snazzy in app form (paid), check out MyFamTrip or FamGuru .

How much do travel agent FAMs cost?

travel agent fam trip white water rafting

I wish I had a specific answer for you but travel agent FAM prices will vary from completely free (sometimes referred to as hosted, as in they're 100% hosting you) to a decent discount.

Here's what you can generally expect included on a travel agent FAM trip:

  • Excursions/Activities

What's usually not included on travel agent FAM tours:

  • Tips for your drivers, bellhops, guides, housekeeping, etc. (These people work incredibly hard and depend on tips so make sure to bring cash.)
  • Your travel insurance (never included)

Where can I find a list of travel agent FAM trips?

Great question! Here are a few places you can find FAM trips listed.

HAR's INDUSTRy calendar

We have a great list of FAM trips on HAR's free travel industry event calendar that you can check out.

Often times travel industry conferences in popular tourist destinations will offer pre/post-add-ons that allow you to experience the destination at a discounted rates.

FAM-SPEcific websites

Other online places to find travel agent FAMs are destination-specific websites like:

  • MexicoFamTrips.com
  • CaribbeanFamTrips.com
  • JamaicaFamTrips.com

There are also a few websites that list travel agent FAM trips like :

  • Famtrips.travel
  • FAMrates.com (paid subscription)
  • WanderfullyFammed , which are led by an advisor/photographer and part of the trip is that she provides all the marketing content for advisors to promote it during and after.

But here's another secret, the real travel agent FAM deals that are generously subsidized are not publicized. They are invite-only FAM trips or require you to apply, where the competition is stiff.

Ireland Castle on travel agent familiarization tour

Travel Consortium + Host AgencY FAM TRIPS

Your host agency and/or consortium are one of the places where you can find the generously subsidized FAM trips.

Only members of their networks have access to these FAM trips and there may be sales or other requirements you need to meet. They may send out an email with the opportunity or they may reach out to advisors they know would be a good fit for it so that's another reason to cultivate those relationships with your host and consortium!

DESTINATIONS and vendors FAM TourS FOR TRAVEL AGENTS

Another place where you can find severely discounted travel agent FAM trips is through destinations and preferred suppliers like cruise lines, tour operators, destination management companies (DMCs), and resorts.

\When you sign up as an advisor with them that gets you into their database and you'll receive information on upcoming travel agent FAM opportunities.

These FAM trips may be emailed out to the entire database and you have to apply, or it may be that the organization reaches out individually to their ideal travel advisors. Again, build those relationships at travel industry events so you're top of mind. :)

travel agent ship inspection FAM trip lunch

How the heck can I get invited on a travel agent FAM trip?!?

Love your enthusiasm!

Let's back up a step because the first requirement is that you're a travel agent. If you aren't one but think it would be a cool career (it totally is), check out our article with more info on how to start your travel agency .

The next requirement hurdle is you'll need to be a producing advisor.

On rare occasions, new advisors without a history of sales can be invited on a travel agent FAM trip, but you'd have to show you have the potential to bring in sales. This is usually done by showing your network of friends/colleagues/clients as the target demographic for that particular FAM trip.

Another option for newbies is you can show that you are serious and focused on selling that particular brand/destination/trip type. Do this by reaching out to your BDM (business development manager) and writing up an in-depth sales plan on what you'll do to bring them sales.

Other than that, each FAM will have its own requirements which they'll communicate to you.

travel agent familiarization (fam) trip scuba diving

You now are fully educated on one of the best travel industry secrets... travel agent FAM trips! I hope you can experience one soon as they're amazing experiences. :)

If you're an advisor that landed on this article, I would LOVE to have you share any FAM experiences or advice in the comments below!

About the Author

Steph Lee - Host Agency Reviews

Steph grew up in the travel industry. She worked with thousands of agents in her role as a former host agency director before leaving in 2012 to start HAR. She's insatiably curious, loves her pups Fennec and Orion, and -- in case you haven't noticed -- is pretty quirky and free-spirited.

If you’re looking for Steph, she leaves a trace where ever she goes! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest as 'iamstephly'. 🙂 She doesn't do TikTok as no one would ever see her again.

Steph Lee - Host Agency Reviews

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  3. Understanding Familiarization Trips: An In-Depth Guide

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  5. White Paper: Familiarization Trips

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  6. Travel Agent Familiarization Trips

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COMMENTS

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  2. Travel Agent FAM Trips: What is a FAM Trip?

    FAM Trip stands for "familiarization trip" and it is a trip exclusively for travel agents (and sometimes their guests!) that are provided by suppliers or travel operators. Seminars at Sea are similar to FAM trips, but they are offered by cruise lines and give agents the chance to experience the ships and sailing itineraries that they'll ...

  3. What Are FAM Trips & Press Trips? How To Get Paid For All-Inclusive Travel

    "A fam trip (short for Familiarization Trip) - or influencer marketing campaign, or press trip - is a free (or low-cost) trip often including a salary for travel bloggers, social influencers, travel agents or consultants, paid for or sponsored by a tourism board, travel brand, tour operator, airline or industry conference organizer.

  4. Getting the Most Out of a FAM Trip

    Getting the Most Out of a FAM Trip. What is a familiarization—or FAM—trip all about? There is no substitute for personal visits as a way of learning about a destination. Governments, as well as suppliers—such as cruise lines and tour operators—often sponsor FAM trips. These trips are offered to bona fide travel professionals and others ...

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  7. Diversity Dictionary: What is a fam trip?

    A fam trip is a familiarisation trip that travel agents go on to learn about the products and services they sell. Fam trips are not free holidays, but opportunities to experience and capture customer experiences for travel management and procurement.

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  14. Familiarization Trips

    Familiarization Trips. Fam trips are those that familiarize a travel agent with a new venue, destination, hotel, restaurant, or airline. The idea is simple: In order for a travel agent to sell to a client, they need to know about the product. For example, hotels will put a travel agent up in a room, and then take them on a tour of the place.

  15. Familiarization (FAM) Tours and Why They're So Important

    A "FAM Trip," also known as a Familiarization Trip or FAM Tour, is an opportunity provided by hotel venues to meeting and event planners to personally experience their properties and services. These trips often involve site inspections, which allow planners to experience and learn about the venue's offerings firsthand. ...

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    Croatia Sailing FAM trip. Travel Dates: 27 Jul - 3 Aug, 2024. Start / End: Split, Croatia to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Cost: $650 USD. Tick another country off your bucket list as you sail up the spectacular Neretva River in a traditional wooden boat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Taste some local olive oil at the local museum in Brac - the longest ...

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  18. Travel Agent FAM Trips: What They Are + How to Find Them

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