What Are FAM Trips for Travel Agents?
Suppliers want travel advisors to know their ships, resorts and tours firsthand, so they host them at reduced rates. That's a FAM trip, short for familiarization trip.
What a FAM trip is
A FAM trip is a short trip a supplier offers travel advisors so they can experience the product they sell. It might be a ship inspection, a two-night sailing, a resort site visit or a hosted tour. They're usually offered at a reduced rate and include sessions about the product.
Common types
| Type | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Ship inspection | A few hours touring a ship in port, often with lunch |
| Short sailing | A 2 to 4 night cruise at an agent rate |
| Resort site visit | One or more nights touring a resort's rooms and facilities |
| Hosted tour | A group trip run by a tour operator or tourism board |
Who qualifies
Each supplier decides. Most want to see that you actively book their product, so a record of real bookings matters more than anything else. Some also ask for agency credentials and proof of recent sales.
How to get on the list
- Build a booking record. Log every booking with its confirmation number.
- Register on supplier agent sites as a sub-agent using your agency's credentials.
- Sign up for agent newsletters, where most FAM offers are announced.
- Apply early. Popular FAMs fill quickly, and you may be asked for proof of bookings.
What to expect
A FAM is part vacation, part work. Expect site tours, presentations and a fairly full schedule. Treat it as a chance to learn a product you'll book again.
FAM trips and agent rates are offered at each supplier's discretion and usually require active bookings.
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