Most travel agents come across the all too familiar mixed feelings of setting their out of office reply-an excitement about boarding a plane for their flight out in the morning combined with the anxiety of being away from the office.
Although an exciting new destination awaits your visit, it's hard not to be slightly stressed out about the pile of work left on your desk and the clients who weren't quite as excited for your departure as you were that you'll have to face upon your return.
The truth is though, familiarization trips, commonly referred to as FAM trips, are important and a crucial part of being a successful travel agent.
A person can only learn so much from sitting behind a desk all day. No amount of training, webinars or research can compare to the knowledge acquired during a trip.
Most FAM trips taken by travel agents tend to be hosted by a tour operator, cruise line, resort chain or tourist board and it's usually a company the agency works closely with.
In this case, agents can learn more about the company they are traveling with by experiencing a trip with them.
For example, if agents board a cruise ship and experience the service, food, activities and cabins, they will have firsthand knowledge to share with their clients back home who are eagerly waiting for their own trip to arrive.
Likewise, a FAM trip through a hotel chain or tourist board may allow the agent to view multiple hotels in several destinations. Travel agents will then be able to pair their clients with the best fitting option for their needs. They will see which resorts and areas are best for families and which ones may be better fitting for a honeymoon couple.
Traveling to a new destination involves things such as navigating unfamiliar airports, using various forms of transportation, eating at new restaurants and more. As a well-traveled agent, these things may come easy to you, but taking note of tips and tricks to share with clients can be invaluable for them.
Letting a client know about a unique, off-the-beaten-path excursion you enjoyed doing or sharing a delicious local restaurant you went to could make their trip even more memorable than it already was going to be.
Your sales are almost always likely to increase upon returning from a FAM trip. Not only have you gained new knowledge of travel companies and destinations to share, but your excitement alone is contagious and often creates an urge to travel for your clients. As you share the photos and experiences from your trip, they'll want to go do exactly what you just did.
So next time you feel guilt setting in when planning travel for yourself, remember that FAM trips are an essential part of working in the travel industry.
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