How to Make the Most Out of a Travel Advisor Fam Trip

Open Mic is an AGENTatHOME series focused on gathering advice from travel advisors to help you boost your business. This issues puts the spotlight on how to make the most of a familiarization (fam) trip. 

James Berglie, President, Be All Inclusive LLC

I have found that organization is key to making the most out of fam trips. Seeing many properties in one day can be informative — but it can also lead to content overload. And when you go through the photos later, it can be hard to remember what was what.

A trick I used when I was a press photographer shooting many assignments in one day? Visually break up the day. When you finish a site inspection of your first resort, snap a quick photo of your hand before you start the next resort. Ideally, when you arrive at the second resort, snap a photo of the property’s name first. This way, you will have a clear visual reference in your camera roll, helping you distinguish and make sense of the clutter.

Kristi Campbell, Owner, Travel Journey KC

Invest in tools that elevate how you capture and organize the info from your fam trips. My DJI Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera has been a game-changer on these trips. It allows me to record high-quality video and photos that bring each property to life. After each day, I create a digital folder labeled with the hotel name and subfolders for excursions, dining or site visits.

I also make it a point to collect and log contact information for key staff, along with notes on amenities, must-do activities and travel times from the airport. These details are invaluable when creating proposals or recommending properties. When a client asks about a hotel I’ve visited, being able to say, “I’ve been there — here are my photos and insights!” instantly builds trust and sets me apart.

Kristin Hancock, Owner, Bright Life Travel Co.

Go into every fam with a plan. Before you leave, create a shot list in your phone’s notes app so you can check off the content you want to capture, instead of scrambling once you’re there. Jot down client-specific questions ahead of time, such as, “Would this resort work for families with teens?” As we all know, once the tours start, it gets chaotic — fast.

Make friends with your fellow travel advisors and start a photo circle. Better yet, agree that one person will film the rooms solo, so you’re not all in each other’s videos. Trust me, your future self will thank you.

Use voice memos for notes and thoughts as you go. These are gold when you’re back home sorting content — throw them into ChatGPT and have it organize the information for you. And don’t forget to swap contact info with fellow fam attendees. The connections you make on fams can be just as valuable as the destination itself.

Asia Lantz, Owner/Travel Advisor, Travel With Asia and Gilded Getaways

Before every fam, I suggest you outline a short list of the top three things you want to walk away with. It could be a mix of destination knowledge you can share with clients, fresh content you can repurpose for months across social media, new relationships that could turn into future partnerships or something personal.

Knowing your “why” helps you focus your time and energy once you’re actually on the fam. Whatever the goal, you need to go in with an intention. I keep my “whys” and content goals in a note on my iPhone so I can tangibly check off a list as I go. You need to take photos and notes with purpose, and schedule time to connect with hosts. Another tip? Always follow up afterward.

A fam shouldn’t just fill your camera roll — it should move your business forward.