The Do’s & Don’ts of Fam Tours

Aggie Brassette, LCTP

Nancy Broussard, LCTP
Lisa Johnson, LCTP
 What is a Fam Tour?

FAM (familiarization) tour: a free or

reduced-rate trip offered to travel
professionals to acquaint them with what a
destination, attraction or supplier has to
offer
 Why do we do them?

¾Best way to showcase to a client

¾Create a tour experience
¾Provide ideas for itinerary building
¾Opportunity for relationship building
Who participates in Fams?

¾Tour & Travel

¾Meeting Planners
¾Writers & Journalists
 Qualified Participants

¾Qualifications
¾Where to find participants
Databases of professional organizations
Leads from trade publications
Sales & trade show activity
Referrals
Pre/post trade show nearby
Travel company (wholesaler)
Planning Considerations

¾Time
¾Total length of time
¾Resources
¾Number of participants
 What to show and sell

Depends on the audience(s) and their clients,

their particular needs. Show things that are
bookable.
¾ Group planners
¾ FIT product managers/travel agents
¾ International
¾ Meeting Planners
¾ Writers
¾ Journalists
 Who pays – and for what?

In Louisiana, generally, goods and services

are provided on a complimentary basis as an
expense of securing more business.
¾Gratuities
¾Registration fees
¾Transportation
¾Alcohol
¾Motorcoach munchies
 Fams by committee

¾Protects political interest

¾Can be a valuable planning tool
¾Division of labor
¾Different areas of expertise and knowledge
¾Repercussions and decisions do not fall on
one individual.
¾Strength in numbers
 The Role of the Escort

Tour guide, trivia expert, nurse, timekeeper,

interpreter, mom, hostess, bus keeper,
peacekeeper, diplomat, flight attendant,
baggage clerk, babysitter, teacher,
entertainment director, photographer,
navigator, climate control manager,
shepherd.
 The Role of the Escort

¾ Ties all segments together

¾ In control at all times
¾ Fair and impartial
¾ Familiar with all aspects of the trip
¾ CVB person or local step on service
¾ Homework
¾ Legal responsibilities
Timeline Checklist

The Devil is in the Details

6 to 5 months before fam

¾Name and theme

¾Bid process
-Bid solicitation
-Bid selection
-Bid confirmation
¾Tentative itinerary
¾Design an invitation
4 to 3 months before fam

¾ Book a motorcoach
¾ Mail invitations
¾ Forms
- letter
- descriptive itinerary
- registration form
- tour & travel profile
¾ Follow up
¾ Confirmations
 1 month before fam

¾Flight manifest
¾Rooming lists
¾Reconfirm all itinerary items & step-ons
¾Directions
¾ Menus
¾Profiles to host
¾Final itinerary with contact information
 2 weeks before fam

¾Personally call all operators again

¾Final details
¾Create an evaluation form
 1 week before fam

¾Reconfirm itinerary and directions

¾Decorations
¾Buy snacks
¾Name badges and luggage tags
¾Make packets for each operator
 Information packets

¾LA Tour Guide and LA highway map

¾Final itinerary
¾One-page map with route highlighted
¾List of other operators on bus
¾Luggage tags
¾Evaluation form
¾Any free time vouchers
 Tips during fam tour

¾ 5 minutes prior to arrival

¾ Operators are your guest
¾ Worry about time and logistics so that your guests
don’t have to
¾ Always count heads before departure
¾ Evaluation
¾ Document any accidents, no matter how minor
¾ Be aware of bathrooms
¾ Be a host
 More tips………..

¾Room keys
¾Luggage
¾Complement information provided by the
step-on
¾Group picture
¾Tip collection
¾Interact with and get to know the operators
 Day after fam

RELAX…you deserve it!

 1 to 2 weeks after fam

¾Thank you notes to the hosts

¾Thank you notes to the operators
¾Calculate results of surveys
6 months or 1 year after fam

¾Survey operators to determine who has

brought or plans to bring business to
Louisiana.
 Supplier Perspective

What is the benefit?

¾Cheapest, easiest way to market
¾Shake every hand, kiss every cheek
¾Show how you complement local itinerary
 Supplier Perspective

¾Make the most of time allotted.

¾Show off “bookable best”
¾Follow up, Follow up, Follow up!
 Question and Answer

Does anyone have any questions or comments

Thank you for coming!