This article
originally appeared in the December issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe
here to receive your free copy each month.
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.
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