| FAM Trips - Travel for Free! | | | | |
| | | | It will also qualify you for the perks |
| | | | showered on travel professionals on the road. |
| | | | |
| Imagine if you could travel for free? | | | | Airlines don't discount their fares. They |
| | | | will give you a free upgrade to business |
| To go to exotic vacation spots and be | | | | class or even to first class for the price of |
| pampered like royalty? | | | | a coach seat, subject to availability. That |
| | | | can be worth more than $10,000, particularly |
| You don't have to imagine anymore! It happens | | | | on a foreign trip! |
| every day, all around the world. These trips, | | | | |
| free and near free, are called FAM or | | | | Hotels, too will do their part in making you |
| FAMiliarization trips. | | | | feel like royalty when you visit. Often, they |
| | | | will upgrade you to a suite for the price of |
| FAM trips are offered to travel professionals | | | | a regular room! |
| by Tourist Boards, Travel Bureaus, resort | | | | |
| owners, etc. They are charged with promoting | | | | Hertz, Avis etc are not to be left out. |
| tourism to their countries and resorts. Fam | | | | Recently, a friend of mine was given a Hummer |
| trips are a mainstay of their marketing | | | | at the same price as a Jeep! |
| arsenal. | | | | |
| | | | What is required to become a credentialed, |
| What better way to showcase their wares than | | | | home based travel agent? |
| to invite a group of travel professionals to | | | | |
| party and have a great time at their | | | | You have to find a host agency that will sign |
| facilities? | | | | you on as an independent contractor. |
| | | | |
| I have a friend that spent Thanksgiving week | | | | Some agencies will accept you with no |
| traipsing from resort to resort being wined | | | | experience, some will not. Commission rates |
| and dined in Jamaica, WI, courtesy of the | | | | vary from 60-80% of the commissions paid to |
| Jamaica tourist board, for free! | | | | the agency. |
| | | | |
| Another friend is going on a 7 day, | | | | Most host agencies require their agents to |
| Transatlantic journey from New York to | | | | actually work with the clients, one on one, |
| England for $499 on one of the newest, most | | | | following the now antiquated client/agent |
| beautiful cruise ships afloat, the Queen Mary | | | | model. |
| 2. | | | | |
| | | | This requires computer skills, time and |
| The Dominican Republic is especially keen on | | | | expertise on the part of the agent. Also, |
| stimulating tourism. Recent promotions | | | | most clients now prefer the control and |
| included a three day stay at the Sunset Beach | | | | freedom afforded them when they use Internet |
| resort at La Conesta, all inclusive for free. | | | | based travel services such as Expedia, Orbitz |
| And a 7 day vacation at the exclusive | | | | and Travelocity. |
| Johnathan Shores Golf resort for only $55 | | | | |
| night, all inclusive, was also available! | | | | The new, purely Internet based travel agent |
| | | | merely markets his own, Expedia-like travel |
| As you could imagine, they are practically | | | | site to potential clients who book their own |
| giving New Orleans away! Recent listings | | | | travel. |
| included a 7 day/7 night stay in the Latin | | | | |
| Quarter, and an all expense paid, 4 day | | | | The agent makes money while he sleeps, works |
| cruise on the Mighty Mississippi. | | | | his day job, or even while he travels for |
| | | | free! |
| How do you qualify to be invited to travel | | | | |
| for free? | | | | Many Internet based agencies are sold as |
| | | | franchises. American Express sells theirs for |
| You must have the proper travel credentials | | | | $10,000. Magic Johnson, of NBA fame, has just |
| to travel for free. There are three main | | | | rolled out one for $5,000. |
| travel credentials. The IATA card, is the | | | | |
| easiest to obtain and is the one we will zero | | | | Another lesser known entry is YTB, or Your |
| in on. | | | | Travel Biz, which is the fastest growing |
| | | | company in the field, with over 65, 000 |
| You get to use the IATA number of your host | | | | independent agents. |
| travel agency if you are home based. This | | | | |
| credential will qualify you for 60-70% of the | | | | There are many agencies looking for |
| FAM trips | | | | independent agents - YOU can be one too. |