Getting Familiar With A Familiarisation Trip
There are a lot of people who we suspect may apply for travel agent jobs simply because of the free holidays they believe the position may entail
. This perk of the job can be a reality to a certain extent, so if you want to be a travel agent then bear in mind that part of the position may require taking familiarisation or "fam" trips. For many people, these fam trips are the main draw card of a career in the travel industry, and they can be an important factor in their application for travel agent jobs; but for others, there can be a downside.It is very easy to get carried away when an email or letter arrives with words like "complimentary champagne reception", "free accommodation", and "leisure time to explore the city" emblazoned in bold type across the top. You may begin mentally packing your suitcase while typing the words "yes, yes, yes" in reply. However, before you get too carried away with the romance of it all, let"s just pause for a moment and take a moment to assess the pros and cons of fam trips, and whether these alone should be an important reason for applying to travel agent jobs.
What is the Purpose of a Fam trip?
A fam trip should be seen as a business-led trip and not a "free holiday", and you should keep this factor in mind when you apply for travel agent jobs. They are designed to help you, in your role as an agent, gain more information about the locations, hotels, and countries that you are sending your clients to. Yes, you are basically, in effect, getting a free holiday, but there is also serious work to be done while you are there.
Who is offering the fam trip will dictate exactly what will be expected of you and the extent of the work you will be asked to do. For example, if it is a hotel offering the trip you will need to spend time inspecting the different rooms, the amenities and the services offered. If it is a country"s general tourism association offering the fam, then you will have to spend time on scheduled trips experiencing the variety of activities and attractions that the destination offers.
The normal person spends all year working and saving just so they can enjoy a few weeks away with their family or friends, so their holiday is extremely important to them. Travel agents need to make sure they advise their clients honestly and astutely and provide the best holidays they can; these fams must be seen not as "jollies", but as serious business and research trips.
The Future of the Fam
For those applying for travel agent jobs, it might be worth noting that the future of fams is uncertain. There are many factors working against the concept and logistics behind such trips. One consideration is the environmental impact of mass fam trips, especially in this day and age of sophisticated technology when travel agents could learn almost as much about particular destinations through online or virtual means. Some people also believe that in the current economic climate, paying for travel agents to fly out on these potentially expensive trips is morally wrong when jobs are being slashed across the board. But in the cold, hard, light of a holiday, could a video really replace experiencing a destination first hand? Many people believe not, and still consider these fam trips to be an essential part of the travel industry.
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