One of the perks of being in the travel industry are the fam trips. I’ve been involved in the travel industry for over 12 years at the start of my working career. Fam trips had taken me to all the territories of Australia except Western Australia, almost all parts of New Zealand, Borneo, Philippines, USA and many more.Other than destinations, I was entertained by Tourism Boards, cruise ships that docked and sent agents to dine in their fine dining rooms, lowest airfares around the world and also cheap rates for luxurious accommodation.
That was a wonderful life of travel. When I left the industry and had to pay full price, it was really painful. So, what is a fam trip? A fam trip or “familiarizing” trip is a free or highly reduced rate trip offered to travel agents to learn more or get familiarized with a destination, tours, attractions, anything that is related to a travel.
On a recent trip, I asked the front desk of a hotel, how much does an agent pay, it was $85 for a double bed room and how about travel journalist? The answer was $145. There’s a gap of $60 per night.
So what’s the difference between a travel industry personnel and a travel journalist, travel writer or travel blogger?
My frank reply, times have changed…
I’m an online copywriter who gets to write travel articles for some websites and have the privilege to mostly ghost write for travel related websites. I am not a “true” travel blogger like so many wonderful travel bloggers that I follow on Twitter. But we sure are influential in today’s market.
On a given day, I ghost blog about train travel in Italy, honeymoon travels in Hawaii or about seniors and baby boomers traveling with their grandchildren. I write a sales copy about an event or hotel. What do you think I write about? Everything about travels which includes hotels, transportation, the must sees and more. Most importantly…
I make a lot of recommendations…
Yesterday, I was out and about when my sister sent me a text from Switzerland while vacationing with her family. She began to complain about a certain hotel near Roma Termini… how the breakfast was really bad and the staff was rude. I came home and went on Trip Advisor to check this hotel out. Sure enough, they have really bad ratings.
The next time I write about Rome, that hotel will not be mentioned, instead I will recommend one that treated us so fairly, Hotel Dolomiti in Rome.
Hotels, cruise lines and tour operators extend their fam trips for a few reasons:
• Agents get familiarize (fam) and are able to sell the property, the suggested tours or cruise line
• Introducing something new like a new cabin experience, accommodation, dining, entertainment, amenities and many more
• New itinerary
• Create a lasting memory in agents’ minds so when it comes time to sell, the hotels, cruise lines or tours may be the first to be recommended
Don’t you think travel journalists, bloggers or writers deserve the same treatments? How about some of us who ghost blog for certain websites that you are reading daily, who had travel industry experiences and were IATA certified and all the other expired certifications?
Most of the time, to go on media trips, we still need to get the transportation to a destination, pay higher fees than travel agents or we need to have an assignment from at least a publication. Not to forget, the media trips are quite few compared to fam trips (or maybe I am not aware of it).
The Travel Weekly online magazine has several fam trips available for travel agents. One that looks quite appealing is a 13 nights Middle East Tour including airfares, sightseeing, accommodation and some meals and sightseeing for $1323.That’s a fantastic deal and trip.
Noteworthy: This is an agent only trip
My question is, what if I write for an agent? Don’t you think I have the power to influence?
What do you think? Should travel journalist, bloggers and writers have the same perks as agents? Please leave me a comment.
View Claudia Looi's profile
{ 11 comments }
Gosh I would never have known the difference! You make a convincing argument that all should be treated the same not matter what capacity someone is writing as. Perhaps you should send this to someone who has some influence in these matters!
I think it is only fair that you be paid! You have certainly influenced me about travel and specific destinations!!
I most definitely agree with your point of view, Claudia… they would certainly benefit in giving travel writers the same benefits as agents! You are marketing either for them or against them, based on their level of performance!
Great article….Wish I could travel….(sigh)
This is the fourth person that agrees with you Claudia; how much do you need? I had never thought about that, but I know that some organizations send out journalists and such to write for them and I certainly think that all should be paid equally; especially you!!
I will be definately involving an agent what a huge savings. Great article!
So, the question is, how do I become a travel agent? Yes, there’s been lots of talk among travel bloggers and how their/our lack of recognition needs to be addressed. I look forward to a change…
Wow, Claudia! I’d never thought of it that way, but you certainly have influence regarding what destinations are chosen, where people stay, what they do while there, etc. I think that would be awesome!!
What you’re saying does make sense. You are the one actually writing & getting the word out to potential customers.
I always enjoy seeing what you are going to write about & the neat tips you have!
This is a real eye opener. i wonder why this came about? Why the difference? It would seem that most of what we read about travel comes from people like you, not travel agents. I definitely think you should get the same discounts. Food critics get discounts at the restaurants in exchange for their reviews, right? Hmm. I hope this changes for the better.
Hi Claudia,
As a travel blogger, I SHOULD be in total agreement with your well-stated argument. But I’m going to play devil’s advocate here.
Travel bloggers are everywhere — from young college grads to baby boomers and beyond, who are all following the touted gravy train of online money. (whether or not you believe there IS a gravy train doesn’t matter here.)
I wonder if tourist boards, places of lodging, tour operators are getting inundated with requests from travel bloggers to cash in on something — anything — for free. Now I can’t substantiate this because I’ve never asked that direct question, but I do know there are gazillions of travel bloggers out there.
Here’s my perceived difference between a travel agent and a travel blogger:
Agent: You are seriously in business. You had to go through licensing.
Blogger: Get a website — which anyone can do in a matter of minutes.
What I do see is tourist boards inviting proven bloggers on press trips. With the credentials obtained after a blogger attends said trip, then they can get better results from a future cold-call to a hotel, for instance.
We bloggers have to prove ourselves. What do you think?
I think it’s a great topic for an in-depth article!
~Josie