Ever wondered what goes into planning FAM trips? These familiarization trips allow travel advisors to experience destinations firsthand, build relationships with suppliers, and gain valuable knowledge to better serve their clients. However, the planning and execution of a FAM is often underestimated, and there are certain do's and don'ts that advisors should be aware of to ensure a successful experience.

In this episode, Tara D'Agostino & Jamie Jackson of WanderLuxe Destinations discuss the labor-intensive process of planning and executing FAMs, the importance of building relationships with partners, and the expectations and etiquette for advisors attending the FAMs. Tara and Jamie share insights on how they select advisors for each trip, the costs involved, and the significance of respect and engagement during site visits.

About Tara D'Agostino:

Tara, Owner and Managing Director of WanderLuxe Destinations, began her professional career in luxury travel after deciding to transition from the non-profit world where Tara worked for the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, liaising between Seton Hall University and the State of NJ. While travel has always been Tara’s passion, she came to a crossroads where she decided to transition her passion into a career and became a Luxury Travel Advisor with Travelong of Summit in Summit, NJ. As she quickly adapted to the business and her client base grew, Tara was offered a Sales Manager position with Wegner Associates, and began juggling both sides of the trade until fully immersing herself into representation; something she quickly fell in love with! Wendy Wegner and Tara began discussing the succession and future of Wegner Associates, and in March of 2019, Tara acquired ownership, rebranded the company and launched WanderLuxe Destinations on July 1st of 2019.

About Jamie Jackson:

Jamie was born and raised in Bucks County, PA (a suburb of Philadelphia), but knew she would end up in the South. She earned her BA from Elon University in North Carolina where she spent a winter term in Greece and semester abroad in London. Jamie and her husband spent 6 years in Palm Beach County, FL before settling in Charleston, SC where they reside with their two boys. Jamie has a passion for enhancing relationships between advisors, suppliers, and consortia to strategically improve and grow the business for all parties through education and resource development. She believes that travel enables collaboration, innovation, education, and celebration.

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Today we will cover:

(03:00) The background of Wanderlux Destinations
(11:05) Advice for new advisors investing in FAMs
(13:05) Planning and coordination of FAMs
(15:35) Factors considered when selecting advisors
(20:25) Setting expectations and FAM code of conduct
(25:15) Labor costs and expenses associated with organizing FAM trips
(26:35) Showing respect and being professional
(34:20) The high energy spend and empathy required
(40:50) The financial investment and costs involved
(44:00) The impact of cancellations and non-refundable fees
(45:05) Additional cost of tipping and how to financially prepare for a FAM
(49:05) Do's and don'ts of site visits
(53:25) Supplier's perspective on the cost and investment of hosting FAM trips

Listen to Episode 3 - Preparing To Go OOO? Do These Things First

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60. The Cost of A FAM Trip with WanderLuxe Destinations

TIQUE Talks: The Business Podcast for Travel Advisors

60. The Cost of A FAM Trip with WanderLuxe Destinations