| The travel industry has been going through some | | | | you go home raving about it and send all of your |
| significant changes over the last few years. Mom | | | | friends, family, and clients back at the normal rate |
| and Pop travel agencies are quickly being replaced | | | | (remember, 80% of all travel occurs exactly that |
| by online booking engines like Orbitz or | | | | way). |
| Travelocity. | | | | In a word, FAM Trips are unbelievable. Consider |
| But there is one problem: 80% of all vacations are | | | | this one from FAM News: 10 days in China, |
| taken at the recommendation of a friend. Now of | | | | including all accommodations, transfers, flights, an |
| course this is a good thing, except that Orbitz and | | | | english speaking guide, most meals, and the royal |
| Travelocity don't have very many friends. | | | | treatment, all for $666! The airfare alone costs |
| The travel industry came up with a good hybrid | | | | over $1,000. And because they want you to send |
| solution: give the consumer a chance to partner | | | | your friends and clients on the same trip, it isn't a |
| with these big booking engines and become a | | | | stripped down, no frills excursion at rat-infested |
| travel agent themselves, with all the benefits and | | | | motels. They pull out all the stops to make sure |
| none of the drawbacks, so they can refer their | | | | you have a great time and get back home raving |
| friends and family and everyone wins. This new | | | | about it to all your friends. |
| type of travel agent is known as an Associate | | | | There are thousands of FAM's going on at any |
| Travel Agent, or ATA for short. | | | | given time, all over the world. Some are simple, |
| ATA's get all the benefits of a normal travel | | | | like a weekend ski trip in Colorado including 2 days |
| agent, such as commissions, free upgrades and | | | | of skiing and rentals, a 2 hour lesson, meals, 3 |
| discounts, and FAM Trips (more on FAM Trips in a | | | | nights in a nice lodge, and entertainment for only |
| minute, they're fabulous!). But ATA's don't work | | | | $199, and some go all out, like 11 days in |
| at a traditional travel agency, don't work set | | | | Morrocco for $1,400. |
| hours, and don't have to go to years of | | | | FAM Trips aren't the only benefit of being a travel |
| expensive schooling to get their credentials. You | | | | agent. You can also earn big commissions on |
| can literally become an ATA in a single day, and | | | | travel that you book, and you're given a website |
| you still get the same IATA and CLIA ID card | | | | to send people to so that when they order their |
| that gets you all the same benefits. | | | | travel you get the same commission as if you'd |
| There are lots of books and websites on how to | | | | booked it yourself. You can also refer someone |
| become a travel agent, and they are well worth | | | | who can become an ATA themselves and you |
| looking into. The benefits are absolutely incredible, | | | | earn a $40 bonus, and can earn bonuses and |
| not the least of which are lots of vacations and a | | | | commissions on what they produce, kind of like |
| good income. | | | | building your own virtual travel agency. |
| I'm going to start with my favorite benefit: FAM | | | | Everyone who likes to travel and could use a little |
| Trips. These are "familiarization trips" that are | | | | more money should look into the opportunity of |
| hosted and subsidized by tour operators, | | | | becoming an Associate Travel Agent provides. |
| government tourist boards, and private resorts at | | | | For many people its the ideal lifestyle, combining |
| a fraction of the normal cost. They want you to | | | | the perfect blend of freedom and travel with |
| come on the trip and have such a good time that | | | | money and business. |