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