Short for Familiarization Trip, FAMs are provided by travel suppliers like hotels, cruise lines, resorts, vacation and tour companies, tourism boards...

• Exclusively for Travel Agents (spouse/companion usually welcome at the same rate or with a modest supplement)
• To "familiarize" you with their travel offerings
• To encourage your recommendations and sales
• Deep discounts - often up to 80%! - to help you travel more
• NOT commissionable to InteleTravel.com or you

HOW DO I FIND FAMS?

Our online E-Newsletter, InteleBytes, regularly delivers the latest FAM offers to your email box. Find an archive of past issues by logging onto the Agents Only area of InteleTravel.com (with your PIN and password), and clicking on InteleBytes (in the Agent Menu at left). In the Agent Menu you can also click on the FAMs link for a library of FAMs from the past year - many still available. For thousands more, InteleTravel.com recommends a subscription to FAMNews, the industry's most comprehensive resource for Travel Agent reduced rate offers. The FAMs link contains a special subscription offer just for InteleTravel.com Agents.

TO BOOK

Contact suppliers with the information listed. Remember, these offers are at the discretion of suppliers. Some are last-minute, others are available long term, even year-round. You are an Independent Travel Agent with InteleTravel.com, a recognized and accredited agency (See your Welcome Letter email for the agency's industry numeric codes (IATA, CLIA, etc.) Don't confuse them with your PIN number which is for internal InteleTravel use only). 

Always confirm the qualifications required by the supplier; a few FAMs may be reserved for Agents who have proven their ability to sell travel. 

If you need more help, please let us know. 

1. Contact the suppliers of your choice and research your options. Identify yourself as an Independent Travel Agent with InteleTravel.com. Request an "industry rate", "educational rate", "travel professional rate", "courtesy rate", "FAM rate", etc. TIP: Use as many terms as possible, as all Suppliers use different terminology. Do NOT request discounts from Airlines. Discounts from Cruise Lines usually require CLIA membership, though some FAM cruises do not (see FAMs above). See other FAQs on this list for more details on CLIA, Airlines or FAMs. Once you have selected your travel arrangements...
2. Provide the Agency's Numeric Industry Codes. You are an Independent Travel Agent with InteleTravel.com, an ARC and CLIA endorsed agency (your PIN is for internal InteleTravel use only). NOTE: When speaking with suppliers, do NOT change the InteleTravel's official agency address and contact information to your own personal information.
3. What if a Travel Agent rate is not available? Can you be flexible with your travel dates? If still no luck, politely thank the Supplier representative and move on to another choice. With a few phone calls, you will find the arrangements you need. NEVER argue with a Supplier. See IMPORTANT note below.
4. Confirm Qualifications Will the supplier require a professionally printed travel agent business card, an authorization on agency letterhead (provided with your welcome email), etc.? 
5. What is the rate for non-Agent spouse or companions traveling with you? Typically, Suppliers will extend Travel Agent privileges to non-Agent Spouses or other companions as long as they are traveling with the Agent. Often suppliers will limit these privileges in some way. Common limitations are: One hotel room/cabin/car per Travel Agent; or a maximum number of non-Agent guests at the reduced rate. Occasionally, Suppliers will charge a modest supplement over the Agent rate for non-Agent companions, still representing a significant discount from public pricing. Many Independent Travel Agents find it advantageous to enroll their Spouses or regular traveling companions as Independent Travel Agents for this reason. The enrollment fee can often be recovered in the savings on just one trip.
6. Cancellation policy/Confirmation number Make sure you get this information and understand the cancellation policy and any penalties clearly.
7. Trip protection (travel insurance) InteleTravel.com STRONGLY RECOMMENDS trip protection whenever available.
8. Remember that at all times you represent the company and thousands of fellow Independent Travel Agents around the world. Please be professional and polite regardless of the circumstances.

IMPORTANT: These offers are at the discretion of Suppliers. They are privileges which can be taken from you if your actions do not reflect well on the professionalism of your fellow Independent Travel Agents or InteleTravel.com. 

PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENT PRIVILEGES

• HOTELS - Travel Agent Rates, Upgrades & Other VIP Attention
• CAR RENTAL - Travel Agent Rates, Upgrades & Other VIP Attention
• CRUISES - Travel Agent Rates, Upgrades & Other VIP Attention
• VACATIONS & TOURS - FAM Trips, Travel Agent Rates, Upgrades & VIP Attention
• THEME PARKS SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS - Travel Agent Rates & Other VIP Attention
• RAIL - Travel Agent Rates, Upgrades & Other VIP Attention
• AIRLINES - RARE: Upgrades & Other VIP Attention

NON-AGENT SPOUSE OR COMPANIONS

Typically, Suppliers will extend Travel Agent privileges to non-Agent Spouses or other companions as long as they are traveling with the Agent. Often suppliers will limit these privileges in some way. Common limitations are: One hotel room/cabin/car per Travel Agent; or a maximum number of non-Agent guests at the reduced rate. Occasionally, Suppliers will charge a modest supplement over the Agent rate for non-Agent companions, still representing a significant discount from public pricing. Many Independent Travel Agents find it advantageous to enroll their Spouses or regular traveling companions as Independent Travel Agents for this reason. The enrollment fee can often be recovered in the savings on just one trip.

AIRLINE DISCOUNTS

Travel Agent Discounts on airline tickets (sometimes referred to as AD75 or similar) have become rare, and no longer represent a value to you. Discounts, when they are available, are taken off the highest possible fare and do not compare favorably with well-searched public fares. In addition, Travel Agent Airline Discounts are subject to very limited availability and heavy restrictions - including stand by status (highly susceptible to "bumping") - that can interrupt your travel plans.