In September 2021, Millennials in Travel spent four nights in San Francisco and the Sonoma Valley. This was MIT member Emily Baker of BE The Travel’s first ever familiarization trip as a travel advisor. Here’s what she learned.
Want to travel with Millennials in Travel on a future FAM trip? Visit our FAMs page to learn more and apply for a spot.
Emily Baker poses for a photo in front of the view from Alcatraz Island. Photo courtesy of the author.
I began my career as a travel advisor in May 2020, right as travel came to a halt, borders were closed, and there was no toilet paper, for some reason. It was a risky time to quit my reliable, 9-to-5 job to sell travel, but I am so happy that I took that leap of faith.
As a new travel advisor in this industry right now, cancellations, postponements, COVID-19 tests, and the importance of travel insurance are all very standard—we don’t know any other way. I was excited to attend MIT’s San Francisco and Sonoma FAM and finally have the opportunity to travel, for the first time since I started my career! But as I packed my bags and read over our final itinerary, I felt nervous. We would be in a small group and I didn’t know a soul. Would they be cool? Would I be cool?
Ultimately, the trip was a success and I had an unforgettable time with MIT! Here are six things I learned from my first ever FAM trip:
1. Pack a carry-on suitcase with a variety of clothes
When on a FAM, you’re likely to move hotels at least once. Don’t pack so much that it would cause you stress to unpack, then repack again. Packing a carry-on also gives you more freedom to get in and out of the airport faster, allowing you more time to explore on your own before and after the FAM. A variety of attire is necessary, however, as you’ll be going on hotel inspections, casual activities, to dinners, and exploring on your own. In Northern California, this was all done with varying temperatures! Packing cubes and a light jacket were lifesavers.
2. Tip well
This is an important thing for travel advisors to do whenever we travel, but especially while on a FAM. While we might not be paying out of pocket for most accommodations and activities, the people working hard to make our experience memorable (including drivers, servers, room attendants, and more) deserve to be recognized and compensated. The first thing I did upon check-in to Taj Campton Place in San Francisco was head straight to the ATM. Make sure to be kind and gracious to everyone you meet, as well; if we’ve learned one thing during the pandemic, it’s that we’re all in this together. A generous tip can make a huge difference.
Emily Baker enjoying an afternoon at Ram’s Gate Winery. Photo courtesy of the Joshua Smith.
3. Be present
On our first night, we ate dinner with our hosts around a large, round table. While the conversation was flowing, I made an intentional decision to keep my phone off the table and out of sight. Not only are these good, basic manners, but it showed our hosts at the hotel that I am invested in building a relationship with them and their property. It also contributed towards camaraderie with the group.
4. Post and promote on social media
Being active on social media throughout your trip is a win-win for both you and the destination you are visiting. It allows you to share your experiences with your clients, which builds credibility, as well as provides content for and encourages traffic to the host’s social media channels. Plus, when tagging a hotel, experience or destination, you’ll often receive comments back from them, which helps with the overall engagement of your own channels. It can be difficult to stay in the moment while posting on social media, so I recommend taking all the photos and videos you need, but then waiting to share for when you have some downtime or a break from your hosts.
5. Give feedback
When one of my hotel rooms had a small maintenance issue, I wasn’t sure what to do. “Should I tell the host right away, or wait until after I check out?” After talking to my MIT host, I learned that the correct answer is to communicate any issues right away, so that the hotel can resolve the problem for you and any future guests. Unexpected issues can arise in even the nicest of hotels, and as travel partner, it’s important for us to share honest and constructive feedback. Think too of what you would advise a client to do, should they find themselves in a similar situation!
The Millennials in Travel group poses for a photo while hiking Sonoma Mountain. Photo courtesy of Joshua Smith.
6. Ask questions
Your top priority on a FAM is to experience the destination and make personal connections. It’s not just about connecting with the sponsors (who, in our case, were the hotels), but others in the industry, as well; there was so much value in meeting the local tourism board, our tour guides, and the other FAM participants. I now know who to reach out to if I have questions about topics like Papua New Guinea or Patagonia cruises. Asking thoughtful questions will help you learn more and become a better advisor!
I had the most amazing time with the MIT FAM group. (Plot twist: everyone was super cool!) This trip allowed me to experience two beautiful destinations that I already have clients interested in visiting! I learned many valuable things on this trip, and I can’t wait to continue exploring and learning as more of the world opens up around us.