Readers Speak: Are Fam' Trips Worth the Time?

Gary Tufel -- Tradeshow Week, 7/10/2006

Fam' trips are sometimes viewed as necessary evils by event planners. Taking a few days out of the office and away from pressing deadlines to look at what appear to be countless hotels and venues may seem like an inconvenience, but it can also be a source of valuable information for meeting and tradeshow planners. Tradeshow Week Contributing Editor Gary Tufel asked some planners about the last fam' trip they went on, whether it was worthwhile from a business perspective and if they booked any business as a result of the trip.

"Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment was the latest fam'-educational tour my staff and I attended. It was excellent. We have booked space at the Rio, a Harrah's property, for our upcoming Natl. Contractor Conference & Trade Show. We expect 1,200 residential service business owners to attend the event.

"Fam' tours are an integral part of what we do. They allow us to see everything in action, and I believe it's the only way to book space. You get a look at how the city's moving parts work together, what the service level is like, who excels at what they do. In fact, I've never booked in a city without having attended a fam.'"

Tessie McKinney, Director, Natl. Contractor Conference & Trade Show, American Home Shield

"The most recent was the Florida Encounter, and it was very worthwhile. I absolutely did book business there. There were several Florida properties that we had pre-booked meetings with that were the right size for our event. So that was very effective, and it saved time for us and for them."

Dorothy Sikkila, Exhibit manager, Natl. Assn. of Collegiate Directors of Athletics

"Quebec City, and it was very worthwhile. I did book business as a result. The fam' gave me a perspective on the city. One issue was the number of flights in, and I found that information out and how I could make the situation better because I discussed it with the fam' organizers.

"I also got to experience the city, including on my leisure time, as our attendees would experience it. Finally, all our fam' meetings were held in the same venue that our event was to be held in."

Kathy Smith, Director of meetings, American Assn. of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine

"I've been on several fam' trips and have found them to be most worthwhile. When we (the Gourmet Housewares Show) decided to collocate with another show two years ago, we had not been to Las Vegas for 10 years. What an amazing change we witnessed.

"The hotel and restaurant choices are obvious, the expanded exhibit facilities, the tram ... It was a whole new story. And since we're going to Orlando in 2007, we have also visited there and plan to go back at least once again prior to the show.

"These trips allow us to experience the locations as a new attendee or exhibitor would. We are able to get a feel for the location, the hall and its layout, meeting room access, special event venues, hotel proximity to the center, and other issues that exhibitors and attendees want to know about."

Susan Corwin, Vice president and show manager, George Little Management

"Just this month, I had the good fortune to attend a fam' in Cancun, Mexico. Part of a larger meeting, the fam' gave us the opportunity to see how well the area is coming back after the disastrous Hurricane Wilma last October, which virtually shut down Cancun as a destination.

"I was partly there to scope out the destination for a client that wanted to put an incentive group there, but was concerned about the rebuilding effort. The tours and outings gave me a positive feel for the area and I was amazed at how well the rebuilding is progressing. Many resorts are being enhanced and upgraded rather than merely refurbished.

"The government, the hospitality industry and the financial community seem to be working well together to bring back Cancun quickly and better than it was before the storm.

"Was it worthwhile? A resounding yes."

Douglas Gilstrap, Director of sales, worldwide accounts, Hilton Sales Worldwide-Western Region