CANCUN — More networking, more training and more site-visit opportunities were on the menu at the beginning of ALG Vacations' new “Megafam” series that started here earlier this month.
A fam trip strategy aims to bring together a large group of advisors on fewer occasions throughout the year to learn about a wholesaler's different products, destinations, and brands.
The four-night Pros on the Go event here will feature more advisors, immersive educational opportunities, workshops, and team-building training sessions than the ALG Vacations fam has ever offered. I got it.
“Through every event and fam, our goal continues to be the education of travel advisors,” said Jackie Marks, Global Head of Trade Brands at ALG Vacations. She says megafams “have a much larger network pool than traditional fams; [advisors] Share insights and ask questions with even more peers. ”
ALG Vacations will host a mega fam of approximately 150 travel advisors twice a year, compared to the 20 fams of 10 to 12 advisors the company previously hosted each year. The first Megafam will be held in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, and the second will be held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from June 9th to 13th.
Kathy Mehring, Midwest regional sales director for ALG Vacations and co-host of Megafam, agreed with Marks, saying that larger fams offer more networking opportunities among advisors, while smaller fams offer more networking opportunities among advisors. He added that face-to-face time between advisors may be limited. for the assigned itinerary.
“In the past, traditional family travel involved assigning a host hotel and itinerary, and agents attending with individual BDMs,” Mehring said. But in this mega fam, he has more time to network by gathering a large group of agents for a day of training and then splitting into smaller groups for events at host hotels. We were able to secure it.”
These megafams share similarities with the brand's flagship ALG Ascend conference. The conference brings together 650 travel advisors and the company's many travel partners over the course of a week. But Marks said Megafam is very much a gathering unto itself.
“We also have workshops and training on the agenda, so it has the feel of a mini-Ascend conference, but it’s still very well-known in terms of providing first-hand experience for advisors,” Marks said. She added that attendees “will not only experience excursions with Amstar, but will also have multiple site visits scheduled.”
Advisor for the 4-day ALG Vacations Pros on the Go event at Breathless Riviera Cancun. It's part of the wholesaler's “Megafam” strategy launched this year.Photo by Nicole Edendo
All-inclusive selection
During the megafam here, more choice was a benefit for advisors. They were able to choose which hotels to tour and which training workshops and excursions to attend, options not previously available in the ALG Vacations fam.
Participants selected several locations for accommodation and site visits, including Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya, Hotel Riu Palace Mexico, Iberostar Gran Paraiso, Breathless Riviera Cancun, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya, and Dreams Aventuras Riviera Maya. There are many resorts to choose from.
Heather Hendricks, East Coast region sales director for ALG Vacations, which co-hosted the megafam with Mehring, said having advisors choose the hotels they will stay at and tour will ensure they find a property that works for them.
“This really gives advisors more flexibility and options to get what they want out of fam,” Hendricks said.
Lindley Deeks, vice president and global travel specialist for Greater Pittsburgh Travel, said the mega-farm offered a more selective selection of resort properties to tour than other farm brands. She said there were so many site visits on these trips that it was sometimes “difficult to remember which resort was which.”
“We loved that this megafam setting combined resort tours, seminars, and time to experience the destination,” Deeks said.
Lindley Deeks, advisor for Greater Pittsburgh Travel, holds up a piñata created by her team of advisors during the ALGV Pros on the Go giving back drive.Photo by Nicole Edendo
learning experience
This mega fam introduced one-day training and workshops not available in ALG Vacations' previous fam. Breakout sessions focused on helping advisors strengthen their businesses and increase sales.
The workshop, titled “In the Money,” led by Mehring and Hendricks focused on how advisors can leverage the ALG Vacations program and its technology to earn more income.
The workshop, hosted by Sandra McLemore, CEO of Travel Marketing & Media, focused on the importance of billing for services.
Stacey Sevarus, an advisor for Rice Lake, Wis.-based Travel Leaders, said the training was “extremely valuable.”
At least one advisor suggested ALG Vacations. Yolanda Corbin, owner of Lux Life Travel in Wilmington, Del., said families are helpful, but giving advisors more time to experience the property and area would enhance the experience. “Let's build a family for at least five days,” she said.