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Familiarization ToursMt. Rushmore Bus, South Dakota Tourism

Familiarization tours (Fam Tours) in which journalists, tour operators or travel agents experience the region first-hand, have been described as the most cost-effective means of marketing a tourism product that exists. In fact, some of the best promotion the RMI region has received in Europe has been a direct result of numerous fam trips. A study done by RMI on a German media fam tour documented over $8,000 of marketing exposure (advertising equivalent) for every $10 spent on in-kind services.

There are two classifications used with fams:

  • Trade - Tour Operators/Travel Agents getting familiar with the region they sell
  • Media - Producing some source of media (newspaper, magazine, book, film, etc.) from experiences on their trip

It was decided several years ago to decrease the number of large, multi-state familiarization tours because airline support was difficult and results of large projects were hard to measure.

The RMI Mega Fams now serve that function and in October of every year, over 30 tour operators experience attractions in two of the four "Real America" states. In addition, smaller, more customized, and more targeted programs (see below) have produced much more real business and exposure for the region than the traditional approach.

RMI thanks our sponsoring airlines as well as all of the destinations and suppliers on the ground who invested in the projects with in-kind services and helped make them so successful. To find our how you can get involved in the fam tours, call your state representative using the contact information to the right.

RMI Fam Tours 2006-2009
2006
2007
2008
2009 Click links below to view article that was produced as a result of the corresponding fam trip.
Who When Where What Markets
Grand Reportages 3/5 - 3/15 ID, WY Media France
Erwin Kennis 5/29 - 6/11 SD, MT, WY Media Benelux
Directours 6/3 - 6/7 WY Trade France
         

 

 
RMI Region Wyoming Idaho South Dakota Montana

State Tourism Offices


Idaho

Idaho Division of Tourism
Karen Ballard - Administrator
Nancy Richardson - International Trade Specialist
700 W. State St., P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0093 USA
PH: 208-334-2470 • FAX: 208-334-2631
www.visitidaho.org nancy.richardson@tourism.idaho.gov


Montana

Montana Department of Commerce - Travel MT
Betsy Baumgart - Administrator
Pam Gosink - Marketing and Overseas Program Mgr
301 South Park, P.O. Box 200533
Helena, MT 59620-0533 USA
PH: 406-841-2870 • FAX: 406-841-2871
www.visitmt.compgosink@mt.gov


South Dakota

South Dakota Department of Tourism
Melissa Bump - Director
Maureen Droz - Trade Sales & Marketing Manager
711 E. Wells Ave., Capital Lake Plaza
Pierre, SD 57501-3369 USA
PH: 605-773-3301 • FAX: 605-773-3256
www.travelsd.com maureen.droz@state.sd.us


Wyoming
Wyoming State Office of Travel and Tourism
Diane Shober - Director
Rita Greene Bellardo - Manager, Travel Trade Marketing
1520 Etchepare Circle
Cheyenne, WY 82007 USA
PH: 307-777-2853 • FAX: 307-777-2877
www.wyomingtourism.org
rita.greene-bellardo@visitwyo.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 
© 2006 Rocky Mountain International