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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.

Fam Tours 2006-2007        
Who When Where What Markets
Click links below to view article that was produced as a result of the corresponding fam trip.
2006
Cheval Pratique 1/6 - 1/15 WY, ID, DEN Media France
Notre Temps 5/3 - 5/14 MT, SD Media France
Voyages d'Affaires 5/16 - 5/26 WY, DEN Media France
Dertour 5/30 - 6/6 DEN, WY, SD Trade Germany
Promotor Magazine 7/19 - 7/27 MT, WY Media Benelux
Surrey Advertiser 7/31 - 8/14 DEN, WY, SD Media UK
Radio RCF 7/31 - 8/3 MT Media France
America Journal 8/11 - 9/5 ID, MT, WY Media Germany
Vanity Fair 8/23 - 9/5 WY, ID Media Italy
Five to Nine 9/2 - 9/9 ID Media Germany
Reise & Preise 9/12 - 9/19 WY Media Germany
Various Travel Magazines/Brinke & Kraenzle 9/21 - 10/9 WY, SD Media Germany
Promotor Magazine 9/24 - 9/26 MT Media Benelux
RMI Mega Fam 9/30 - 10/14 SLC, WY, ID Trade All
2007
Cheval Pratique 1/6 - 1/12 DEN, WY Media France
ZDF 2/2 - 2/10 WY Media Germany
Faszination Ski 2/6 - 2/12 WY Media Germany
La Fabbrica Dei Sogni 2/4 - 2/14 WY, ID Trade Italy
Tuttoturismo 3/6 - 3/13 WY Media Italy
Ski Magazine 3/8 - 3/15 WY Media Benelux
Le Figaro Magazine 5/14 - 5/26 MT, WY, ID Media France
Fuldaer Zeitung/Reise Journal 5/31 - 6/21 ID, WY, MT Media Germany
Guide du Routard 6/9 - 6/21 WY, ID Media France
The Sun Newspaper 6/14 - 6/28 DEN, WY, SD Media UK
Gekofilm 6/24 - 7/3 WY, MT Media Italy
Ramon Kramer Musik and Filmproduction 6/25 - 6/29 MT Media Germany
Latitudesmag.com 8/14 - 8/30 WY, SD Media Italy
America Journal/Thomas Jeier 8/27-10/6 SD, MT, WY Media Germany
SpeakUp Magazine 8/30 - 9/19 WY, SD Media UK
Gil Guiglio 9/11 - 9/19 WY Media France
Various Motor Magazines/Dirk Koester 9/20 - 10/4 WY, SD, MT Media Germany
AmericA Magazine 9/21 - 10/9 MSPB, SD, WY, MT, ID Media Benelux
RMI Mega Fam 9/21 - 10/2 SLC, DEN, ID, MT Trade All
Michael Juhran 9/25 - 10/7 SD, WY Media Germany
Various Travel Magazines/Sciacqua & Benazzi 9/25 - 10/12 MT, ID Media Italy
MAZ 10/10 - 10/25 SD, WY, MT, ID, SLC Media Germany
2008
Cheval Pratique 1/12 - 1/15 DEN Media France
Alidays 1/27 - 2/4 SD, WY Trade Italy
German Ski 2/1 - 2/10 MT, WY, ID Trade Germany
         
 
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