fam trip pdf

Fam Etiquette Guide Lines

• Fam Trip (or known in our industry as “FAM”) is a reduced rate trip for travel professionals to familiarize agents with the destination, service and product.
• FamTrips.travel and our suppliers work hard to offer agents the most educational and exciting tours possible at substantially reduced rates. These trips take months of planning and a lot of hard work. Please be respectful of your hosts and tour conductors.
• If you have complaints about a tour or property, do not complain while on your trip to local staff. After your FAM you may provide us your honest opinion of the FAM at that time.
• Come prepared. Pack appropriate shoes and clothes for the climate and destination. Most FAMs include lots of walking during the day and some kind of reception or meal function in the evenings. Many of the restaurants have dress codes so be sure to bring more formal or business attire clothes if suggested. During the tour portion of the trip short-shorts and revealing clothes are not allowed. If you are unsure of what to pack, please ask FamTrips.travel.
• Showing up to events obviously drunk or intoxicated in some way is forbidden.
• Be on time! Many of our tours require a strict schedule. Make sure that you are on time for all scheduled events. Being late for any tour or scheduled event causes problems for tour guides and ground operations.
• Do not discuss with other guests what you paid for your stay.
• Do not solicit guests to book with your travel business.
• Do not interrupt, talk, walk away or ‘do your own thing’ while your guide is talking.
• Be Neat. While participating in on-site inspections; never sit on the beds, and be sure never to leave anything behind. This includes leaving trash in the trash cans or toilets. These rooms or cabins have already been cleaned for the next guests checking in and should be left the way you found them.
• Do not act entitled! We cannot stress this enough. One of the main complaints we receive from tour suppliers is that so many travel agents feel entitled. It is not only rude but portrays a poor image for your group and our industry.
• Tipping- Unless notated, gratuities are not included. Please be generous with your tips.
• Please communicate your desire to make changes to your tour leader or host. Changing your flight arrangements, room or cabin number during your FAM and not telling them, causes many problems.
• Remember you are on a FAM Trip and not a personal vacation. Most land FAMS are fast paced and intended to show you as much as possible for the time allotted.
• Take notes and lots of photos. Sure you want to experience the destination and the delicious meals but more importantly, you want to remember details so that you can tell your clients all about the destination or product.
• Enjoy your FAM experience and please take note of our FAM Etiquette guide lines. Good FAM Etiquette will allow you to be invited on future FAMS and helps to insure you stay off industry ‘Black Lists’.

FAM Trip Checklist for Travel Advisors

As we head into the fall, we look forward to things cooling down a bit – the temperature, and maybe even your workload! If fall is a slower season for you, this might be the optimal time to plan a FAM trip. A FAM trip, or a familiarization trip, is a vacation exclusively for travel agents that is either free or deeply discounted by travel vendors, hotels, resorts, or cruise lines. The purpose of a FAM trip is to help a travel agent become familiar with the products and services travel vendors offer so they can help their clients choose the perfect vacation package.

FAM trips are one of the many fun parts about being a travel agent. But what many of your friends may not realize, is that it’s also a work trip! In order to make the most of any FAM trip travel agents ask questions, make notes, and take any learning experience that comes their way. If you’re getting ready for an upcoming FAM trip, make sure you’re checking off a few important to-do’s.

➡️ Related: 8 Ways for TA’s to Stay Productive During a Slow Season

Get Ready for Your Next FAM Trip

1. set goals for yourself.

Don’t leave home without writing down goals for your trip! What do you hope to learn, try or see? Once you have your goals, figure out how you will accomplish them, whether it’s adding something to your itinerary or connecting with a vendor you want to work with.

2. Try new things

Even if you have a narrow target demographic, your clients represent a diverse group of interests and preferences. Put some unique experiences and outings on your itinerary. Try a wide range of activities that will cater to all of your clients.

3. Take trips that fit your niche

Of course, take some trips just for you to enjoy! But make sure you are also staying up-to-date with the ins and outs of your niche . Take a trip (or multiple!) specific to your niche each year. There will always be something new to learn!

4. Take notes

Keep a little notepad with you for taking specific notes you might be more likely to forget when you return home. When taking notes, think about some of the most frequently asked questions you get from clients and jot down info you think would benefit them the most.

5. Let travel frustrations be learning experiences

Rather than be frustrated with a travel delay (problem), look at it as a learning experience. Any problem you run into is one you can now help your clients avoid. Any problem you experience (and survive!) just gives you that much more credibility to advise your clients.

6. Network while you’re there

A good industry network is PRICELESS to travel agents. This is because relationships with travel vendors is one thing your clients do not have and cannot buy. A FAM trip is a great time to do a little networking !

7. Ask questions

Good questions – the best way to learn! Ask vendors specific questions about their properties, tours, excursions and whatever else your clients might need to know.

8. Take photos and videos

You don’t have to be the world’s greatest photographer. But you can still improve your photography and videography skills! Travel marketing is 90% visual so you cannot overlook the skill of getting some high quality photos to share with potential clients. Take some time to learn photography basics, then make sure you are capturing some good stuff while you’re traveling!

Shawna Levet

Shawna is passionate about helping travel agents grow their business and expand their knowledge as travel experts. She has been in the travel industry since 2011, helping agents and travelers alike find the best negotiated airfare and travel coverage to meet their needs.

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Familiarisation Trip ‐ Fam Trip"; An Effective Tool for Touristic Promotion and Development. The Case of the Fam Trips organized by TIF‐HELEXPO in the context of the International Tourism Exhibition “Philoxenia 2016” & “Philoxenia 2017”

In the framework of the intense competition developed among touristic destinations, new and effective tools for touristic promotion are constantly being seeked and developed. Under this spectrum and in an effort to offer an experiential approach to travel agents, tour operators and other tourism professionals, 3-day Familiarization Trips (hereof referred to as “Fam Trips”) are organized in various regions of Greece. These Fam Trips constitute a means for the promotion of the specific host destination directly to selected and targeted tourism professionals who are thus provided with a “first hand” experience of the advantages that the specific destinations have to offer to their visitors. In this report, a research on the effectiveness of the Familiarization Trip as a tool for touristic promotion and development is attempted. This research shall include two parts: initially, the careful study of the international bibliography on this topic and subsequently a focus on the specific case of the Fam Trips organized by TIF-HELEXPO in the context of “Philoxenia 2016 &2017” Exhibition. In particular, for the inspection of this case study, primary research was carried out with the use of questionnaires for the examination of the perceptions and opinions of the tour operators who participated in the specific Fam Trips, but also of the level of accomplishment of the basic objectives of the Fam Trips, namely the improvement of the image of Greece as a touristic destination and the intention of the tour operators to promote the particular host destinations and Greece as a country to their clients. Keywords: Familiarization Trip (Fam Trips), touristic promotion, TIF-HELEXPO, Philoxenia

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Understanding FAM Trips in the Travel Industry

In the dynamic and competitive world of the travel industry, professionals often rely on various strategies to promote destinations, accommodations, and experiences to potential travelers. One such strategy that is commonly used is the FAM trip, which stands for familiarization trip. FAM trips play a crucial role in allowing travel agents, tour operators, and other industry professionals to gain firsthand knowledge and experience of a destination or a specific product.

Definition of FAM Trip

A FAM trip is a promotional trip offered by travel suppliers or destination management organizations to travel industry professionals. The main purpose of a FAM trip is to familiarize these professionals with a particular destination, hotel, cruise ship, tour package, or other travel products. By experiencing the destination or product firsthand, travel professionals can better promote it to their clients with confidence and authenticity.

Who Participates in FAM Trips?

Participants in FAM trips typically include travel agents, tour operators, travel bloggers, journalists, meeting planners, and other industry professionals who play a role in promoting and selling travel products. These individuals are invited by travel suppliers or tourism boards to experience the destination or product firsthand. FAM trips are often organized for specific niches, such as luxury travel, adventure travel, culinary tourism, or eco-tourism, to cater to the interests of the participants.

Benefits of FAM Trips

Participating in a FAM trip offers several benefits to travel industry professionals:

• Product Knowledge: FAM trips provide firsthand experience of a destination or product, allowing participants to gain in-depth knowledge that cannot be obtained from brochures or websites.
• Networking Opportunities: FAM trips bring together industry professionals, providing opportunities to network, build relationships, and collaborate on future business opportunities.
• Content Creation: Travel bloggers, journalists, and social media influencers can create engaging content based on their FAM trip experiences, which can help promote the destination or product to a wider audience.
• Confidence in Selling: Having experienced the destination or product firsthand, travel agents and tour operators can sell it more effectively to their clients, leading to increased bookings and customer satisfaction.

How FAM Trips are Organized

FAM trips are typically organized by travel suppliers, such as hotels, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, and tourism boards. These organizations collaborate with travel agencies or industry associations to invite participants to join the trip. The itinerary of a FAM trip is carefully planned to showcase the highlights of the destination or product, including accommodations, attractions, activities, and dining experiences.

Participants in a FAM trip are often hosted by the travel supplier, which means that their accommodations, meals, transportation, and activities are covered or subsidized. In return, participants are expected to promote the destination or product through their networks and channels after the trip.

Best Practices for FAM Trips

While FAM trips offer valuable opportunities for industry professionals, it is important to approach them with professionalism and respect. Here are some best practices to consider when participating in a FAM trip:

• Be Prepared: Research the destination or product before the trip to have a basic understanding of what to expect.
• Engage and Interact: Take advantage of networking opportunities and engage with other participants and hosts during the trip.
• Respect the Itinerary: Follow the planned itinerary and be punctual for all activities to make the most of the experience.
• Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback to the travel supplier after the trip to help improve the experience for future participants.
• Promote Responsibly: Share your experiences authentically and responsibly through your channels, keeping in mind the interests of your audience.

FAM trips play a vital role in the travel industry by offering industry professionals the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge and experience of destinations and travel products. By participating in FAM trips, travel agents, tour operators, and other professionals can enhance their product knowledge, build relationships, create engaging content, and ultimately increase their sales and customer satisfaction. Approaching FAM trips with professionalism, respect, and a spirit of collaboration can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes for both the participants and the travel suppliers.

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3 tips to stand out with the most memorable fam trips.

• January 29, 2021

• Fam trips as sales opportunity

In the tourism industry, a Fam trip is one of the biggest sales opportunities. As a tour operator, you have the potential to put your destination and your business on the map. The main aim of a Fam trip is to network, build relationships and to personally promote your tourism products.

Definition of a Fam trip

Fam is short for Familiarisation. A Fam trip is a complimentary or reduced-rate travel program for travel agents, tour operators and travel media. It’s designed to familiarise themselves with a specific destination or business. All this to experience the tourism product first-hand and to stimulate sale of travel.

Make a positive impression

Many destinations and tourism experiences are fantastic, but if the Fam trip experience is weak, the entire destination and experience will appear weak in the eyes of your guests. Always keep in mind that your Fam trip guests are well travelled, have high expectations and are requesting good hospitality. It will not be their first Fam trip. The Fam trip is your time to be memorable, so make sure to make a positive impression!

In this article

• Tip 1: Connection
• Tip 2: Curiosity
• Tip 3: Stand out

Virtual Fam trips

Top 3 tips for an epic fam trip.

To find out what makes the perfect Fam trip, we have conducted a survey with key industry leaders. We have found the top three things that are game changers in your fam trip experience.

1. Connection

The number one answer our surveyed leaders saw as a changemaker in a Fam trip is the “Who?”. Meaning who is conducting the Fam trip and can this person deliver and create real connections? Can they read verbal and non-verbal cues? Can they invoke excitement curiosity adding value to the overall experience?

“I felt the Fam trip was about me” – someone shared. Displaying your destination and tourism products is first priority, but should it be? This may sound strange, but your top priority should be building a connection with your Fam-guests. Only then you will be able to fully connect them to your destination and tourism products. Only then are you able to show its uniqueness and its potential!

2. Curiosity

When developing your Fam trip, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do we have in our destination that can spark curiosity?
• What can I teach my Fam-guests about our destination and tourism products?

Personal experience

Personally, I have travelled to many destinations. Many places stand out, but some places piqued my curiosity! When I was in Guatemala visiting a Mayan site, I looked down to the ground and saw an object wondering what it was. I thought: What’s that? What’s inside?

The guide quickly noticed my curiosity and picked up the nut, and asked: “Claudine, do you know what’s inside?” I replied, “some sort of nut?” He then shared that it was an almond. “Let’s see what’s inside.”, he said. He took a rock and hit the nut 3 times. He then said: “take a look”. He gave me the nut and asked me to open it up carefully. And there it was, an almond. My almond which I got to see, touch, smell, and taste. It was a full moment of discovery, and this story stays with me!

My curiosity was sparked, and I learned something new and delicious. What’s an everyday moment for you is a unique experience for a visitor. Always stay connected, looking for any opportunity to add value. Invoking moments of curiosity and surprise. You want your Fam-guests to be excited and share their experience passionately with their clients, your potential customers!

3. Stand out

What will you do differently to stand out and be remembered? My best example of a destination standing out is Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea. Having travelled extensively, I will never forget the way Grenadian culture and people stood out. I was invited to a local home to join in a traditional local meal called an “oil down”. A meal prepared with care with ingredients from their own garden. It was hands down the most epic dish around.

The experience was not just going to a home and eating a traditional meal. It was a discovery. An insight to their family, culture and lifestyle. For that time, I became part of the family and the island. Every single part of this experience drew me closer to the local culture. Creating a strong bond not only to the family and the experience, but to the destination. Grenada stood out!

In times of Covid-19 , physical Fam trips have been cancelled until further notice. As alternative, the Virtual Fam trip gained more interest. Virtual Fam trips allow invitees to learn more about the destination from their own homes via video. It’s a great temporary alternative for an actual Fam trip. It allows tour operators and destinations to stay in touch with their re-sellers while receiving feedback on their tourism products.

Top 3 tips for Virtual Fam trips

1. Bring the experience alive. You are behind a screen so the body language, the smile and the experience needs to be a bit more animated!

2. Communicate in an inclusive manner. Say things like “We are going to the museum” instead of ‘I will show you the museum”. Key words can make someone feel part of the journey, as if they are there with you!

3. Study your audience. Know what they like, dislike and what their interests are. Doing your homework will help you connect better!

Remember the top three game changers

Decide what kind of Fam trip you want to host and don’t forget the three game changers. Keep looking for opportunities to put your destination on the map and get ready. Before your next Fam trip, remember to focus on personal connections, creating curiosity and to stand out!

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Wow, these are great ideas! This could really ensure an amazing travel experience. How do I get connected with these types of providers?

Wow! Thanks for the message! Where are you located Amy? Reach out, I’m on LinkedIn: Claudine Pohl

Keep Shining, Claudine

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Best practices for attending a hosted familiarization trip

• February 20, 2018
• Meetings and Business Events Industry

The best way for a meeting planner to determine if a destination is a good fit for their meetings and conferences is by attending a familiarization trip, or FAM, to the destination.

I recently wrote an article for destinations and hotels about FAM best practices and how to plan a perfect FAM. As the meeting planner attending the FAM, there are also things you can do to make the FAM a success for all parties.

Why are FAMs important? For meeting planners, FAMs work because they provide a holistic view of what their program would look like in a destination – from ease of access, hotels and offsites, local beauty and amenities, and ease of doing business. All factors contribute to a meeting planner’s decision to use a destination. For site selection professionals, many of their clients lean on these industry experts to advise them on destination that make sense for their program’s goals. FAMs are education-based opportunities, not vacations. A lot has been said about the ethics of meeting planners who attend site visits. FAMs can be a lot of fun, and sometimes are viewed as a right of the meeting planner who need a break from their stressful schedules. If you follow this one key guideline as a FAM attendee, all your actions will set you up as a respected member of the meetings community:

FAM’s are a privilege, and an education-based opportunity for me to service my clients to the fullest of my abilities.

Whether you are a seasoned planner, or looking at your first FAM opportunity, keep the following tips in mind to ensure you get the most out of your time away from the office attending a familiarization trip.

• Be honest – the FAM destination and partners will ask about your business potential for the region. Please don’t mislead them, be honest about the opportunity. If you’ve never booked a destination before, be honest about that too!  You may have never booked it because you weren’t familiar with the region, which is the whole reason for the FAM!
• Have organizational support – some companies have guidelines around attending FAMs; please ensure you are following the guidelines, and have business potential for the region.
• Commit only if you can commit – I often see planners who cancel out of FAMs at the last minute, which leaves hosts in the lurch as they have planned on your attendance. Please commit only if you can commit, and prepare for those days away from home and the office.
• Attend all agenda functions – do not skip on functions to tend to emails or other business. Treat this as a mandatory part of your job; a “must do” meeting versus an optional appointment.  Prepare for your time away by communicating with colleagues and clients that you are attending a familiarization trip requires your full attention, and schedule your tasks accordingly
• Be on time – FAMs are work meetings, please respect the time of your work colleagues and be on time for all functions
• Take notes – whether you like to use a notebook, your phone/iPad, or document your notes using pictures and business cards, please take notes throughout the trip.  Use this site visit notes worksheet as a great note-taking tool.  This will be your best way of retaining the information for future use, and shows your hosts that you taking this learning opportunity seriously.
• Ask questions – this is your time to ensure all your unanswered questions about a destination or venue are asked – ASK AWAY – your hosts will appreciate the engagement and dialogue that all FAM members will benefit from
• Limit alcohol – take the lead of your host on drinking alcohol at an event. Its ok to indulge, but remember this is work function (think office Christmas party guidelines….)
• Send thank you’s – whether electronically or hand-written, send thank you’s to your event hosts. The number of participating venues, and their involvement may dictate who you send thank you’s to, but ensure your main hosts are acknowledged for their time, talent and money spent on your attendance.
• Share the knowledge – if you have other colleagues or client’s that would benefit from the information you learned about a region or venue, make a plan to share your notes and take-aways from the FAM.

While FAM’s can be a ton of fun, they are still also a ton of work and should be viewed as an educational program. If you attending familiarization trips are part of your role as a meeting planner, are there any tips you’d like to share with your #eventprofs peeps?

RELATED – Planning the Perfect FAM for your Meeting Planner Clients

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What You Should Know About a FAM Trip

Annie Brigham, Digital Marketing Coordinator

What is a FAM trip?

Who attends a fam trip, who pays for a fam trip.

What are the benefits of a FAM trip for Travel Agents and Media Personnel?

What are the benefits of a FAM trip for the Hosts?

What are some things to keep in mind when planning a FAM trip?

A FAM trip stands for “familiarization trip” and is one incentive of being in the travel industry. FAM trips are exclusive educational trips for travel agents, media personnel, and resellers. These familiarization trips provided by travel businesses such as travel operators, tour operators, and accommodation suppliers allow them to experience their services and destinations first-hand. FAM trips are opportunities for travel businesses to familiarize agents and media personnel with their destination and immerse them in the local culture, introduce them to local operators, and highlight the benefits their company offers, essentially take them backstage. For instance, they can have the opportunity to meet a celebrity chef that they have been referring their clients to.

The usual people presented on these trips are Travel Agents, suppliers, and media partners such as Journalists, Editors, Influencers, & Tour Operators. These individuals are necessary for countless travel businesses’ success, and as suppliers and travel operators, you are looking to build a long-term working relationship with them. The aim is to keep track of key industry influencers and invite people relevant to your industry’s success. These invitations may rope in a travel agent you have worked with in the past, who you want to enhance your relationship with or introduce new offerings to, or a new prospect who has recently jumped on your radar who can potentially help you collect new business.

Though FAM trips are endlessly changing and evolving, and differentiate per business, tour operators, cruise lines, and hotels interested in showcasing their points of interest typically provide everything for these trips. FAM trips are more often than not fully sponsored invite-only events unless there is a partnership with a rental car company or airline that exists. Sponsorships are customary because the host provides the money or product in exchange for their visit.

What are the benefits of a FAM trip to Travel Agents and Media Personnel?

Familiarization trips present numerous benefits to the attendees. The head benefit of a FAM trip is that it allows travel agents and other travel industry providers to gain ideal first-hand experience. This involvement enables them to understand better the several benefits that different kinds of trip excursions offer to their clients. As a result, they can better supply the perfect services and vacations to their client based on their desires and needs and effectively inform their clients on what they can expect. In addition, media personnel, travel writers and editors, and photographers can gain first-hand experience that can help provide better content, details, and photographs for their future publications. These trips grant journalists opportunities to develop tailored stories that they may want to develop further. For example, the trip may introduce them to a chef who has a fascinating life story or recipe to share. A further benefit is that the FAM trip guests can expand their professional network by building connections with other travel agents, suppliers, and media personnel; most FAM trips embrace downtime to relax with other professionals. This schedule allows them time to get in touch with industry experts and exchange stories on what has worked for their business. By developing long-lasting relationships with travel operators and suppliers, they will also acquire better deals for themselves and their future clients.

What are the benefits of a FAM trip to the Hosts?

Arranging a “familiarization trip” is a valuable marketing tool. As a host of a FAM trip, one benefit is that you can generate new leads and business for your company. By permitting these professionals to gain first-hand experience with your products, they will better understand and share the benefits of your travel offerings with their clients. When it comes to benefits from hosting media personnel is that you are enhancing your media coverage; travel writers and photographers take part in these trips to photograph your offerings and compose content. If you can impress and inspire your guests during a FAM trip, then you should be able to generate first-rate reviews and recommendations for your travel business. For example, one of our clients , Arizona, invited an Editor in Chief on a FAM trip to their destination. The Editor in Chief made a customized trip with a luxury angle and published over 20 full pages of material about the destination and included them in the cover. The clients were very thankful for these results and said that the benefits of these results were worth more than five times that than the overall cost of the FAM trip.

After conversing with some of our employees regarding their client’s FAM trip success stories, we have put together some things we think you should consider when planning your FAM trip: You must research and plan the trip and itinerary during the FAM trip planning stage according to your media personnel and travel agent’s profiles. Look at their previous publications and create activities that they will find appealing, craft experiences with multiple “wow factors” that they can share in their publications. Keep in mind that it is up to the criteria of your guest when it comes to what will get published; not everything that they experience will be incorporated. Provide thorough itineraries and trip information as soon as possible in the planning process; this will allow your FAM trip guests to raise any concerns or questions ahead of time and will enable you to customize their stay exceedingly well. When crafting a detailed itinerary for your guests, you must also be mindful of their time on your trip; you must provide a good balance of activities and educational events with free time to relax and take a breather. Lastly, put together a plan for contingencies; keep in mind that not everything will go to plan. It would be safest to prepare for anything from a last-minute guest cancellation up to flight cancelations, emergencies, or lockdowns. But, again, it is better to over plan.

Special thanks to our Connect Worldwide FAM trip experts Eduardo Peraza and Pedro Berruecos for contributing to this article. Contact us today if you are looking for a destination marketing partner or are interested in learning more about attending, planning or hosting a FAM trip.

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Home / Fairfield News

Fairfield wins 2024 Fam Trip of the Year Award from Midwest Travel Network

Jun. 19, 2024 2:42 pm

The Visit Fairfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Fam Trip of the Year Award by the Midwest Travel Network. This accolade celebrates Fairfield’s exceptional efforts in hosting familiarization (FAM) tours that significantly boost regional tourism awareness and economic activity.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, Visit Fairfield organized three outstanding FAM tours, welcoming a total of 18 travel writers from across the Midwest, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, Michigan, and Iowa. These tours were meticulously curated to showcase the unique attractions and experiences that Fairfield offers, from its vibrant arts scene and international dining to its serene natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

The impact of these FAM tours has been profound, with participating writers amplifying their experiences through social media, blogs, and newspaper articles, greatly enhancing Fairfield’s profile as a must-visit destination.

"The Midwest Travel Network’s recognition is a testament to Fairfield's allure as a destination in the Midwest," said Terry Baker, Director of Visit Fairfield. "These FAM trips serve as a cornerstone for our strategy to invigorate local tourism and underscore the significant role small-town charm plays in drawing visitors looking for authentic, memorable experiences."

Veronica Bareman, from Hip Grandma Life, visited Fairfield in May of 2024 and commented "Fairfield is one of the most unique destinations I’ve visited- and the vibe definitely calls for Destination of the Year!"

Fairfield's food scene has attracted Tom and Kristi Manus from Small Town, Plus Size, to make several FAM trip visits. They call Fairfield "a culinary oasis in a small-town setting". Dusty & Kelly Ratcliff from The Dining Duster blog, specialize in vegan eateries and created a blog about the best things to do in Fairfield in 48 hours. Their guide to vegan eating in Fairfield has become an important part of Visit Fairfield's marketing.

The success of these FAM tours underscores the importance of word-of-mouth marketing in building the credibility of small towns as tourist destinations. This type of exposure is invaluable for communities like Fairfield, as it not only boosts local businesses but also reinforces the town's reputation as a captivating locale that promises both relaxation and rich cultural engagement.

"The enthusiasm and extensive coverage from the writers who visited us have played a crucial role in promoting our town’s tourism," added Baker. "This award and the positive feedback from the travel writers affirm that our efforts in hosting these FAM trips provide substantial value to Fairfield and highlight the significance of tourism in enhancing our community’s vibrancy and economic vitality."

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Premier League fixtures 2024-25: Full schedule and dates

The 2024-25 Premier League season gets underway on Friday, August 16 with Manchester United hosting Fulham .

Ipswich Town ’s first game back in the top flight after a 22-year absence is a tricky home game against Liverpool , while Manchester City begin their title defence with a trip to Chelsea . The opening weekend closes out with a Monday night fixture between Championship winners Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium.

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The standout fixture for the final round of matches sees Manchester United host Aston Villa . Both of last season’s title contenders face away games to end the season, with Manchester City travelling to Fulham and Arsenal heading to Southampton.

Premier League 2024-25 opening weekend fixtures

All times BST

• 16/08/2024 20:00 Manchester United vs Fulham
• 17/08/2024 15:00 Arsenal vs Wolves
• 17/08/2024 15:00 Everton vs Brighton
• 17/08/2024 12:30 Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
• 17/08/2024 15:00 Newcastle United vs Southampton
• 17/08/2024 15:00 Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth
• 17/08/2024 17:30 West Ham United vs Aston Villa
• 18/08/2024 14:00 Brentford vs Crystal Palace
• 18/08/2024 16:30 Chelsea vs Manchester City
• 19/08/2024 20:00 Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League 2024-25 final day fixtures

• 25/05/2025 16:00 Bournemouth vs Leicester City
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Fulham vs Manchester City
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Ipswich Town vs West Ham United
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Manchester United vs Aston Villa
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Newcastle United vs Everton
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Southampton vs Arsenal
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton
• 25/05/2025 16:00 Wolves vs Brentford

Premier League full fixtures by club

Click or tap on the team names below to see a full fixture list for your Premier League club.

• Aston Villa
• Bournemouth
• Crystal Palace
• Manchester City
• Manchester United
• Newcastle United
• Nottingham Forest
• Southampton

Key derby dates

• North London derbies: Tottenham at home, September 14; Arsenal at home, January 14
• Manchester derbies: Manchester City at home, December 14; Manchester United at home, April 5
• Merseyside derbies: Everton at home, December 7; Liverpool at home, April 2
• North west derbies: Manchester United at home, August 31; Liverpool at home, January 4
• M23 derbies: Brighton at home, December 14; Crystal Palace at home, April 5
• East Midlands derbies: Leicester at home, October 26; Forest at home, May 10

Key dates for the 2024-25 season

The transfer window officially opened on Friday, June 14, with the infamous cut-off date for the 2023-24 profit and sustainability rules (PSR) reporting period coming at the end of the month on June 30. The window closes on Friday, August 30, at 11pm BST (6pm ET).

The winter transfer window will open on Wednesday, January 1, closing on Monday, February 3.

The new Premier League season gets underway on the weekend of August 16-18, a week after the Community Shield. That game will be another Manchester derby and a replay of last season’s FA Cup final.

The Premier League season finishes on Sunday, May 25, when all 10 fixtures will be played at the same time.

Premier League clubs will enter the FA Cup at the third round, which begins on Saturday, January 11. The Carabao Cup will begin in mid-August with Premier League teams not playing in Europe entering in the second round and the remaining seven clubs receiving a bye to the third round.

The newly-expanded Champions League , meanwhile, begins on September 17. The Europa League starts on September 25 and the Conference League gets underway on October 3.

How the new Champions League format works

(Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

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Luke Bosher is a deputy news editor for The Athletic, based in London. He joined the company in 2020. Follow Luke on Twitter @ bosherL

What's open and closed on Juneteenth 2024? Details on Costco, Walmart, Starbucks, Target, more

Banks and post offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth , however major restaurant, grocery and retail store chains will remain open on the holiday.

Companies such as Target, Walmart, Starbucks, and Costco, among many others, will keep their doors open on the federal holiday this year. The stock market, however, will also be closed on Wednesday in observance of the holiday.

Juneteenth, known as  American's Second Independence Day , has been commemorated as a federally-recognized holiday since 2021, providing millions of Americans with a paid day off and the opportunity to commemorate the end of slavery.

The holiday commemorates the day when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas in 1865 with 2,000 Union troops to proclaim that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free – two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

Here's what you need to know about what is open and closed on Juneteenth this year.

Learn more: Best current CD rates

Juneteenth: What to know about the historical celebration that's now a federal holiday

Is Walmart open on Juneteenth? See store hours

Walmart  stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Juneteenth, a company spokesperson told USA TODAY. However it is best to reach out to your local Walmart or check the  online store directory  before heading to the store.

Is Costco open on Juneteenth?

According to Costco's website, warehouses will be open on Juneteenth.

Is Target open on Juneteenth?

Yes,  Target  stores will be open on Wednesday, the company told USA TODAY. Store hours vary by location, so check with your local store regarding its specific holiday hours.

Are banks, post offices, UPS and FedEx open on Juneteenth?

U.S. Postal Service  facilities will be closed for retail transactions and there will be no regular residential or business mail deliveries on Wednesday, June 19, the USPS confirmed to USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The agency did say Priority Mail Express is delivered 365 days a year, including Sundays.

UPS and FedEx  pickup and delivery services will be available on Juneteenth. UPS Store and FedEx Office locations will also be open on Wednesday, according to the each company's website.

Branches of  Capital One,   Bank of America ,  PNC ,  Truist ,  Citibank , and  JPMorgan Chase  will be closed on Wednesday, the companies confirmed to USA TODAY. Capital One Cafes will remain open.

Are Home Depot, Lowe's or Ace Hardware open on Juneteenth?

• Home Depot  stores will be open regular hours on Juneteenth, however hours may vary by location, so check with your local store for its specific hours.
• Lowe's stores will be open regular hours on Juneteenth, the company confirmed to USA TODAY.
• Ace Hardware stores are independently owned and operated, so hours vary by location. Customers are encouraged to check with their local stores to confirm business hours on holidays.

Are pharmacies like Walgreens and Rite Aid open on Juneteenth?

• Walgreens locations will be open regular hours on Juneteenth, the company confirmed to USA TODAY.
• A majority of Rite Aid locations will be open on Juneteenth, however customers are encouraged to check Rite Aid's website for holiday store hours.

Restaurants open on Juneteenth 2024

The following restaurants are  open  on June 19. Hours are displayed for companies that provided them.

• Chick-fil-A
• Carrabba's Italian Grill
• Olive Garden; Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Ruth's Chris; Open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Cracker Barrel
• Golden Corral
• Red Lobster
• Whataburger
• Marco's Pizza
• Longhorn Steakhouse; Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Grocery stores open on Juneteenth 2024

Here's which grocery stores are  open  on June 19. Hours are listed for the companies that provided them.

• Walmart; Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Most stores in the Kroger family of companies (Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay-Less Super Markets, Pick’n Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler, Smith’s Food and Drug).
• Meijer; Open 6 a.m. to midnight
• Whole Foods
• Trader Joe's
• Harris Teeter
• Giant Eagle
• Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Shaw's, Vons and Tom Thumb

Retail stores open on Juneteenth 2024

Stores listed below will be  open  on June 19. Hours are listed for the companies that provided them.

• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Bass Pro Shop / Cabela's
• Office Depot and OfficeMax
• Tractor Supply Company

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X  @GabeHauari  or email him at [email protected].

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Why Anthony Fauci approaches every trip to the White House as if it's his last

Dave Davies

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Select Subcommittee on June 3. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

For much of the past four years, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the public face of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic — a status that garnered him gratitude from some, and condemnation from others.

For Fauci, speaking what he calls the “inconvenient truth” is part of the job. He spent 38 years heading up the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, during which time he advised seven presidents on various diseases, including AIDS , Ebola , SARS and COVID-19.

Fauci still recalls the advice he received when he first went to the White House to meet President Reagan: A colleague told him to pretend each visit to the West Wing would be his last.

Shots - Health News

Long before covid-19, dr. anthony fauci 'changed medicine in america forever'.

“And what he meant is, you should say to yourself that I might have to say something either to the president or to the president's advisers … they may not like to hear,” Fauci explains. “And then that might lead to your not getting asked back again. But that's OK, because you've got to stick with always telling the truth to the best of your capability.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci clashed repeatedly with President Trump. "He really wanted, understandably, the outbreak to essentially go away," Fauci says of Trump. "So he started to say things that were just not true."

Coronavirus Updates

Fda warns against wide use of the drugs trump hailed as 'game changers'.

Fauci says Trump downplayed the seriousness of the virus, refused to wear a mask and claimed (falsely) that hydroxychloroquine offered protection against COVID-19. "And [that] was the beginning of a situation that put me at odds, not only with the president, but more intensively with his staff," Fauci says. "But ... there was no turning back. I could not give false information or sanction false information for the American public."

Fauci retired from the NIH in 2022. In his new memoir, On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service , he looks back on the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects on decades of managing public health crises.

Interview highlights

On appearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic to answer questions about the pandemic response

As Republicans probe COVID’s origins, some see an attack on science; others say it’s long overdue

If you look at the hearing itself it, unfortunately, is a very compelling reflection of the divisiveness in our country. I mean, the purpose of hearings, or at least the proposed purpose of the hearing, was to figure out how we can do better to help prepare us and respond to the inevitability of another pandemic, which almost certainly will occur. But if you listened in to that hearing … on the Republican side was a vitriolic ad hominem and a distortion of facts, quite frankly. As opposed to trying to really get down to how we can do better in the future. It was just attacks about things that were not founded in reality.  

On his interactions with President Trump concerning COVID-19

Trump Rails Against 'Fauci And These Idiots' In Campaign Call

He is a very complicated figure. We had a very interesting relationship. ... I don't know whether it was the fact that he recognized me as kind of a fellow New Yorker, but he always felt that he wanted to maintain a good relationship with me. And even when he would come in and start saying, "Why are you saying these things? You got to be more positive. You got to be more positive." And he would get angry with me. But then at the end of it, he would always say, "We're OK, aren't we? I mean, we're good. Things are OK," because he didn't want to leave the conversation thinking that we were at odds with each other, even though many in his staff at the time were overtly at odds with me, particularly the communication people. ... So it was a complicated issue. There were times when you think he was very favorably disposed, and then he would get angry at some of the things that I was saying, even though they were absolutely the truth.

On reading reports of a mysterious illness afflicting gay men in 1981 (which later became known as AIDS)

I knew I was dealing with a brand new disease. ... The thing that got me goosebumps is that this was totally brand new and it was deadly, because the young men we were seeing, they were so far advanced in their disease before they came to the attention of the medical care system, that the mortality looked like it was approaching 100%. So that, you know, spurred me on to ... totally change the direction of my career, to devote myself to the study of what was, at the time, almost exclusively young gay men with this devastating, mysterious and deadly disease, which we ultimately, a year or so later, gave the name of AIDS to.

On the trauma of caring for patients with AIDS in the early years of the epidemic

All of a sudden I was taking care of people who were desperately ill, mostly young gay men who I had a great deal of empathy for. And what we were doing was metaphorically like putting Band-Aids on hemorrhages, because we didn't know what the etiology was until three years later. We had no therapy until several, several years later. And although we were trained to be healers in medicine, we were healing no one and virtually all of our patients were dying. …

Many of my colleagues who were really in the trenches back then, before we had therapy, really have some degree of post-traumatic stress. I describe in the memoir some very, very devastating experiences that you have with patients that you become attached to who you try your very, very best to help them. ... It was a very painful experience.

On working with President George W. Bush on the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which aimed to combat the global HIV/AIDS crisis

Goats and Soda

George w. bush's anti-hiv program is hailed as 'amazing' — and still crucial at 20.

The president, to his great credit, called me into the Oval Office and said we have a moral obligation to not allow people to die of a preventable and treatable disease merely because of the fact [of] where they were born, in a poor country, and that was at a time when we had now developed drugs that were absolutely saving the lives of persons with HIV, having them go on to essentially a normal lifespan here in the United States, in the developed world. So he sent me to Africa to try and figure out the feasibility and accountability and the possibility of getting a program that could prevent and treat and care for people with HIV. And I worked for months and months on it after coming back from Africa, because I was convinced it could be done, because I felt very strongly that this disparity of accessibility of drugs between the developed and developing world was just unconscionable. Luckily, the president of the United States, in the form of George W. Bush, felt that way. And we put together the PEPFAR program. ... We spent $100 billion in 50 countries and it has saved 25 million lives, which I think is an amazing example of what presidential leadership can do.

On personally treating two patients with Ebola during the 2014 outbreak

Ebola 101: The Facts Behind A Frightening Virus

The fundamental reason why I wanted to be directly involved in taking care of the two Ebola patients that came to the NIH is that if you look at what was going on in West Africa at the time — and this was during the West African outbreak of Ebola — is that health care providers were the ones at high risk of getting infected, and hundreds of them had already died in the field taking care of people in Africa — physicians, nurses and other health-care providers. So even though we had very good conditions here, in the intensive care setting, of wearing these spacesuits that would protect you, these highly specialized personal protective equipment, I felt that if I was going to ask my staff to put themselves at risk in taking care of people ... I wanted to do it myself. I just felt I had to do that.

We took care of one patient who was mildly ill, who we did well with. But then the second patient was desperately ill. We did have contact with him, and we did get these virus-containing bodily fluids — everything from urine to feces to blood to respiratory secretions — we got it all over our personal protective equipment. And that was one of the reasons why you had to very meticulously take off your personal protective equipment so as not to get any of this virus on any part of your body. So the protocols for taking care of persons with Ebola in that intensive care setting were very, very strict protocols, which we adhered to very, very carefully. But it was a very tense experience, trying to save someone's life who was desperately ill at the same time as making sure that you and your colleagues don't get infected in the process.

Sam Briger and Joel Wolfram produced and edited this interview for broadcast. Bridget Bentz and Meghan Sullivan adapted it for the web.