Most famils are lovely and hopefully memorable. Others have you crossing the finish line already wondering how you can qualify again. Karryon’s Dani Tuffield joins the grid for a TTC Tour Brands famil with the right formula.
This time last week I was travelling with the winners of TTC Tour Brands ‘Pole Position incentive’ with Mastercard Cash Passport for a Helloworld Travel top achievers famil, and somewhere between the roar of Formula 1 engines at Silverstone and dinner in a centuries old castle, I realised this trip is setting the pace for what an incentive should be.
It all started trackside at Silverstone. Even if you’re not a lifelong Formula 1 fan, it’s impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere. The anticipation before the lights go out. The unmistakable roar of the engines. The buzz from hundreds of thousands of fans who know they’re witnessing something special. It’s definitely an experience that gets your heart racing.
But as incredible as Silverstone was, it was only the starting grid.
From there, we traded race cars for an Insight Vacations customised premium coach and set off from Oxford through Wales before winding our way into South West England. Along the way we stayed in stunning castles and beautiful country lodges, wandered through postcard perfect towns and discovered corners of Britain that deserve a place on every UK traveller’s itinerary.
If Formula 1 is all about precision, then touring with Insight Vacations deserves plenty of credit too.
There is something incredibly liberating about simply getting on the coach each morning knowing someone else has already worked out the logistics. No navigating unfamiliar roads, no arguing over directions, no packing and unpacking the car. Your luggage magically appears in your room thanks to the luggage porters. The day’s sightseeing is thoughtfully planned and all you have to do is enjoy it.
As a coach full of people who usually plan every detail of a trip, we all realised just how relaxing that can be. It was a timely reminder to all of us on the famil of why escorted touring continues to resonate with so many travellers. Also pairing it with an event, a reason to choose that destination, is genius as that is what so many client itineraries are built around.
Then there’s the team.
One of the things that has really stood out is the people. A group of high performing Owner Managers and Advisors from different businesses within the Helloworld Ltd network across Australia and New Zealand all brought together by a shared passion for travel. It didn’t take long for introductions to turn into inside jokes, dinner conversations to stretch late into the evening (Pimms anyone?!) and the coach to feel more like travelling with old friends.
Of course, every great team needs a great pit crew!
Tomas from TTC Tour Brands keeps everything running with the calm confidence of someone who has done this a thousand times before, while Carly from Mastercard Cash Passport brought endless enthusiasm, warmth and we certainly had plenty of laughs from both of the hosts. Together they created an experience where everyone felt looked after, included and genuinely spoiled.
For TTC Tour Brands, the value of a famil goes far beyond simply showcasing a destination.
“Famils remain one of the most powerful investments for TTC Tour Brands. They take the words off the page and bring the product to life, giving travel advisors authentic stories and insights that go far beyond a transactional sale,” says Tomas Malmberg – Strategic Account & Partnerships Director AUNZ.
“When advisors experience our tours firsthand, they sell with greater confidence, authenticity and passion. That delivers better outcomes for their clients, stronger results for their own businesses and a return on investment for ours.”
Mastercard Cash Passport’s Carly Montgomery agrees, saying incentives like Pole Position create a ripple effect well beyond the advisors lucky enough to earn a place.
“A famil is such an incredible experience for a travel advisor to win or be invited to, so being able to sponsor something like this is huge,” says Montgomery.
“It gives your product fantastic exposure in the lead-up campaign because agents really take notice, it’s something they’d genuinely love to be part of. The travel industry is small, and when advisors get behind your product, word spreads quickly.”
“Famils also give the agent the opportunity to use the Cash Passport card, so they can share the ease of use, and the card benefits with their customers.”
As travel advisors, you spend your careers helping clients create unforgettable holidays. Every now and then, it’s nice to be reminded what it feels like to be the guest. This trip has been exactly that.
What I’ll probably remember most is the feeling of travelling without stress, discovering somewhere or something new every day and sharing it with a group of people who all love this industry as much as I do.
If that’s what awaits the advisors who earn a place on this incentive each year, I’d say it’s well worth putting it on your bucket list.
Some incentive trips are simply too good not to chase. Start your engines for the next one.
Karryon was a guest of TTC Tour Brands.
