Inside an ALG Vacations MegaFAM: Pros on the Go Punta Cana

ALG Vacations does things differently. From its Kindness Contributions grants to appointing Carson Kressley as its Travel Advisor Champion, the tour operator is continually finding new and innovative ways to support the trade — including its novel MegaFAM format.

A new approach to in-desintation training, the “mega” FAM is an enhanced familiarization trip that combines site inspections with networking opportunities and professional development workshops, all delivered in a super-sized group of roughly 150 travel advisors and ALGV staff.

After its successful debut in 2024, the tour operator held three MegaFAMs in 2025. ALG Vacations is also bringing back MegaFAMs for 2026 as well.

The MegaFAM structure is based on three pillars: relationship-building with other travel advisors, hotel and destination visits, and business-building education.

“We always say community over competition,” said ALGV’s Global Head of Trade Brands Jacki Marks in an exclusive interview. “Advisors are stronger when they have allies and advocates for each other in the industry.”

From Sept. 8 to 12, ALGV hosted travel advisors in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for its Pros on the Go Punta Cana MegaFAM. Advisors stayed at Hideaway at Royalton Punta Cana and visited various properties, including JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar, Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa & Zel Punta Cana, Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro, and Bahia Principe Hotels. The event also included workshops, general sessions, group meals, cocktail receptions, and a Punta Cana Reef Explorer excursion.

TMR reached out to multiple travel advisors who attended the most recent ALGV MegaFAM in Punta Cana to get a sense of the overall experience.

“It was such a great experience to meet other agents and [see] all the locations… It will help me when planning anyone’s trip there,” said Sheryl Bradford, a travel advisor with Integrity Travel Planners. “All of it was very valuable to me. I had never been to Punta Cana — it was a great experience, and the knowledge I gained is invaluable to me.”

Destination Insight

When it comes to learning about a destination, no webinar or live training can replace the benefits of in-person site inspections. TMR‘s own research has consistently found that FAMs are the most preferred supplier training format; in our most recent Distribution Outlook for 2026, 82% of respondents said they wanted FAM trips and 80% said they planned to attend product or destination training in the future.

The travel advisors who agreed to send feedback to TMR all stated that learning more about Punta Cana was a major draw of the ALGV MegaFAM. None of the advisors had attended a Punta Cana FAM previously, and for a few, it was their first FAM ever.

“The site inspections always make for long days, but I am always glad for the insights and better for them,” said Lisa Farrimond, owner of Crossing Point Travels.

Some advisors said that they were particularly interested in this trip because they had clients who were interested in the Dominican Republic or because they wanted to better equip themselves to sell the destination’s unique culture and heritage.

“I have not been on many FAMs, so I wanted to experience one. I also had a few clients who were heading to Punta Cana, so I wanted to have personal feedback for them and for myself for future sales,” said Malissa Brady, an independent contractor with Magical Compass Vacations.

While many of the advisors were new to the industry, some were experienced travel advisors looking to deepen their knowledge of Punta Cana. Tiffany Gaskin of Acemdy Travel, who has over 10 years of experience in the travel business, said that she sells a lot of Punta Cana vacations and wanted to see a variety of property options. Following the FAM, she said she can “better suggest resorts I have seen and liked and not suggest the ones I didn’t like.”

Travel Is a Social Business: Networking with Peers

A major part of the ALGV MegaFAM model is scheduling time for advisors to network among themselves. In the Punta Cana itinerary, this included group meals and two cocktail receptions.

Several travel advisors told TMR that they valued the opportunity to forge new relationships with their peers. Sarah Lee, a corporate travel advisor with The Travel Advantage, told TMR she was surprised by how many network opportunities were built into the MegaFAM’s schedule.

“Every dinner and bus ride felt like a networking opportunity,” said Lee. “As a new agent, I appreciated hearing how other [advisors] go about serving clients and promoting certain properties.”

“I love the small group interactions at our hotel. I met many new ‘travel agent friends,'” said Jessica Anderson, of Dugan’s Travels.

The MegaFAM also provided an opportunity to spend time with ALGV team members.

“I also loved the big education session to learn more about ALG Vacations … I enjoyed the connections with other travel advisors, but I was especially blessed to get to network with the ALGV team members. For instance, Amy Parris made office hours on the last day so attendees could pick her brain about groups. It was nice to have that one-on-one time,” said Farrimond.

The Need to Know: MegaFAM Expectations

The MegaFAM schedule was set up so that there were dedicated days for education, site inspections, and destination immersion. The education day included a general session presentation by ALG Vacations as well as workshops.

Overall, the education and site visits were well received. Several advisors identified the photography workshop as a trip highlight, citing how informative the session was.

“I absolutely loved Will Byington’s photography class. He [was] engaging, and had great tips and tricks to sharpen our skills.,” said Sara of Timeless Adventures by Sara (she did not share her last name). “He was so approachable as well! Some fellow advisors and I picked his brain at the farewell party.”

As with anything, there were pain points for some of the advisors who participated. FAM trips are often fast-paced and loaded with information; several travel advisors told TMR that they found the itinerary very full, which didn’t leave much time for independent exploration.

“I’m sure it’s a pain to coordinate so many people, but it is SO worth it,” said Farrimond. “Attending the MegaFam made me proud to sell [Punta Cana] and ALG Vacations.”