Find the Best FAM Trips & Tours
Why Every Meeting Planner Needs to Experience Turning Stone Resort Casino
Making time for FAM trips — the hospitality and tourism industry’s shorthand for “familiarization trip” — is a strategic must for anyone responsible for planning an event to remember. These fact-finding missions for travel agents and corporate meeting planners help travel professionals decide if destinations are right for their clientele.
At Turning Stone Resort Casino, FAM trips are by invitation only. Experiences and itineraries have been thoughtfully curated to give travel agents and meeting planners firsthand knowledge of the award-winning resort’s unparalleled accommodations, world-class casino, wide range of 20+ restaurants, variety of indoor and outdoor experiences and of the overall beauty of Central New York.
As New York’s most awarded resort and one of the region’s largest convention spaces, event planner FAM trips here also highlight state-of-the-art technology and facilities for business travel and events, plus an overview of sustainability efforts for travelers conscious of the carbon footprint of the places they visit.
Turning Stone Resort Casino FAM Trips – Things to See
State-of-the-Art Facilities
This award-winning 3,400-acre destination resort is home to a variety of venues, from large events seating up to 1,200 to banquet halls, elegant ballrooms, state-of-the-art concert venues and an intimate clubhouse overlooking one of our many pristine fairways.
Experience accommodations that set Turning Stone apart
From the serene, all-suite oasis at The Lodge to expansive views from The Tower to the central, convenient rooms at The Brook, experience for yourself the thoughtfully appointed accommodations your attendees will enjoy. While each has its own unique energy and style, they all enjoy close proximity to everything Turning Stone Resort Casino has to offer.
Savor flavors from Central New York to around the world
With more than 20 restaurants on property, dining options are a delight for attendees. At our award-winning TS Steakhouse, you’ll find Forbes Four-Star fine dining, where classic cuts and expertly crafted cocktails are framed by breathtaking panoramic views. More casual diners can discover regional favorites and local brews at Upstate Tavern. One of our newest restaurants, 7 Kitchens, elevates the buffet experience thanks to the creations of our culinary team, showcasing cuisine from the flavors of Asia to the bounty of the Mediterranean to Italian family favorites. You’ll also find savory BBQ, a Gatsby-inspired cocktail lounge and more.
Prime Location & Accessibility
Turning Stone Resort Casino is beautifully and conveniently situated in the heart of Central New York. Whatever the season, guests enjoy this scenic region between the Finger Lakes and the Adirondack Mountains.
Nearby Syracuse International Airport welcomes non-stop flights from 25 destinations daily. Travel time from the airport is just 35 minutes. And with nearly 800 rooms and suites across four onsite hotels, Turning Stone Resort Casino has the right FAM hotel accommodations for any size travel group.
When the event is over, the weekend fun begins. Those who would like to extend their stay and recharge before returning home will find just their speed of fun. Nine nightlife and lounge venues offer everything from quiet drinks to exciting live entertainment. Our newly renovated Sportsplex delivers year-round indoor golf practice and pickleball, while five pristine courses offer an unparalleled golf experience from May through October. Anglers can get in some quality rod-and-reel time at Salmon Acres and hunters can experience The Preserve nearby, one of the largest private hunting preserves on the East Coast.
Exceptional Service & Support
The highly experienced event staff at Turning Stone Resort Casino provides a seamless experience, including onsite support throughout the FAM trip. The food and beverage team offers a wide variety of meal and snack options. Technology specialists make sure the resort’s state-of-the-art AV, lighting and sound are running perfectly, wherever you need them. Whatever a situation calls for, you’ll find that hospitality is in our nature.
FAM Trips 101: A Deep Dive for Meeting and Event Planners
What are FAM Trips and who are they for?
FAM trips allow meeting and event planners to experience a destination from their attendees’ point of view. Offered free of charge or at a substantial discount, FAM trips tend to be organized by people who depend on meeting and event planners and other travel professionals for group bookings, such as transportation providers, tourism boards and even resort destinations.
While meeting and event planners are most likely to receive invitations to for FAM trips, a FAM tour group may also include travel journalists, bloggers and online influencers with significant followings, all with the ability to bring welcome attention to the region, resort or destination being featured.
From an insider perspective, travel agent FAM trips also provide opportunities to network and establish valuable connections throughout the country.
FAM Trip Benefits for Meeting & Event Planners
Experience: See, Touch and Sell with Confidence
In addition to travel agents, many FAM trips are organized for planners within the corporate travel and event space, like you. Trade associations that stage conferences and corporate departments focused on bringing their sales and other teams together for meetings and events are often tasked with researching potential destinations.
Networking: Connect with Industry Peers and Suppliers
The networking advantages connected to a FAM trip cannot be over-emphasized. Meeting and event planners maintain networks of colleagues and regional contacts, sharing information on destinations and services. The better they understand a place, the more they can do to support it. The more they can learn about an area, the better.
For example, local service providers and suppliers can be invited to participate in FAM trips as either sponsors or exhibitors. This gives the trip participants a broad view of local amenities, while giving the organizer of the trip inroads into the local business community, building their personal network for future outreach and proving their value as a source of revenue opportunities. Monetizing sponsorships and/or exhibit space can also benefit the organizer by defraying some of the overall cost of the FAM trip.
Marketing: Capture Content to Live Your Brand
Hosting a FAM trip is also a nationwide marketing opportunity for the destination to which FAM trip participants are invited. In addition to taking plenty of notes, agents and meeting planners travel with photo and video equipment to capture high-quality visual content for their websites and social media. It’s a win-win for both the people who need content to make sales and for the destination interested in extending its marketing reach through the channels available to their FAM trip visitors.
Earn: Get Commission and Rewards
The highly skilled conference resort and meeting specialists of Turning Stone Resort Casino are experts at creating a pleasurable experience for both meeting planners and their attendees. They understand the value of FAM trips and want to build strong relationships with the partners who facilitate them.
For instance, select partners of the HelmsBriscoe site-selection company or ConferenceDirect meeting and event management can benefit from the Turning Stone Resort Casino commission program with perks like commission on final room nights and complimentary site tours.
2025 FAM Trips at Turning Stone Resort Casino
FAM trips at Turning Stone Resort Casino are by invitation only. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out with your email and contact information so that we can let you know if you are eligible for our upcoming FAM experiences. We look forward to welcoming you to New York’s most-awarded resort, and hope you’ll enjoy your stay
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