9 Tips for Making Friends at FTU or other Travel Conferences

This is my fourth FTU event, so at this point, I’m a regular.  People ask me why I keep coming and here is what I tell them:

• Where else can you go where you have a few hundred other miles and points geeks who don’t think you are crazy for having 20+ credit cards, hop from hotel to hotel, and get in Uber/Lyft vehicles with strangers?  If you know of such a wonderful place, please tell me.

Here is my list of tips (off the top of my head) in no particular order:

• Be 2X to 10X as outgoing as you normally are, when do you get a chance to talk to hundreds of other miles/points geeks at the same time…?
• Talk about your travel experiences, not just the flat bed in first class or five-star hotel room with your own private butler. Talk about the sights, the smells, the people, and your experiences – whether that are good, bad, or ugly.
• Don’t be afraid to disagree with other people, we all have our own thoughts , feelings and experiences – just try not to change the other person’s opinion.
• Get in a free UberX taxi if you can, nothing is as good as 2 free rides.
• 50% or more of the attendees are locals (2-3 hours away from the host city), you would be surprised by how many local people play this game in your area. Sidenote: always go to local events, you might just meet your new best friend.
• Travel friends are the best friends to have, you never know what kind of adventures you will go on.
• Try to get to the show early and stay through the end on Sunday, you don’t want to miss anything. The secrets you find out during the small private conversations you have with other attendees.
• Good opening sentence: is this your first time to FTU? Where did you fly from? What are your thoughts on blank and blank?
• Try to stay in touch with the people you meet at the shows, they might be your next travel buddy or offer you a place to stay if you are in their home town.  Who knows?

I’ve met people at FTU events and later booked a vacation with them.  I’ve helped people meet minimum spend requirements and hotel hopped for other people.  It truly is a crazy world out there!

With that said, I hope to see some of you at the next FTU event or Chicago Seminars.  Have a great weekend everyone!