Travel Advisor Trade Program
Premium small-group Fairbanks aurora tours from a private wilderness lodge directly under the aurora oval. 10% commission, FAM trips available for qualifying advisors.
Become a Trade PartnerWhy Place Your Clients With Us
Face The Outdoors is a small-group and private aurora tour operator running from Michael Schultz's family wilderness lodge directly under the aurora oval — a setup no other Fairbanks operator markets. Michael is a native Alaskan with 46 years living under these skies and the only guide. Every guest gets him directly: pickup, photography coaching, the night, the chase if conditions require it, and post-tour photo delivery.
- Capped at 10 guests, ever. Structural ceiling of one van and one owner-operator. No splitting your client's night across vehicles or guides.
- Private wilderness lodge under the aurora oval. Not a commercial lodge, not a heated yurt. Panoramic windows, open deck, no other tours sharing the space.
- Lodge AND mobile chase model. When cloud cover moves in, we relocate. Most Fairbanks operators are lodge-only or van-only. We market both.
- Watermark-free portraits in 24-48 hours. No upsell, no full-resolution paywall. Often delivered the next morning.
- Most flexible policies in Fairbanks. Free rescheduling within 12 months. Full refund if we cancel for severe weather. Aurora Commitment rebooks within the client's trip if conditions prevent viewing on the booked night.
Best for: luxury and experiential travelers, multi-generational families, photographers (any skill level), bucket-list aurora trips, and clients who don't want to be a number on a 60-person tour.
Our actual home — directly under the aurora oval, 100 miles from Fairbanks
Meet Your Guide
Michael Schultz is a native Alaskan, born and raised under the aurora oval. He's spent 46 years living these skies and has been running commercial tours since 2021. National Geographic named Face The Outdoors a premier Fairbanks aurora outfitter in November 2025.
Every guest on a Face The Outdoors tour gets Michael directly — there are no second guides, no contractors, no junior staff. When you place a client with us, you're placing them with the owner-operator.
Tour Products & Pricing
All published rates per person, USD. Group rate of 10% applies for parties of 11-12 booking above our 10-guest cap. Multi-night discount of 15% applies for stays of 3 or more nights at the same product tier.
Small Group Tour
From $325 per person
Max 10 guests · Hotel pickup and return (Fairbanks core area) · Private lodge access · Hot drinks and snacks · Photography coaching on client's gear (phone to pro camera) · 1-3 watermark-free aurora portraits of the group · Mobile chase if cloud cover requires relocation.
Private Tour
From $975 per group
Exclusive lodge and van use · Flexible pacing and timing · 5-7 watermark-free aurora portraits of the group · Customizable to client preferences (photography focus, family pacing, accessibility) · Best fit for luxury clients, multi-generational families, and serious photographers.
Sample Pricing — Party of 12
| Configuration | Per Person / Night | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 night, small group (10% group rate) | $292.50 | $3,510 |
| 3 nights, small group (15% multi-night) | $276.25 | $9,945 |
| 5 nights, small group (15% multi-night) | $276.25 | $16,575 |
| 1 night, private tour | varies | from $975 |
Trade Commission Structure
Applied to the rate the client actually pays (after any published group or multi-night discounts). Paid within 30 days of tour completion. Net 30 invoicing or direct deposit. Commission applies to first and all repeat bookings from the same client.
To qualify: advisor must hold an active IATA/CLIA number OR be a member of a recognized consortium (Virtuoso, Travel Leaders, ASTA, Signature, Ensemble, or similar).
A strong display on a clear March night — every guest gets hands-on guidance and watermark-free portraits, regardless of what the sky delivers
Booking Process for Trade Partners
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1
Initial Inquiry
Email Michael directly at michael@facetheoutdoors.com with client name, party size, requested dates, and product tier. Include any client preferences (photography focus, family pacing, accessibility).
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2
Hold
Michael responds within 24 hours with availability and a courtesy hold for the requested dates while the client confirms.
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3
Confirmation
Client books and pays via FareHarbor at time of confirmation. Advisor commission flagged in our internal system at this stage.
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4
Pre-Trip Handoff
Michael coordinates with the client (or via the advisor as relay, if preferred) for hotel pickup, weather briefing, and the day-of forecast call.
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5
Commission Remitted
Calculated and paid within 30 days of tour completion. Advisor remains primary contact for the client's larger itinerary; Michael handles only the aurora tour component.
FAM (Familiarization) Trip Policy
One complimentary seat on a small group tour per qualifying advisor per 12-month period, so you can experience Face The Outdoors firsthand before placing clients.
- One complimentary seat per qualifying advisor per 12-month period
- Off-peak nights only — excludes equinox windows (Sept 15 – Oct 5 and March 5 – 25) and major US holidays
- Subject to availability — typically requires 30+ days notice
- Plus-one welcome at the 10% group rate
- Advisor must hold IATA/CLIA or be a member of a recognized consortium
To request a FAM: email michael@facetheoutdoors.com with your IATA/CLIA number or consortium membership confirmation and proposed dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What commission do you offer travel advisors?
A flat 10% commission on the rate the client actually pays after any published group or multi-night discounts. Commission is paid within 30 days of tour completion via Net 30 invoicing or direct deposit. Applies to first booking and all repeat bookings from the same client.
Who qualifies as a trade partner?
Travel advisors with an active IATA or CLIA number, or members of recognized consortia including Virtuoso, Travel Leaders, ASTA, Signature, and Ensemble.
Do you offer net rates or commissionable rates?
Commissionable. Your client books at our published rate (with any applicable group or multi-night discounts), and we remit your commission within 30 days of tour completion. This keeps the client's pricing transparent and simplifies the workflow for both sides.
How does my client book through me?
Email Michael directly at michael@facetheoutdoors.com with client name, party size, requested dates, and tour tier. Michael responds within 24 hours with availability and holds the dates while the client confirms. Once confirmed, we generate a FareHarbor booking link with your commission flagged in our system. Client pays directly at booking; commission is remitted post-tour.
What happens if the aurora doesn't show on the booked night?
Our Aurora Commitment rebooks your client within their remaining trip dates when seats allow if conditions prevent viewing on the originally booked night. We also actively chase clear skies — if cloud cover at the lodge isn't favorable, we relocate the group to find clearer viewing.
Do you accept FareHarbor agent codes?
Yes. If your agency works with FareHarbor's affiliate system, we can set you up with a unique booking code for automatic commission tracking. Most advisors use the manual email workflow above, which works equally well for our pace.
What kind of clients is Face The Outdoors best suited for?
Luxury and experiential travelers, multi-generational families, photographers of any skill level (from phone-only to professional setups), bucket-list aurora trips, and clients who explicitly don't want to be a number on a 40-60 person tour.
How many nights should I book for my client?
Our honest recommendation is 5-7 nights. Weather and aurora activity vary significantly night to night, and guests who see the strongest displays are almost always the ones who give themselves multiple chances. Three nights is the Fairbanks marketing-floor number — it's our minimum, not our recommendation.
Get Started
Michael Schultz
Owner / Lead Guide · Face The Outdoors
(907) 590-1567 — Michael answers personally
Email Michael