| Family reunions have been a rapidly growing tradition | | | | and group gatherings. Organized group activities are |
| since 1999 and is now accelerating at an enormous | | | | run by the ship's cruise staff. Group members |
| pace as technology and travel combine with family | | | | compete against each other in reunion themed games. |
| interest and genealogy making finding, communicating | | | | Still family reunion planners have the challenge of |
| and meeting family members a fun and exciting | | | | making the affair a meaningful enriching experience |
| pastime. | | | | that draws the family closer. One site, Fimark's Family |
| Family reunion planning has become a virtual industry in | | | | Genealogy And Reunions, located at notes "family |
| itself. Family reunion planners like wedding planners are | | | | reunions are becoming the big event far surpassing |
| opening up shop on and offliine. These planners are | | | | Holiday celebrations and July 4th picnics. To that end |
| offering more creative ideas to enrich the event. Many | | | | we see the need to develop products that help them |
| families now meet at the nations captial to follow time | | | | plan and organize local and remote gatherings in ways |
| lines of history, tell stories of family legends and | | | | that draw the family line closer together." |
| memorialize family surnames. | | | | Travel agencies have seen the need to do the same |
| Others want to combine the family gathering with an | | | | as multigenerational family travel and reunion-type |
| opportunity to relax and rejuvinate. One family reunion | | | | family travel increased from 20 percent in 2000 to 34 |
| planner remarks. "There is too much work to do | | | | percent just one year later. |
| planning a family reunion at home! Between cooking | | | | A survey of 400 ASTA and members found that 67 |
| and cleaning up the mess you have to plan and | | | | percent reported booking travel accommodations for |
| supervise activities. Not to mention worrying about a | | | | family reunions within the year since Sept 11 2001, while |
| relative driving to their hotel after drinking too much." | | | | 64.5 percent reported an increase in requests to book |
| That said many have opted to send the family off to | | | | family reunion trips over the past five years. Noticing |
| an exotic site where all needs are catered to by | | | | an increase in family travel, Sonesta launched the "Our |
| hospitality staff. "With a Family Reunion Cruise, there is | | | | Family Invites Your Family" package. |
| no preparation shopping, no cooking, and no cleaning," | | | | From the foregoing the travel industry sees that family |
| said one family reunion planning committee member. | | | | oriented packages with traditional family reunion |
| Royal Caribbean International is introducing a new | | | | themes offers lucrative returns. |
| program, Royal Reunions, designed to enhance family | | | | |