Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
CHOOSING A FAMILY REUNION LOCATION I f your family has an unbreakable tradition of gathering every year in your ancestral hometown in Grandma's back yard, you can probably stop reading. On the other hand, if at least a few in your reunion group are game for a change of scenery, some tips on choosing the right place might help persuade even the die-hard homebodies to come along. To get the greatest number of family members on board for the new venue, invite everyone to participate in the selec- tion process. You might take a poll at your next reunion about where to hold the following event, or even the one two years out. Give family members time to save up for that cruise or resort stay, and you'll get more takers than if you spring the idea on them with just a few months' notice. Make an effort to spread the long-distance travel burden around. For instance, you might rotate reunion locations to include the current hometowns of various family members. If the Los Angeles branch of the family has been coming to Atlanta or Philly for the last decade, think about having a California theme park reunion next time, or maybe meeting somewhere in the middle. Bear in mind the length of your festivities so that your location choice makes practical and economic sense. For a one- day reunion, you probably don't want to choose a location that will have half the family traveling several hundred miles to get there. A state park, theme park or unique venue that's a short drive from the family's usual gathering spot might be a better idea in this case. Another factor to consider is how often your family holds a reunion. Members may be more willing to splurge on a once-in-three-years trip than on an annual event. Also, the number of kids, people with limited mobility and those with similar interests should be taken into account. Once you've picked a reunion destination, find out what kinds of reunion planning services the local convention and visitors bureau offers. Even something as simple as using the CVB Web site to search for accommodations can reduce the legwork for you and the rest of the planning committee. You may also be able to get listings of reception venues, staff help with venue selection and help with organizing customized tours. Some CVBs even include a reunion planning guide on their Web sites. Be sure to ask about hotels that offer hotel reunion packages. These deals usually provide perks like group discount rates and complimentary hospitality suites and guest rooms for a specified number of room nights booked (usually around 20 to 25). Some hotels offer reunion planning services like booking group reservations and planning banquets. If you have a large group, you may want to consider reserving blocks of rooms in more than one hotel — and this is where the coor- dination of a CVB can really come in handy. To cut back on the cost of getting around your destination, pick hotels that have plenty of attractions, shops and restau- rants within walking distance. Going to an all-inclusive resort — where everything, including recreational activities, is in one spot — might be another way to save money. You may be able to find condo rentals at the resort that are more eco- nomical than renting individual hotel rooms. Besides tapping into visitors' bureaus and hotels as reunion planning resources, a quick Web search should point you to many other guides. For example, the content-rich http://family-reuinions.com dispenses a wealth of advice through the persona of a cartoon character named "Mister Spiffy." Have fun checking out the site — and with planning and experi- encing your family reunion. Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 37 BY SONYA STINSON