Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/910090
21 B M & T ••• September/October 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com D ctionary.com describes the word reunion as, "a gathering of relatives, friends, or associates at regular intervals or after separationthe act or process of coming together again" And it seems, that despite our turbulent economy, many Black families continue to come together at regu- lar intervals no matter what. Even when money is tight and expens- es are cut, they tend to focus on things that are imp ortant in life, such as family and maintaining friendships. Family reunions are a time-honored tradition in the African- American community dating back 150 years. These multi-genera- tional family gatherings are arguably the largest sector of the African-American travel and tourism market. The birth of African-American family reunions can be traced back to Emancipation. Former slaves began the search for distant family members, by placing ads in newspapers or simply asking those who toiled on nearby plantations. For those able to recon- nect, the reunions were glorious celebratory affairs. Several studies suggest that 90 percent of all family reunions are held by African- Americans. Organizing a family reunion, even for a sea- soned professional planner, can be a daunting task. The good news is tha t most, if not all convention and visitor's bureaus across the nation, will provide you with resources, knowledgeable staffers and support services to help you plan a seamless family reunion that will leave your clients and family members smiling. For example, the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB offers the fol- lowing "Tips for a successful reunion:" Begin planning 18-24 months ahead. Designate a lead pers on who can delegate duties — with a timetable — to get others to commit to the event. Make plans appealing to adults and kids, but be imaginative and flexible based on weather, size of group and time constraints. Include an oral history project, which can be a great way to spark conversations across generations and cultural backgrounds, pre- serve history, and bring relatives closer together. From all the feedback BM&T gets, this segment of the market tends to be almost recession proof and con- tinues to thrive, despite the financial chal- lenges many are facing. We checked with some representatives from some popular family reunion cities where this rings true. AFRICAN AMERICAN REUNIONS MEAN BIG BUCKS FOR SAVVY MARKETERS BY RUFUS MCKINNEY photo credit: Andriy Popov