Family Vacations publisher Family Travel Forum teams with Taking the Kids and the TravelingMom Network to explore new directions in family travel journalism and where the industry is headed.
Inaugural Family Travel Conference to Explore Vital Segment of Leisure Travel Market
(Media only, New York, Jan. 30, 2012) — The first Family Travel Conference, which convenes at the Omni Berkshire Place February 3-4, 2012, underscores what parents, and some in the travel industry, have known for a long time: Family Travel is big business.
Family vacations now account for well over 100 million trips a year and hotels, cruise lines, even adventure companies are offering an ever-growing array of programs and amenities for families. More than a million children cruise annually; parents and grandparents no longer apologize for bringing a child, even to the toniest hotel. On the contrary, today’s family travelers expect the travel industry to cater to them and their children.
"That’s totally different than when I started reporting about family travel more than two decades ago,” said Eileen Ogintz, creator of the syndicated column Taking the Kids, a leading national expert on the subject. “There were only a handful of us even asking questions about traveling with kids and no one considered it an important market. It’s wonderful to see how that has completely changed with a 30% market share."
> Today, scores of writers and bloggers cover family travel as the travel industry works to please increasingly sophisticated young travelers with everything from junior gourmet menus, cooking and language lessons, to multi-million dollar kids and teen clubs.
"Conferences like this will help keep key influencers informed on how to help families make the most of their time together," said Susan Lomax, a spokesman for the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau, which welcomed nearly 50 million visitors in 2010.
The two-day conference is organized by Family Travel Consulting, comprised of Eileen Ogintz, Kyle McCarthy of Family Travel Forum and Kim Orlando, founder of TravelingMom.com with partner JoAnne Vero, producer of the annual Travel Media Showcase. A select group of A-list family travel bloggers and writers will participate in workshops on how to hone their craft in the 21st-century media marketplace and discuss the latest family travel trends.
"Family travel is so important to us, and we are thrilled to host the first conference," said Caryn Kboudi, spokesperson for Omni Hotels & Resorts. "The ability to engage with these writers is invaluable."
Sponsors range from Walt Disney World, the Orlando C & VB, Norwegian Cruise Line and Omni Hotels & Resorts to Camp Broadway, NY Pass, Virgil’s Real BBQ Restaurant and Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island. "The family travel market continues to grow and is an important segment of our business," said Anne Marie Matthews of Norwegian Cruise Line, which sails weekly from New York City. Norwegian’s involvement with the conference is the perfect opportunity to connect with the industry’s most influential travel writers."
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For more information, interviews and photos, please contact:
Joanne Vero 877-868-9501/ cell 732 904-8662/ Joanne.vero[at]veroassociates.com
Kyle McCarthy – Family Travel Forum
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