Travel Trends: Togethering

Rising travel and flight costs, increased professional obligation, and families being spread out across the country are all much more commonplace than they were decades ago. Time for the extended family was not nearly as scarce back then as it has now become, something easily attributed to those outside influences. A trend, however, has begun to emerge that may help to close this growing gap in families. "Togethering" as it is known, is essentially a vacation that includes multiple generations, something that is expected to increase in popularity over the coming years.

Whether from people seeking a heightened appreciation for family time, or a cost cutting measure that saves money by pooling accommodations and resources, the trend is a stark contrast from the one of "cocooning" that was favored throughout the 1990s. Organizations are taking notice as well. A prime example is Disney's rolling out of its "Grand Gatherings," which is a vacation packaged offering of special services, programs, and products that make it a lot easier for groups to visit one of their many parks.

The trend found roots in the cruise industry, where families would take advantage of the ships enclosed nature to facilitate family reunions and get-togethers. Larger groups would request cabins close to one another, dinner reservations for everyone, and so on. Upon further examination of trends in togethering, it's been shown that active travelers (those who vacation for a week or more annually) take at least one vacation every 4-5 years with extended family.

Numerous Internet travel sites have taken to the trend as well, much the same as Disney's Grand Gatherings page does. A dedicated agent from the organization assists in all facets of booking cheap flights and airline tickets, from accommodations to meal services, primarily through contact with a "point" person in the group. Though the advent of technology may make the process less personal than ever, it does well to serve the overarching reinforcement of quality family time that these experiences are built for.

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