Family Travel Association Debuts

What: 
As the first collective voice for the family travel industry, Family Travel Association wants to inspire more families to travel and to advocate travel as an essential part of every child’s education.

Why It Matters:
Family Travel Association aims to promote child-friendly experiences that parents with children of all ages can participate in together; simplify the perceived and real complexities of planning family vacations; and educate consumers on the positive and lasting impact travel has on young people. Travel agencies are eligible to join and receive member benefits such as access to qualified consumers, access to a network of companies servicing families through travel and access to market research conducted by New York University. The association aims to establish members as a leader in offering high quality family vacations — both within the industry and to consumers. Member rates for travel agents start at $500.

Fast Facts:
- The Family Travel Association has a board of advisors including Keith Bellows of National Geographic Traveler; Sven Lindbald of Lindblad Expeditions; and Pamela Lassers of Abercrombie & Kent

- Phase one of the FamilyTravel.org website will serve mainly as a B2B platform for companies to learn about the association benefits, including gaining access to research and industry intelligence.

- The Family Travel Association has joined forces with New York University and Smarty Pants, LLC to conduct a major industry research study to help its members better understand how families can overcome some of the unique challenges they face when planning their travels.

- The resulting industry white paper will be revealed at the first annual Family Travel Association Summit at the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana, September 2015.

- Family travel accounts for one-third of all leisure travel, according to the 2013 “Portrait of American Travelers” study by Ypartnerships/Harrison Group.

What They Are Saying:
“At the end of the day, this is about creating an industry voice that hasn't existed before,” said Rainer Jenss, president and founder, Family Travel Association. “This ‘voice’ will help change the way families travel - charting a path for the future generations of travelers we need to cultivate.” 

The Details