Attracting Family Reunions in North Carolina

The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in Greenville, North Carolina (pop. 60,000), has found a specific market niche in the black family reunion business, which attracts the bulk of the town’s visitors. According to Debbie Vargas, executive director of the Greenville CVB, “working with the family reunion market requires providing more extensive assistance because we are working with people who aren’t professional meeting planners.” Vargas adds, “We help reunion planners find sites for special events, help with mailings to get people to come to the reunion, help with on-site registration and even provide printed name tags.” The Greenville CVB has even offered reunion-planning workshops where veteran reunion planners share tips with newcomers. Since 1987 this office has provided unique services to African Americans who return year after year, sometimes bringing 250 family members to town at one time.

Contact the Greenville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at (800) 537-5564.

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