American Airlines recently provided 10 American family members round-trip air transportation to Grand Bahama Island for a four-day, three-night stay at the all-inclusive Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach resort.
Pamela King-Williams, the winner of the American Airlines “Ultimate Family Reunion III Sweepstakes”, told The Bahama Journal the visit has been an experience she will not soon forget.
“We have had an awesome time here in Freeport,” she said.
“My family and I came here Saturday through Wednesday…The accommodations have been wonderful. The natives have been extremely friendly. The kids are having a fun time in the water, either on the beach or in the pool. My husband and I are having some quality free time to relax.”
In its third year, The Family Reunion program was tied in to Black History Month and the celebration of 25 years of the American Advantage Program, according to Sevina Pegue, vice president and management supervisor with Noble Mosaic.
Noble Mosaic is a Chicago-based promotion agency that represents American Airlines, and targets the African-American community.
Noble Mosaic in collaboration with its public relations agency, LaGrant Communications and American Airlines, conceived the Family Reunion Program, and the idea to send a family on vacation to the Caribbean, Ms. Pegue stated.
Speaking about the program, Roger Frizzell, Americanﾒs vice president of corporate communications and advertising, said American Airlines “is dedicated to bringing families together”.
The idea of hosting family reunions in the Caribbean came after data revealed that African-American leisure travelers prefer the region, Ms. Pegue explained.
Grand Bahama was specifically chosen from among all other destinations after study and research performed by the promotion agency indicated “Freeport was the new family island destination, and an island that would be the best destination for African-American leisure travelers.”
Ms. Pegue said the company targeted people who would be planning family reunions to enter the sweepstakes primarily through online ads, banners, and African-American targeted magazines.
Ms. Pegue said she has not regretted the choice.
“This is the first Caribbean island [used in the program],” she said. “This has been such a wonderful experience that I was thinking that this is something we should do from this point forward because I think this has been our best promotion ever for Family Reunion program.
“What I have witnessed here has taught me that this may be something I would want to do again in the islands because it has been absolutely fabulous.”
Ms. Pegue expressed appreciation for Americanﾒs generosity in allowing a larger number of family members to enjoy the experience.
She noted that a lot of promotions permit only two to four persons to travel, but the sweepstakes, taking into consideration that African-Americans typically have larger families, made it a total experience for the family.
“It has proven to be the right thing to do, witnessing how the family has connected and has been able to communicate with each other,” she said. “It has been a beautiful experience. I am proud that American could bring this kind of harmony to the family.”
Mr. Frizzell said the company was “happy to provide the King-Williams family with a vacation in the fabulous Bahamas, a fantastic destination for family reunions.”
Mrs. King-Williams, the winner over 8,000 contestants, also expressed her appreciation.
“I am [grateful] to American Airlines for recognizing the importance of the black family reunion. My family and I are all so honoured to have won,” she said.
American Airlines is the worldﾒs largest airline. American, American Eagle and AmericanConnection regional airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries.
By: Daphne McIntosh, The Bahama Journal
