PHILADELPHIA, June 18, 2001 -- Grandparents and their grandkids have always enjoyed a unique relationship. These days a new trend in family travel, dubbed "grand travel" -- grandparents traveling with grandkids -- is making that special bond more fun than ever. And the Philadelphia region, a haven for kid-friendly attractions, provides plenty of grand opportunities to join the movement.

According to the Travel Industry Association, one in five trips with children in the year 2000 were taken by grandparents traveling with their grandchildren. Determined to lure this significant segment of travelers to the area, Philadelphia-area hotels, led by the new waterfront Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing, have developed enticing inter-generational travel packages.

"We thought that since the Hyatt Regency is a new showcase property, and since it's ideally situated near so many children's attractions, we'd look into how we could better serve this segment of travelers," says Jaimi Gordon, a spokesperson for the hotel. "The program is perfect for grandparents traveling with kids up to age 10 or so, and especially targeted to younger kids up to about 4 or 5 years old."

The Hyatt Regency's "Grand Travel" package, priced at $195, is available weekends through Labor Day. The package includes one night's accommodations; four tickets to the Independence Seaport Museum; four passes for the Philadelphia Phlash, which makes stops at major attractions throughout the city; ferry tickets to and from the New Jersey waterfront; and tickets and snack packs for four to the Camden Riversharks.

Other hotels in the area also offer summertime packages related to Grand Travel. They include:

• Loew's Philadelphia Hotel, where packages include the "Generation G Simply Grand Package" ($159/night), deluxe accommodations, 10-minute phone card to call home to mom and dad, photo album and disposable camera, stamped postcards and luggage tags. 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia. (215) 627-1200.
  
• Four Seasons Philadelphia offers "The Family Package" ($395/night), complete with overnight accommodations for four in an executive suite, breakfast, parking and four tickets to the Please Touch Museum or the Franklin Institute. One Logan Square, Philadelphia. (215) 963-1500.

• Holiday Inn Independence Mall offers an AARP discount and a "Make A Historic Escape This Summer" package ($129/night), which includes overnight accommodations, complimentary breakfasts, welcome gift for kids and free parking. 400 Arch Street, Philadelphia. (215) 923-8660.

• Holiday Inn Express Midtown offers an AARP discount and "Sesame Place" package ($209/night), which includes overnight accommodations, free parking, and three tickets to Sesame Place. 1305 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. (215) 735-9300.

• Park Hyatt at the Bellevue offers an AARP discount and a "City Pass Package," package ($190/night), which includes overnight accommodations and two City Pass booklets (allowing visitors admission to five local attractions.) 1415 Chancellor Court, Philadelphia. (215) 893-1234

• Hampton Inn Philadelphia Northeast offers an AARP discount and "Sesame Place" package ($167/night), which includes overnight accommodations, two tickets to Sesame Place, coupon booklet for area attractions and restaurants and complimentary breakfast. 1329 Bristol Pike, Bensalem. (215) 245-5222

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia visit www.gophila.com or call (877) GO-PHILA.

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