A Niche Travel Agency Creates Memorable Mah Jongg Vacations

Forbes

2 days ago

Close up of Mah Jongg tiles getty
It was their shared love of Mah Jongg that brought two female entrepreneurs together.
Jill Fox and Susan Bishop, both of whom lived in Parkland, Florida, are co-owners of a boutique travel agency called Crak Your Bags (Crak is a playful nod to one of the game's tile suits).
For the past five years, this unique business has created memorable travel experiences for enthusiasts of the game.
Crak Your Bags Co-Founders Susan Bishop and Jill Fox Courtesy Jill Fox
When they first met, Jill was writing local news for NBC and started 'dipping her toes into the Mah Jongg world,' she says. She was passionate about the game and began hosting moms' nights out in her community as a hobby.
Susan was an experienced travel advisor who not only planned bespoke trips for her clients but had also personally visited more than two dozen countries. Also a devotee of the game, she always took her Mah Jongg set on her travels as a way to meet people.
Living in the same suburb, the two women had crossed paths over the years but weren't close friends until the pandemic. 'I was hosting a Mah Jongg night at a neighborhood coffee shop, and in walked Susan to check it out,' says Jill.
Susan confessed to Jill that she always dreamed of combining her love of the game with her travel expertise.
'Lucky for me, I got to come along for the ride,' says Jill. Riding The Wave Of Mah Jongg Mania
Mah Jongg players on AmaCerto Courtesy Jill Fox
Mah Jongg is currently enjoying a renaissance.
A version of the game had its roots in 19th-century China, but the American game of Mah Jongg (as it is played today) has been around since the 1920s, writes Nicole Wong, author of Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora .
Once played primarily by mothers and grandmothers in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Mah Jongg is now enjoyed by women and men of all ages and ethnicities. Games and lessons are held in libraries and community centers, as well as at coffee shops, hotels, resorts, and country clubs, on cruise ships, and in private homes across the U.S.
Pop culture has contributed to the game's popularity. The 2018 romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians , which broke box office records, featured a memorable scene involving a Mah Jongg game between the movie's star, Rachel, and her boyfriend's mother.
Whether mentioned on TV or published in People Magazine , the list of celebrities fawning over the game keeps growing, including Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager (of the Today Show), Julia Roberts, Jessica Parker, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Meagan Markle and more.
Technology has also helped spread the word, too. The game is trending on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Eventbrite data shows Mahjong searches on its site are up 365 percent. Gen Z and Millennials are embracing Mah Jongg as one of several 'hands-on, nostalgic activities in search of community, analog joy, and a break from digital fatigue,' says Paige Dudley a spokesperson of the ticketing platform. The Launch of Crak Your Bags
Bespoke Mah Jongg tiles and table pads Courtesy Jill Fox
As people yearned for in-person connections during and after the COVID pandemic, Mah Jongg's popularity surged, virtually going 'viral.' Simultaneously, the travel industry was experiencing a spike in 'revenge travel' as people sought to catch up on lost time.
Jill and Susan decided to start small by hosting a trip to an all-inclusive Club Med about two hours from their home in South Florida. 'We floated the idea to our friends and friends of friends,' says Jill. 'With the help of social media, we booked 50 women within a week, and that's when we knew we were on to something.'
Since that time, Crak Your Bags has hosted dozens of cruises, ranging from Fall Foliage cruises in Nova Scotia to sailings throughout the Caribbean.
Who comes on these trips? Mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, neighbors, coworkers, friends and cousins. Solo travelers who have never traveled alone. Couples, some with husbands who play the game and others who don't. Participants generally range in age from their 40s to 80s.
The trips aren't competitive like Mah Jongg tournaments, but they aren't geared toward teaching the game, per se. Most participants already have some basic knowledge of how to play. Some trips offer strategy sessions for those seeking to improve their game. Every trip allows for informal games for guests who prefer to skip other planned activities.
While participants can count on nightly Mah Jongg games and mini-tournaments, the specific inclusions on these mostly-inclusive getaways vary. They typically include meals, beverages, activities, excursions (on ships), gratuities, and creative extras tailored to the group's interests and the destination.
Mah Jongg sets and tables are set up in public spaces, so the only game gear someone has to bring is their up-to-date Mah Jongg card. Jill and Susan ensure that the ambiance is festive with themed decorations and prizes.
Crak You Bags chartered the AmaWaterways river ship, AmaCerto , last May, taking a group of 140 Mah Jongg players on a tulip cruise in Amsterdam. 'We removed the furniture from the lounge and added 25 tables complete with tulip-themed Mah Jongg mats and commemorative dice to match,' says Jill.
These Mah Jongg packages take the hassles out of travel planning, offering participants not only convenience but a chance to recharge and connect with like-minded people. 'Our guests love the convenience of unpacking once on a floating hotel with the opportunity to play Mah Jongg whenever their hearts desire,' she says.
Upcoming Crak Your Bag Mah Jongg events in 2025 and 2026 include cruises on Oceania Allura , Celebrity Edge, and Celebrity Beyond , as well as an AmaWaterways river cruise to Paris and Normandy, and trips to Miraval Austin Resort & Spa. Forging Friendships One Game At A Time
AmaWaterways Mah Jongg Tulip Cruise Crak Your Bags
Although Mah Jongg is relatively easy to learn, it is an engaging game because it couples luck with strategy. Once they start, many players find it 'addictive.'
Each game is typically played with four participants, so it is inherently social in nature.
Annalise Heinz, author of Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture, explains that different generations play Mah Jongg for various reasons. Retirees, for instance, are drawn to the game as a means of social reconnection after leaving the workplace.
For some others, the appeal lies in the nostalgia of playing a game they heard about or recall from their childhood. Young mothers may seize it as an opportunity for restorative 'me-time' when they can interact with other grown-ups and relax from the stresses of parenting.
'Having an affinity group on a trip where everyone shares the same passion is very special. The group comes together organically, creating memorable experiences, friendships, and connections along the way,' says Jill Fox of Crak Your Bags.
Anna Rosen of Winter Park, Florida, an avid traveler, has been playing the game for more than three decades. 'Your Mah Jongg friends become your friends for life, forming a bond that is close and hard to break,' she says.