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CRAK YOUR BAGS WINS GOLD IN THE 2026 TRAVEL WEEKLY MAGELLAN AWARDS
— Boutique travel agency honored for “Jewish Women Celebrate the Tradition Behind the Trend” campaign —
PARKLAND, Fla. (October 8, 2026) — Crak Your Bags, a women-owned boutique travel agency known for bringing people together through Mah Jongg and travel, has been named a Gold Winner in the 2026 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, which honor outstanding design, marketing, and services throughout the travel industry.
Crak Your Bags earned Gold in the Individual Travel Advisor category for its “Jewish Women Celebrate the Tradition Behind the Trend” campaign. The Magellan Awards received hundreds of entries from across the United States and around the world, with winners representing outstanding work among their fellow travel professionals.
“Year after year, the Magellan Awards showcase the very best of travel industry creativity and innovation,” said Johanna Jainchill, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly. “Yet each year brings something new — fresh ideas, bold execution, and work that challenges our expectations of what great travel marketing can be.”
The award recognizes a campaign celebrating the deep connection between Jewish women and Mah Jongg — a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation and is now experiencing a remarkable resurgence. For Crak Your Bags, whose Mah Jongg vacations have brought together thousands of players, the campaign reflects both the history behind the game and the community it continues to create today.
“Mah Jongg may be having a moment, but for Jewish women, it has a history,” said Jill Fox, co-founder of Crak Your Bags who is also a certified travel advisor. “It has connected mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and friends around the table for generations. Receiving a Gold Magellan Award for celebrating a tradition that means so much to our community and to me personally— is incredibly special.”
Founded by Fox and Susan Bishop in 2021, Crak Your Bags has built a growing community around shared-interest travel, creating hosted Mah Jongg experiences aboard ocean and river cruises and at luxury resorts and wellness retreats worldwide. Its trips combine travel with dedicated game play and opportunities for guests to build friendships and connections that extend well beyond the journey itself.
Giving back is also an important part of Crak Your Bags’ company culture. The company supports charitable organizations and events including Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward County’s Games for Good, as well as Crak Your Bags’ annual events: the Pink Challah Bake benefiting Sharsheret and Latkes & Vodka benefiting JAFCO. Additionally, on its upcoming Jewish Heritage Rhine River Cruise with Scenic Waterways, for example, a portion of proceeds will be donated to Jewish organizations supported by the company.
To book a Mah Jongg, Canasta, or leisure vacation, contact (850) 739-4737 or Hello@crakyourbags.com. For information on upcoming Crak Your Bags cruises to the Caribbean, Amsterdam, Alaska, and other destinations, visit crakyourbags.com.
About Crak Your Bags:
Founded in 2021 in Parkland, FL, Crak Your Bags is a boutique women-owned business specializing in customized group-travel experiences that celebrate the beloved game of Mah Jongg. With a focus on personalized service and expert knowledge, Crak Your Bags offers a wide range of travel planning services, from romantic getaways to thrill-seeking adventures. For more information or to contact Crak Your Bags for your travel-planning needs, visit crakyourbags.com and follow them on Instagram (@crakyourbags) and Facebook (@crakyourbags).
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