Hotels enhancing amenity and service offerings based on changing family vacation needs according to Hotels.com Hotel Price Index. Families are looking for hotels that offer perks and deals, such as free breakfast or 50 percent off on a second room, when searching through different travel websites.
DALLAS – Family travel makes up the largest segment of the leisure travel industry, with each family vacationing about 4.5 times per year. With the dynamics of today’s family travel changing, the experts at Hotels.com used their latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) to identify the top trends and some of the destinations that best suit the current core needs of family travelers.
“Hotels.com offers tools to help families pinpoint the best hotel for their needs,” said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. “Families can search based on hotel amenities like kid-friendly areas, cribs, and on-site child care and even the proximity to a landmark, attraction or activity. We have real guest reviews written by family travelers and customers can search based on the type of accommodation.”
In the latest edition of the Hotel Price Index, the Family Travel Spotlight identifies five key characteristics of family travelers: value-consciousness, making memories, staying healthy and safe, providing activities for kids and adults and staying close to home. Whether it’s a budget-friendly hotel for a great staycation, a homey vacation rental or a kid-friendly all-inclusive resort, Hotels.com recommends the following hotels in top destinations to give families what they desire.
Family travelers are value-conscious
Families are looking for hotels that offer perks and deals, such as free breakfast or 50 percent off on a second room, when searching through different travel websites. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic ($267 USD per night according to the HPI) is an ideal family destination due to the wide selection of kid friendly resorts and attractive deals available. For example, at Grand Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa, the first child stays for free and the second stays at 50 percent off. This all-inclusive resort has the largest kids club in the Caribbean.
Families travel to make memories
A very important aspect of family travel is to make memories along the way. Seventy percent of families have taken vacations in the past year to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and graduations. A number of hotels are creating ways to store these memories for years to come. For starters, in Vail, Colorado ($261 USD per night according to the HPI), The Lodge at Vail, a RockResort has an online photo-sharing and saving program called Epic Mix that allows families to have fun on the slopes while professional photographers take photos that vacationers can view later.
Families want children to stay healthy and safe while traveling
Healthy eating and wellness are top of mind even when families are away from home. Loews Hotels of California offers Precious Plates – a regular menu for children but with half the cost and smaller portions. At Ritz-Carlton hotels, parents can call early and request outlet covers, a tub spout cover and first aid kit as part of the Protect Our Little Ones program. JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts offers menus for three young age groups.
Families want fun for kids and parents too
Traveling with little ones can be tough, but families deserve a vacation no matter what. Some hotels have incorporated areas where parents can get away while the kids join in on supervised activities with their own age groups. Others, for instance the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel situated in the heart of Chicago, Illinois ($162 USD per night according to the HPI), offer amenities, such as babysitting services, to allow parents the enjoyment of a romantic date.
Families still love staycations
With so many people to coordinate, family vacation wishes can be easily met with staycations. These vacations are no more than 50 miles from home, but the decrease in travel time provides more valuable family time. The staycation trend is here to stay, as it provides a budget-friendly, time-saving vacation option for families. San Antonio, Texas ($126 USD per night according to the HPI) has been among the Top 10 Domestic Destination for Americans to travel for two years in a row. With its numerous museums, parks and activities, the city is an attractive place for families to visit. The homey Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade provides a comfortable setting with a room especially created for the kids and adjoining room for their parents. The colorful bedding, beanbag chairs and complimentary Kids’ Sensation Bar filled with toys, trinkets and snacks makes this hotel feel like home.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
