Multi-generational family travel maintains one of the top 2 positions on the list of travel trends, according to the 2015 Virtuoso Luxe Report. This is due to a variety of reasons, including time-poor executives, social media overload, the chance to reconnect with family and healthier grandparents with new levels of disposable income. As more and more multi-generational families travel, there is a growing demand for programmes and activities that can engage the younger travellers. It is this reason that Hong Kong-based hotel group Marco Polo Hotels recently launched its new program: Piccolo Kids Club.
Beginning from reservations and check-in, children will be given the responsibilities required for normal hotel experiences, but with the fun and excitement to keep the youngsters entertained. Several hotels will even have a separate check-in counter, a specially designed room key and a registration card for the child to feel like a grown-up taking his or her family on a holiday. A long list of amenities is also offered for the smallest of travellers, including a bathrobe and slippers, bathroom amenities, bath toys, a dental set and many more.
Hotel restaurants will offer a special kids’ menu with organic and healthy options that will delight the kids and their parents. “Thanks to campaigns against childhood obesity, many restaurant chains and hotels have added healthier choices to their children’s menus,” says Kyle McCarthy, founder of Family Travel Consulting, who believes family travellers will pay more to avoid unhealthy, mediocre food given a choice.*
Babysitting services will also be available, as well as a unique, supervised play area, equipped with arts and crafts as well as interactive games for children to play the day away while the rest of the family takes care of some serious rest and relaxation.
Eric Waldburger, President of Marco Polo Hotels, was delighted to introduce Piccolo Kids Club and believes it will be a successful program that will engage the family unit even more: “As part of the ever-changing hospitality industry, we understand that each guest, no matter the age, should receive the best personalised experience at our properties, and that includes the boys and girls who will be our new guests.”
