| Why
Hotels should look at providing services for Families
For the last 10 years, Hotels have been very busy integrating
the computer age into their properties. This has meant that most
capital expenditures have been focused on providing data ports,
internet capabilities in the rooms, and integration of reservation
systems over the internet.
In talking to some of the suppliers of this type of technology
and service to this industry, even they indicated that this market
has become very competitive. A large segment of the hotel market
has now reached a stage where their services for the business
traveler in this area are creating a level playing field. These
market suppliers are now concentrating on new construction as
opposed to retrofitting.
Computer technology is improving at such a fast rate.
While business still necessitates travel, the need may not be so great as
technology improves. In addition, many companies are
looking at cost cutting measures, with the most prominent
corner being cut - executive travel expenses.
A recent article published on e-hotelier.com indicates that
the business traveller may not even require all the technology
currently in place in many hotel property. Service
Executives quoted in the article that "Fewer than 5
percent of business travelers use high-speed Internet access
in their hotel rooms".
Hotels now need to look to other areas of the market for their
competitive edge. One market that has largely been ignored in the
computer age is the travelling family.
Stats Canada reported in Spring 2000 issue that in data from
1996 the vast
majority of Canadians, 84.2%, live in families and 66% of those had
children. In other words that puts approximately 16 Million people
or over 4 million family units containing children in Canada
alone. While the statistics used for this article are
Canadian, American Statistics seem to be following the same
course.
The family
dynamics has changed over the last 10 years also. 7 out of 10
couples with children under 16 have two incomes, are marrying
later in life when their income levels are higher and more
families are lone parent families with over 80% headed by women.
As women are traditionally the caregivers for children, and the
majority of families have a woman as part of the family structure,
it probably goes without saying that the women in the family
usually plan the family vacation.
And again as primary caregiver, these women will most likely
look for accommodations that provide services for children. In
1998 pleasure as the main purpose of a family one or more night
family travel was estimated at 47%. Nearly half of the reason.
Between 1986 and 1998 the hotels and motels as the choice of
accommodations has increased by 20%.
Families want activities when they travel as an extension of
our hectic lives and the pace that we have become accustomed to.
"Hotel operators who develop products that fit in with the
frantic pace of life of their clients are becoming increasing
"Kid Friendly".
Visitors to Canada with children under 2
increased 17% in the 90’s decade. We have also seen a 33%
increase in one parent family trips.
Many hotel chains are now starting to aggressively market
their product to the family market. A recent survey
conducted by the Hilton Hotels Corporation and Yankelovich
Partners found that "two thirds of parents questions said
that vacations are the only 'real quality' time that families
spend together". For Travel News about
programs for families and children at Hotels and Resorts go to
Hotel and
Resort Travel News.
The Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Program and
services are designed to help this industry promote and enhance
their services for families with our "Gotta Get It"
Concept.
"Gotta Get It" has three phases to assist hotels in
increasing their share of the family market.
Phase 1
Gotta Get It Ready is the first aspect of this campaign. Before
you want to encourage families to visit your property or promote
your property as "Kid Friendly", you need to look at
what you have to offer and what you can do to improve or enhance
what is offered for families at your property.
The Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Program is a one-stop shop for kid friendly products and programs
specifically designed for the Hotel Industry. For a more detailed
list of what we offer go to HOTEL FUN 4 KIDS SERVICES.
We make it easy to be Kid Friendly with our
unique line of Play Area Products
and Welcome Packages and Promotional Products, Toys and Concepts for Children on Check-in at Hotels.
Phase 2
Gotta Get it Listed is part of the marketing aspect of
the Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Program. Currently experiencing just
under 200,000 hits per month from all over the world, the web site
www.hotelfun4kids.com offers great
exposure for any hotel or resort looking to promote itself as Kid
Friendly. For information on listing options go to Web Site Listing Services.
We can also help promote your family travel packages including Welcome Packages and Promotional Products, Toys and Concepts for Children on Check-in at Hotels.
**Web
site featured as a "Best of the Web" in the February,
2001 issue of Lodging by the AH&MA**
An article in the Toronto Star issue of April 29, 2000,
reported that by 2001 17 Million households in North America with
children under 18 would be online. A Senior Travel Analyst from
Forrester Research estimated that Families will make up 40% of
those researching travel online. Internet travel has jumped 1500
percent in the last four years.
Parents are looking for information on family travel online. It’s
a fact. They might not necessary book online, but the anonymity of
being able to find the information and then contacting the hotel
directly either online or by phone to make the booking creates a
level of trust and personal feeling.
The web site www.hotelfun4kids.com
is designed to promote family travel by providing access to Hotels and Resorts,
with comprehensive descriptions of the hotel’s
children’s services and the rating under the Program as a HOTEL
FUN 4 KIDS™ Destinations. Parents can also
find travel information, including
safety tips and links to safety information, travel news, travel
tips including car and air travel.
An explanation of the rating system designed under the program
is also shown on the web site. Family Attractions and activities
in the area near the hotel that are family oriented are also
promoted.
We recently added ski resort listings as well in response to
industry reports that more skiers and snowboarders are visiting
Canada.
The Contact Us page also has a form for parents to complete
where they can request brochures from HOTEL FUN 4 KIDS™
Destinations and a brochure about the HOTEL FUN 4 KIDSä
Program and Rating System.
Phase 3
GET IT RATED under the Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Rating
Program.
The rating program
provides parents with a quick reference as to hotel services when
visiting www.hotelfun4kids.com.
It is based on the needs and wants of parents to provide the
information quickly, at a glance. Time is a very scarce commodity
in today’s world, with parents researching family vacations when
they have a spare minute. Information needs to be easy to read,
accurate and the rating system provides a quick reference for
hotel services.
There are basically three levels of hotel services that the
ratings take into account – the Destination Resort which falls
in the 4- 5+ rating, the Active Family Hotel, which most likely
would be a 2-4 rating where parents are visiting local attractions
and want some facilities for children at the hotel and are usually
travelling with active children/teenagers, and the airport or stop
over hotel – which would likely be a Kid Friendly or 1 rating.
Under our Premier service for the web site, the rating symbols
play another role.
A non-exclusive license is granted to display the rating symbol
at your hotel, on your web site and brochures.
Displaying the rating
symbol at your hotel can provide parents who travel without
reservations quick reference to your hotel’s services for
families. Stats Can reported that in 1997 2.4 Million Americans
took overnight trips to Canada and that 89% of those trips were by car.
As our site is visited almost equally by Canadians and
Americans and hotels are listed throughout North America (and
shortly world-wide) the
rating symbol will also become familiar to them. The rating
symbol will gain world wide recognition, not just as a singular country rating.
There is a market out there that makes it worth your while to
"Get it Ready", "Get it Listed and Get it Rated.
For more information about the Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Program see
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