U.S. hotels are responding to the rise in multigenerational travel by increasing family suite inventory and programming. Take these hotels for example.
Eat, Sleep and Play Well
Last month, Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced its plans to launch new family programs at more than 300 Le Meridien and Westin Hotels & Resorts around the world. The new programs are aimed at catering to the way modern families travel and have answered to the growing demand of multigenerational family travel with reinvented kids club concepts, reimagined family experiences within the hotel, and the addition of more relevant amenities. The Westin’s family nature-inspired programs seek to promote a sense of well-being, while Le Meridien’s family-focused programs draw out children’s creativity through the brand’s Filters of Discovery.
At The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa in South Carolina, for example, kids are encouraged to “eat well,” “move well” and “sleep well” through a range of activities, such as making fossil Jell-O molds and fruit popsicles to participating in Beach Olympics and yoga/stretching. Regular room rates start at $135. Westin and Le Meridien have also taken into consideration the rising trend of families traveling farther and staying longer by introducing a budget-friendly global family package, featuring complimentary meals for children and access to kids clubs. Families also receive a discount when booking a second room or they have the option to book connecting rooms. For more information, visit westin.com/family or lemeridien.com/family.
Families That Lodge Together…
For families traveling with multiple children and multiple generations, the cost and size of guestrooms is also becoming an increasingly important factor when booking a vacation. So expect to see an increased offering of family suites with additional bunk beds, pull-out sofa and even a suite specialist.
The family suites at the Waldorf Astoria New York, a hotel within the 1,235-guestroom Towers of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan, offer multi-bedroom suites featuring a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. Suite specialists are available to assist families with the booking process and accommodate special requests, such as a suite with a view of New York City or a suite with a hot tub-sized bathtub. Rates for the Executive Suite and the Luxury Suite start at $699 per night. For more information, visit waldorfnewyork.com.
The 860-guestroom Hilton Chicago O’Hare recently debuted its new family suites, which feature a large sitting area, a king bed and a sofa bed. The 485-sq.-ft. studio suites also come with a 42-inch HDTV, a mini-bar, complimentary WiFi and on-demand movies and video games. Family suites start at $134 per night. For more information, visit hilton.com/en/hotels/illinois/hilton-chicago-ohare-airport.
