The holiday season is a magical time when families come together to celebrate, create lasting memories, and embark on adventures. For many families, this means staying in hotels while visiting relatives or traveling to new destinations. To ensure that family travelers have a comfortable and memorable experience, hotels must go the extra mile in preparation. There are a handful of essential ways hotels can prepare for family travelers during the holidays, make their stay truly special, and evoke a sense of brand loyalty to your establishment.

The first thing that families look for are amenities that make their travel experience easier for themselves and their children. 

1. Cribs

The availability of cribs can be a deciding factor for parents when choosing their hotel accommodations. Offering folding wood or steel cribs can create a sleeping environment more like the baby’s at-home nursery, resulting in a more restful and enjoyable stay for guests.

Boutique folding wood crib

SnugFresh Elite travel yard

2. Travel yards

Travel yards provide a more casual option for your guests and are helpful to have available for shorter stays. Some travel yards, like the Sleep ‘n Store have optional bassinets that can be added for guests traveling with younger infants, adding more versatility to your childcare amenities. Travel yards with commercial grade covers, like the SnugFresh® Celebrity and SnugFresh Elite, makes cleaning even easier for your staff and provides a visibly clean play yard for young guests.

3. Safety Precautions

Safety is paramount when hosting families. Ensure that rooms and common areas are childproofed, or at least offer safety equipment such as outlet covers and corner guards upon request. Additionally, provide a list of emergency contacts and local pediatricians or healthcare facilities in case of any unforeseen health issues.

4. Connecting rooms and suites

Offer connecting rooms or suites to accommodate larger families. These options provide more space and privacy, with the convenience of being close to each other. Families with older children or multi-generational groups often appreciate these arrangements. Suites can also provide a quiet area for babies to sleep undisturbed while parents and other family members are awake.

5. High chairs

High chairs are another necessity that hotels should have available for family travelers. Not only will feeding chairs be beneficial for your in-house restaurant, but they can also be offered for in-room use. The use of high chairs in your guests’ room provides parents with a place to safely and more cleanly feed their young children during their stay.

NeatSeat wooden high chair

Foundations Mini Diaper Pail

6. Diaper pails

Traveling with infants and toddlers often involves numerous diaper changes throughout their stay, and proper diaper disposal can be challenging in a hotel room. Providing odor-blocking diaper pails like Foundations’ Mini Diaper Pail, is a simple yet practical amenity that ensures parents have a convenient and hygienic way to dispose of diapers. This thoughtful gesture reduces the risk of unpleasant odors and mess for the guests and hotel staff.

Make your family travelers’ hotel stay memorable by going above and beyond this holiday season with special benefits and activities. 

1. Holiday decorations

Embrace the holiday spirit by decorating the hotel with festive ornaments and lights. Consider hosting special events or themed dinners during the holiday season and create an inviting atmosphere that gets everyone in the mood for celebration.

2. Family activity programs

During the holidays, families are looking for fun and engaging activities. Organize special programs and events for kids and parents, such as craft workshops, storytelling sessions, or holiday-themed games. This not only keeps the children entertained but also enhances the overall family experience.

3. Flexibility in reservations

Understanding that holiday plans can change, consider offering flexible reservation policies for your guests. This can include allowing free cancellations or changes up to a certain period before the check-in date. Families will appreciate this flexibility, as it takes some of the stress out of holiday travel planning.

4. Concierge services

Train your concierge to assist with family-specific requests. They should be knowledgeable about local family-friendly attractions, arrange tickets for these attractions, and provide recommendations for suitable activities. Catering to the unique needs of families will undoubtedly leave a positive impression. 

5. Personalized services

Personalization will leave an impression on your guests and will promote a positive review of your hotel. Remember the names of family members, offer a small welcome gift for kids, or provide a handwritten holiday card to make guests feel truly valued and appreciated.

6. Babysitting services

Sometimes parents need a break or a quiet dinner alone. Hotels can arrange for trusted babysitting services, so parents can have some well-deserved time to themselves. Ensure your staff is well-trained and certified in childcare, and that background checks are conducted for all babysitters.

The holiday season is a time for families to come together and create cherished memories. By preparing for family travelers with thoughtful amenities and services, hotels can play a crucial role in enhancing these experiences. Going the extra mile to cater to the unique needs of family travelers during the holidays can result in not only happy guests but also repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations. Make your hotel a welcoming haven for families, and you will be sure to stand out in the competitive hospitality industry. 

Contact Us or call 330-722-5033 to learn more about our folding wood and steel cribs, travel yards, high chairs, and diaper pails.