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Dear WuBookers, by now we know how important it is to be able to identify and intercept one’s ideal target audience and, above all, to meet their expectations. When it comes to families, nothing seems more appropriate than a family hotel, provided, however, that it really is one. But what is it and what distinguishes it from a regular hotel?
What is a family hotel and how it works
As it is easy to guess already from the name, the family hotel is a child-friendly hotel. Better yet: it is a hotel designed and built to cater to children and those who accompany them, whether parents, grandparents or other people.
Compared to a traditional establishment, in terms of managing rates or reservations, not much changes. What makes the difference between a true family hotel and one that is simply open to families as well, is the service.
In fact, to truly meet the needs of this particular audience segment, it is not enough to just set up a few games or an area for children, but to completely think (or rethink) the spaces and offerings.
Precautions and equipment that every family hotel ought to have
Before reviewing the features that a family hotel should have, it is important to point out that the category of children is, of course, quite broad, which is why it is necessary to provide different types of equipment depending on the ages targeted. Infants have different needs from 2-3 year olds, not to mention even older children or even pre-teens.
Contemplating all age groups is not impossible, but it requires some structural and operational flexibility. Alternatively, it is possible to specialize on only certain age groups, such as toddlers and very young children, for example, thus positioning oneself as a Baby Family Hotel.
In any case, it requires deep knowledge of the target (understood as children and adults, often parents or grandparents) and attention to every detail, starting with the room.
The bedrooms
Bedrooms require a number of accouterments and accessories that are unlikely to be found in a classic facility. Families on vacation tend to have many things and some quite bulky (suitcases but also toys, strollers, and so on) so, first of all, it is essential that spaces are adequate to accommodate them. Large surfaces, but also easy to clean and manage.
In addition, everything must be made secure: it is best to prefer furniture with soft lines or padding, and to cover any electrical outlets with special guards and, when possible, place them away from the floor.
Comfort should also not be overlooked: so beds, cribs and cradles when needed, as well as the ever-needed changing table, which makes all diaper preparation and changing much easier. In this regard, parents will be grateful if you have provided the diaper disposal bin, which prevents unpleasant odors in the room. Staying on the toilet theme, potty and toilet reducer are essential. Also much appreciated will be toys and children’s books. The extra caution? Night lights.
Finally, consider a good soundproofing system: those staying in these properties are likely to be fairly tolerant of noise from other small guests, but it is still a vacation and feeling uncomfortable, or causing others to feel uncomfortable, is not pleasant.
Common areas and restaurant hall
Like the room, the common spaces must also take into account the peculiarities of the target audience and, therefore, include any protective barriers to demarcate potentially dangerous areas, but also play areas and furniture in line with the capabilities of young children.
The in-house restaurant, which is essential for a family hotel, should provide adequate hours and meals, with special menus and ad hoc services. For example, you could provide an open-access food court, with packaged goods and drinks available all day long.
Or institute small extra meals, such as mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.
The important thing is that the quality of the food is excellent: skimping on food will only antagonize the clientele!
A bottle warmer corner or the ability to prepare broths and baby food on the spot is definitely another aspect to include.
And at the dining table? First and foremost, comfort: so high chairs and chairs of various sizes to enable children of any age to sit composed and eat without difficulty. Bibs along with cutlery and glasses of appropriate material and size will help them and their parents to experience the meal in serenity. While for slightly older guests, it might be helpful to provide paper placemats and colors: so they can distract themselves and play while waiting to be served.
Other additional services
In addition to those already mentioned, there are many other ancillary services that can enhance families’ hotel experience or convince them to book, including:
- agreement with a pediatrician, to be called upon request in case of need. This aspect tends to be greatly appreciated by those who have very young children and fear being “uncovered” during the vacation period;
- babysitting and entertainment: as anticipated, not all age groups are the same. For some, it is necessary to provide more constant supervision, similar to that of a baby sitter or a mini-nursery; for others, however, common activities can be arranged only at certain times of the day, such as mini club or baby dance;
- Agreements with a lido or other nearby leisure and entertainment venues. If your facility is close to a well-equipped beach or another point of interest to your target audience (such as an amusement park or ski resort), it is possible that families staying at your facility may be inclined to travel there to optimize time and travel. Providing dedicated arrangements and discounts can be a point in your favor.
- Finally, adults should not be forgotten: spas and wellness areas either in-house or affiliated with the hotel, offer an opportunity for adults to relax as well.
So, in light of all these necessary precautions, what are the benefits for hotels?
Pros and cons for hotels
The benefits for guests, in fact, are quite clear: a true family hotel offers them the right mix of safety and relaxation, while also allowing parents to carve out a few moments of rest in total peace of mind.
This is an aspect that also benefits the facility, which stands out sharply from the competition (especially for certain age niches), attracting a target propensity to become loyal. In fact, it is likely that after a positive first experience, the reservation will be repeated even for several years in a row, all the more so if friendships have been formed between several children and families during the stay.
Another pro concerns the treatment, that is, the rate and its conditions. In fact, very often this type of facility offers all inclusive packages, which allow guests to freely enjoy a good number of services (including the restaurant) without having to worry about extra costs, for a higher price than other formulas.
For this to work, it is necessary to be able to count on highly qualified staff who, in addition to loving children, know how to relate to them and their parents. Similarly, extreme attention to detail and utmost care is required in every aspect – from the lobby to the en-suite bathrooms – with all that this entails in terms of design and maintenance.
Zak for family hotels
What can a hotel PMS do for a hotel intended for families? If it is Zak, WuBook’s management for hospitality facilities, the answer is: a lot!
Starting with the creation of the facility’s website with an integrated direct booking system (Booking Engine). Thanks to the management of extras and packages, the facility can offer and sell online baby cribs and experiences for the whole family.
The choice of rooms is also customizable and intuitive, perfect for accommodating the needs of families. In fact, Zak offers the ability to create rooms with multiple occupancy options: adults, children, teenagers, and infants. The hotelier can then set age ranges for each of these four categories. This way, when the guest searches for children’s accommodations and selects their ages within the Booking Engine, the most appropriate results for their needs are shown.
Not only that, it is not uncommon for this type of audience to get ahead of the curve when planning vacations and, before finalizing a reservation, need to compare prices and services of multiple facilities. Zak’s Hotel Estimator makes it possible to create customized offers and share them in just a few clicks, while also simplifying the customer acceptance process.
These are just a few of Zak’s most strategic features for family hotels: to discover them all, all you have to do is request a free trial!