romantic weekends, weddings galore, honeymoons, babymoons, minimoons

-the hospitality world has exploded with packages for couples, celebrating every stage of their togetherness. A bed for the night (and whenever else the urge takes them) is just the beginning. Bottles of champagne and chocolates are expected to be liberally sprinkled around the room, along with the rose petals. Baths steam fragrantly, waiting for the duo to return from their complimentary spa treatment or three course butler-served,
candlelit, under-the-stars meal. Giveaways, photos, specially selected trips and discounts pepper their stay.
“People in general are looking for more tailored and personalised experiences,” says Sally de Souza, Asia regional PR director of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. “The babymoon or minimoon packages which began in the US have certainly become popular elsewhere - we are about to release a minimoon package for our European hotels. Travellers today are looking for ‘experiences’ as well as a luxurious stay at a beautiful hotel.” For hotels, couples and their potential future families are the quintessential VIPS. Once the couple has fallen in love with each other, falling in love with the hotel or resort brand that was the background to their romance is a mere freebie-laden, charming-staffed, long weekend away. And then-what’s next? The next generation, who may well have been conceived in a hotel room near you, grows up associating their family holidays at certain brand properties with more than just nostalgic fondness following years of positive reinforcement.
Childhood holidays, whether at exotic resorts or the less indulgent but just as fun, caravan trips, chaotic camping holidays and stays at family friends, paint a picture of our past childhood outside school, with all the excitement and freedom that accompanied them.
Studies show that the good experiences you had as a kid on holiday are likely to be ones you replicate for your own children when the time comes. So if you were lucky enough to be hauled from five star resort to resort, guess what, all being well that’s what you’ll be treating your kids to - and their kids too when the time comes. And loyalty to brands runs deep when it starts even before you were a twinkle in your parents’ eyes. Says Neil Jacobs, Senior Vice President, Operations, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Asia/Pacific: “Some of our most loyal guests are children.”
Babysitting and kids clubs are de rigueur, whether you’re in an urban hotel or a resort. Being able to spend time a deux is an essential part of being on holiday, and these days you can rest assured that your kids aren’t just being minded, they’re being
entertained and they’re learning, pushing their boundaries and interacting with like minded children.
While the western world generally tends to keep it to the core family unit, Asian families are renowned for bringing not only the kitchen sink, but everyone who’s stood at it for the past few generations. Rooms and villas are arranged so that extended family units that include grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins, can move freely within their family areas. And hospitality stretches to activities for the older generations too, creating heart-melting senior moments to be cherished forever.
“Families want what everyone wants,” continues Jacobs. “A welcoming atmosphere; service that is genuine, friendly and caring; a comfortable bed; a fine meal and a worry-free vacation. They want the opportunity to enjoy themselves and their loved ones and create special memories together.”