Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts: Slow down and enjoy: family travel is changing
|
|
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts: Slow down and enjoy: family travel is changing
|
Category: Worldwide - Industry economy
- Figures / Studies
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-06-02
This summer, vacation planning has changed: families have re-evaluated how they plan to travel. Everyone is more cautious in how they spend their money and time, but vacations are now regarded as a priority rather than a luxury. The focus is on slowing down and rediscovering the importance of family ties.
Engagement, enrichment and education is how Melissa Biggs Bradley of Indagare Travel in New York defines the new face of family travel.
"Vacations provide an incredible opportunity to bond with your children," she says. "You don't have to spend lots of money, just invest time doing something different. Rather than a whistle-stop tour through half of Europe in 10 days, families are staying closer to home and savouring what is nearby!"
Changing locations and activities
Vacations by the beach or by the lake top the types of trips of interest to families, according to the US-based Ypartnership's 2008 National Travel Monitor, followed by theme park vacations. The report also found that interest in the previously more popular "supervisory" kinds of vacation that were designed exclusively for children – summer camps, for example – has waned in recent years. Parents' desire to spend more quality, interactive time with their children has risen noticeably, particularly in families in which both parents work fulltime.
"People also want to see more of their own country," says Biggs Bradley.
"For example, in the US, having a new president is drawing more American visitors to Washington, DC. And whether they're taking road trips through Arizona, California or Wyoming, Americans are realising how much richness there is close to home."
Answering families' desire to get to know their own back yard better, Four Seasons has introduced a series of region-specific summer packages in North America, including the Pacific Northwest and Texas. Each package incorporates educational and cultural learning opportunities for children, over and above the complimentary family programs that Four Seasons has offered for so many years.
"Today's parents," says Biggs Bradley, "want their children to grow up with a strong awareness of their societal responsibilities – and particularly environmental responsibility."
"Children are great watchdogs. They're astoundingly aware of environmental correctness, and love anything to do with wildlife and nature. They want to know about animals' habitats, what's being done to protect them, and how are we practising conservation. This type of vacation has enormous resonance with today's kids. Look at the success of some of Four Seasons programs, such as adopting an elephant in the Golden Triangle!"
Volunteering has also become popular, as parents want to demonstrate to their kids the importance of "giving back." It's also an excellent way to get to know local people. At Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica, for example, a programme set up with local schools enables guests and their children to spend more time in the community – perhaps offering tutoring sessions, or even helping to build a new classroom.
The bottom line is that while people are taking less vacation, their family vacation time is more precious than ever. And Four Seasons is at the forefront in ensuring that families have exceptional experiences that create wonderful memories for years to come.
|
|
