Family travel can be stressful, especially during these days of travel chaos.
But, nothing is a stress buster quite like VIP Treatment. The concept of Hotel VIP Kids has been around for a while, but properties are now truly marketing to this very important segment of future Champagne drinkers.
A lot of resort or vacation destination hotels have kids’ clubs or kids’ programming, but it is also important not to overlook the possible VIP benefits hotels globally can provide for kids.
All Hotel Luxury Programs Will VIP Your Kids
Yep, it is true. If you book via a travel agent using a hotel luxury program, you can always request VIP amenities for your kids. Actually, some of the programs encourage the personalization of amenities.
Marriott Luxury – Marriott Stars
Per the Marriott Luxury STARS Travel Advisor Portal, they describe the welcome amenity benefit as:
Personalized and customized amenity designed to be meaningful to the guest.
The STARS Advantage – Luxury Advisor Guide to Marriott Stars
Recently we talked a bunch about the Hyatt Luxury Program Privé, but Marriott Stars is another luxury program with fabulous features.
Marriott Stars includes the usual assortment of benefits which include welcome amenity, $100 credit (per stay), daily breakfast for two, room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, and the exclusive “Guardian Angel.” This “Guardian Angel” provides direct guaranteed support to travel advisors within a short period of time.
Couture by Langham
You do not hear a lot of chatter about the luxury program for Langham, but it is really solid. They strive to create captivating memories for guests. At The Langham, London the VIP team went above and beyond to create an awesome experience. Amenities included kid “stuff,” as well as an actual teepee setup in the room.
Couture by Langham is another program with a travel advisor response time guarantee as well as all the usual suite of customizable luxury benefits.
How Do I Get These Benefits?
The easiest way to get these benefits is to book a luxury hotel property via a luxury travel advisor. One of the most important things when finding a travel advisor is their interest in profiling clients. Likes and dislikes are very important, and most luxury hotels really appreciate insights about guests.
Insights can border on necessities like food allergies, but also such preferences as the desire for alcohol as part of welcome amenities, which is highly suggested if you have kids, or such things are dietary desires that include vegan, vegetarian or bacon-positive.
It is also not unheard of for luxury travel advisors to share your preferences with regard to wine and Champagnes or sparkling wines.
But I Did Not Book With A Luxury Advisor
Maybe you used points, or maybe you booked directly with the property; you can still get your kids VIP amenities; you just have to “work it” personally. Be realistic, since if it is a Fairfield Inn in Wichita (no disrespect to Fairfield or Wichita) the expectation of VIP amenities should be rather limited.
For points or direct bookings first try to use your resources if you are an elite member of a hotel loyalty program. Call the hotel loyalty program elite number and get the best email address to contact the property. About 3-5 days prior to your arrival at the property send a short but direct email about how you are planning a stay with your children.
Just like your profile with a luxury travel advisor, tell the property about your kids’ interests. Notice the Four Seasons Lisbon amenities for Olive have an “animal theme,” which was not by chance since we told our luxury travel advisor that she loves animals.
It is worth mentioning that Four Seasons has some of the best kids’ “surprise and delight amenities,” as well as expansive kids programs at many properties. The exclusive luxury travel advisor Four Seasons Preferred Partner Program is also one of the best in the business. Not only does this program provide an ultra-generous breakfast benefit, but in almost all cases you can choose to enjoy your posh breakfast via room service. Most kids love room service since nothing is better than pancakes or waffles in bed.
Are you top-tier (hotel) elite? If you are Hyatt Globalist, be sure to reach out to your Globalist Concierge prior to a trip. Marriott BonVoy Titanium Ambassadors also have similar “personal service” contacts.
More Toys at the Conrad in Midtown
Sometimes hotels come up with unique VIP kids packages, albeit they are often pricey alternatives to getting a luxury hotel to “VIP your kids.”
This is not the first time that the Conrad New York Midtown has gone for the younger customers. When the hotel first opened in 2019, it offered a package right out of Tom Hanks’s “Big,” partnering with FAO Schwartz to fill a suite with toys. It came with the dancing piano and tall giraffes that have shown up everywhere in New York City holiday movies.
Of course, all the toys were also for sale, and the guests were treated to a private shopping spree at the flagship FAO Schwartz in Rockefeller Center. The package started at $3,000 per night.
Little Conrad Suites and SmarterKids
And now just for something fun. Between now and the end of the year, you can book a “Little Conrad Suites” package at the Conrad New York Midtown. Stays have a two-night minimum and can be booked in either a city view two-bedroom suite or Park View Apartment.
This year’s package is a bit more modest, but it’s still going to cost you a pretty penny, with packages starting at $1,300 per night and a two-night minimum stay required. The suites will be filled with toys from SmarterKids, a company that sells items that incorporate learning and education into everyday play. The Conrad markets “strategic creative corners, reading nooks, art areas, and activity STEM zones.” Hey, whatever keeps them off their iPads. Conrad is targeting the suites to families with children ages 3-10.
I highly suggest you contact your preferred Hilton Impresario Luxury Travel Advisor to book the Conrad New York Midtown, especially because you might want to compare some Impresario Luxury Program suite/room versus package options.
Impresario Promotion – Conrad New York Midtown
While not applicable to the “Little Conrad Suites” packages, the Conrad New York Midtown also is running an Impresario Luxury Program Stay 3, Pay 2 promotion. The offer is valid until March 31st, 2023, with some date and capacity-controlled exceptions. Impresario is another luxury program that is impressive and would tend to have many valuable promotions.
Also, Hilton Gold/Diamond benefits “stack” on top of Hilton Impresario benefits at Impresario Properties in the USA.
The Conrad New York Midtown is located just south of Central Park, so even when you’ve had enough of the toys in your room, there’s an entire city out there to play with. And if you want the more traditional tourist experience, don’t worry: Times Square is only a few blocks to the south.
Hopefully, you now have a few ideas to find the perfect path to making your kids VIPs at your next luxury hotel stay.
Hat Tip to Luxury Travel Advisor, where I first saw the Little Conrad Suites.
