Hotels catering for little ones' needs
By Fei Lai |
June 20, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MANY city hotels make a special effort to ensure that they have plenty of fun activities on offer to keep their youngest guests amused. Here are some recommendations where children can have fun and perhaps learn something too, while their parents enjoy a little well-earned relaxation nearby.
InterContinental Shanghai Expo has an ideal arena for energetic kids, a 2-acre tree-lined lawn sweeping up to the historic villas.
Since May, the hotel has been teaming up with the Awesome Kids Club during Sunday brunch, providing a healthy and creative environment for the children to play and learn under the supervision of teachers.
Facilities include a children's playground with slide and swings, bouncy castles and soccer nets. Awesome Kids Club brings some other materials for games and activities such as arts and crafts.
"We encourage kids to be kids," says Michael Shaw, founder of Awesome Kids Club. "We provide them with a safe, kid-friendly environment with plenty of equipment on hand to have fun. They have a really cool team of teachers on site who offer years of experience.
Indoor and outdoor experience
"They are able to coordinate different games and activities for the kids, depending on the age group and wants of the children," adds Shaw.
He gives particular mention to the popularity of creative activities.
"The arts and crafts tables always draw the attention of the kids and they walk away proud with something new they have created to show their parents."
The activities tend to attract different types of kids, says Shaw.
For example, an outdoor sportsbased activity may be more popular with an eight-year-old boy than creating a bouquet of flowers out of colorful tissue paper.
"We appreciate and respect all the different personalities that children offer," says Shaw.
InterContinental Shanghai Expo management is pleased with how the mix of brunch treats and kids' activities is working out.
"We launched our Family Sunday Brunch last month and will continue running it as it has proved successful," says Sebastien Ehret, director of food and beverages, InterContinental Shanghai Expo. "The unique selling point is that the kids can play on the lawn freely under the professional care of the Awesome Kids Club team, while parents can indulge themselves at brunch.
"This indoor and outdoor experience we have brought to guests is much appreciated by them," says Ehret.
Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, aims to keep little ones happy at its Adventure Zone, a 700-square-meter children's indoor playground and recreation center that is part of a three-concept area encompassing Kerry Sports and a spa.
The zone's main attractions are three slides: the Hyperglide Astra, the Double Drop and the tri-level Demon Drop. The slides and play zones were designed and built by UK-based Taylor Made, a leading manufacturer of children's play equipment.
Three themed party rooms overlooking the slides - "Jingle Jungle," "Pirate Ship" and "Circus Circus" - range in size from 23 to 65 square metres, and provide ideal locations for birthday and other celebrations.
Business boosted
"It's a space to play, slide, climb, run and party. Kids are in a haven within a play space designed with them in mind," says Andrew West, director of Kerry Sports.
"The Adventure Zone concept offers so many fun things to do. The most challenging activity is the Demon Drop which is a 6-meter vertical drop. It takes a lot of courage to go on this slide so the kids - and adults too - take pride in being able to do this activity."
Recently, a huge bouncy castle was added to outdoor facilities and the hotel plans to add more play equipment to the Adventure Zone.
West believes the zone definitely adds value to the experience of families who stay at the Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai.
"It also helps drive business to our food and beverage outlets as the parents can have some time to sit down and relax in our restaurants while the kids are playing in the Adventure Zone, since our team helps keep playtime safe," he says.
"Both adults and kids benefit from it. The kids love to play, while the parents get to enjoy watching their kids have fun or having their own leisure moments."
Brice Pean, general manager of Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao, recommends the special area for kids of Family Sunday Brunch at the hotel's Essence restaurant.
In addition to Sunday brunch, it features Wii game consoles, together with 52-inch screen, for young gamers.
In the DIY area, children can decorate and create their own personalized area by using stickers and other materials.
Young Disney fans can enjoy watching classic movies, while a face painter can transform little ones into their favorite fairy tale or animal characters.
And to ensure little ones don't go hungry while they're having fun, there are popcorn and ice cream carts close at hand.
Every kids gets a brunch passport to record their trips with their parents and a special stamp for each visit. When the stamps reach a certain number, they are entitled to a special offer, such as celebrating their birthday at the hotel.
Every month a kids' cooking class is organized, where little ones can learn how to make favorites such as cookies, pizza, California rolls, bread and cup cakes.
Kids can have fun cooking with skilled chefs, while turning the kitchen upside down, promises management.
"These activities are fun, strengthen kids' practical abilities, help them make friends and promote the harmony of a family," Pean says.
InterContinental Shanghai Expo has an ideal arena for energetic kids, a 2-acre tree-lined lawn sweeping up to the historic villas.
Since May, the hotel has been teaming up with the Awesome Kids Club during Sunday brunch, providing a healthy and creative environment for the children to play and learn under the supervision of teachers.
Facilities include a children's playground with slide and swings, bouncy castles and soccer nets. Awesome Kids Club brings some other materials for games and activities such as arts and crafts.
"We encourage kids to be kids," says Michael Shaw, founder of Awesome Kids Club. "We provide them with a safe, kid-friendly environment with plenty of equipment on hand to have fun. They have a really cool team of teachers on site who offer years of experience.
Indoor and outdoor experience
"They are able to coordinate different games and activities for the kids, depending on the age group and wants of the children," adds Shaw.
He gives particular mention to the popularity of creative activities.
"The arts and crafts tables always draw the attention of the kids and they walk away proud with something new they have created to show their parents."
The activities tend to attract different types of kids, says Shaw.
For example, an outdoor sportsbased activity may be more popular with an eight-year-old boy than creating a bouquet of flowers out of colorful tissue paper.
"We appreciate and respect all the different personalities that children offer," says Shaw.
InterContinental Shanghai Expo management is pleased with how the mix of brunch treats and kids' activities is working out.
"We launched our Family Sunday Brunch last month and will continue running it as it has proved successful," says Sebastien Ehret, director of food and beverages, InterContinental Shanghai Expo. "The unique selling point is that the kids can play on the lawn freely under the professional care of the Awesome Kids Club team, while parents can indulge themselves at brunch.
"This indoor and outdoor experience we have brought to guests is much appreciated by them," says Ehret.
Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, aims to keep little ones happy at its Adventure Zone, a 700-square-meter children's indoor playground and recreation center that is part of a three-concept area encompassing Kerry Sports and a spa.
The zone's main attractions are three slides: the Hyperglide Astra, the Double Drop and the tri-level Demon Drop. The slides and play zones were designed and built by UK-based Taylor Made, a leading manufacturer of children's play equipment.
Three themed party rooms overlooking the slides - "Jingle Jungle," "Pirate Ship" and "Circus Circus" - range in size from 23 to 65 square metres, and provide ideal locations for birthday and other celebrations.
Business boosted
"It's a space to play, slide, climb, run and party. Kids are in a haven within a play space designed with them in mind," says Andrew West, director of Kerry Sports.
"The Adventure Zone concept offers so many fun things to do. The most challenging activity is the Demon Drop which is a 6-meter vertical drop. It takes a lot of courage to go on this slide so the kids - and adults too - take pride in being able to do this activity."
Recently, a huge bouncy castle was added to outdoor facilities and the hotel plans to add more play equipment to the Adventure Zone.
West believes the zone definitely adds value to the experience of families who stay at the Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai.
"It also helps drive business to our food and beverage outlets as the parents can have some time to sit down and relax in our restaurants while the kids are playing in the Adventure Zone, since our team helps keep playtime safe," he says.
"Both adults and kids benefit from it. The kids love to play, while the parents get to enjoy watching their kids have fun or having their own leisure moments."
Brice Pean, general manager of Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao, recommends the special area for kids of Family Sunday Brunch at the hotel's Essence restaurant.
In addition to Sunday brunch, it features Wii game consoles, together with 52-inch screen, for young gamers.
In the DIY area, children can decorate and create their own personalized area by using stickers and other materials.
Young Disney fans can enjoy watching classic movies, while a face painter can transform little ones into their favorite fairy tale or animal characters.
And to ensure little ones don't go hungry while they're having fun, there are popcorn and ice cream carts close at hand.
Every kids gets a brunch passport to record their trips with their parents and a special stamp for each visit. When the stamps reach a certain number, they are entitled to a special offer, such as celebrating their birthday at the hotel.
Every month a kids' cooking class is organized, where little ones can learn how to make favorites such as cookies, pizza, California rolls, bread and cup cakes.
Kids can have fun cooking with skilled chefs, while turning the kitchen upside down, promises management.
"These activities are fun, strengthen kids' practical abilities, help them make friends and promote the harmony of a family," Pean says.
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