Latest News
HomeStatistics & TrendsSurvey shows happy kids make for happy holidays
Survey

Survey shows happy kids make for happy holidays

Holiday Inn ‘Do More of What You Love’ survey reveals children want to be part of the holiday decision making and like to be kept busy.

SINGAPORE – Children are ‘wearing the trousers’ when it comes to deciding where to go and what to do on holidays, a Holiday Inn survey has found, as parents admit ‘keeping the kids happy’ makes for a more memorable and enjoyable holiday for all.
 
A resounding 7 in 10 respondents of the Holiday Inn ‘Do More of What You Love’ survey, which saw travellers across the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region offer insights into family holidays, say it is important to get their little one’s input when choosing how and where to spend precious family breaks.
 
Over 80% of mums and dads in almost every country surveyed always, or at least frequently, chose holiday destinations based on making sure their kids will be occupied and happy because it meant a greater possibility of getting more ‘me-time’ for them. In particular, it was Singaporean (82%), Indonesian (92%) and Thai (85%) parents who say choosing a destination catering to their children’s interest each and every time they holiday makes for a better, more relaxing break for themselves.
 
Lee Lin Teo, Head of Brand Management for the Holiday Inn Brand Family across Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) says: “It’s clear travellers around the region are balancing several factors when making holiday decisions; wanting ‘me-time’ for themselves to unwind, finding the right holiday spot that allows their family to spend time together and reconnect as well as ensuring their kids will be kept occupied and entertained.
 
 
“We know it’s important to prioritise every family member’s down-time; be that recreational activities with our hotel and resorts’ teams, an hour’s solitude at one of our spas or checking into the Kids’ Club to take a break from the parents.
 
Whatever our guests want from their break, at Holiday Inn we provide all the facilities, clubs and programmes for the entire family to recharge, refresh and do more of what they love throughout their stay,” Lee Lin concludes.
 
While trying to find this balance can be hard, it seems it’s certainly worth it in the end with over 60% of respondents saying their children often, or very often, talk favourably about their holidays – the fun times together, activities and new friends made – and of these, just over a half (51%) say their family holidays are some of their children’s greatest memories.
 
Delving deeper into what makes for a fun, more memorable break, parents are instinctively spot on when it comes to knowing what makes their kids happy on holidays. In fact, when asked, mums and dads listed these activities as the top three things their kids love to do most on their breaks:
  • swimming in the pool or ocean;
  • playing at the beach; and
  • visiting nearby theme or waterparks
 
 
Kids (regardless of age or gender) agree, listing the same activities in the same order as the top things they love doing on holidays. However, boys say they enjoy eating different kinds of food and learning to play sports, while girls say that playing with siblings, making new friends, as well as enjoying arts and crafts are their other top interests on holidays.
 
When it’s time to wrap up the trip, for most travellers the best holiday souvenirs are the memories made and the way they remember good times on holidays doesn’t change dramatically across the region, with social media, unsurprisingly, the preferred choice for displaying holiday photos on their return home.
 
Parents say they create albums of pictures taken throughout the trip, while child-free respondents display souvenirs around their home to remind them of their recent holiday and just over 12% of survey respondents don’t usually do anything to keep holiday memories alive once they have returned home.
 
Across South East Asia, there are 22 Holiday Inn hotels and resorts open and an additional 22 due to open within the next three to five years. Globally, there are almost 1,200 Holiday Inn hotels and resorts open, with a further 260 due to open in the next three to five years.
 

 

 

Photo caption: Holiday Inn Pattaya, infinity pool

Co-Founder & Chief Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Articles

Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.

29/03/2024
28/03/2024
27/03/2024
26/03/2024
25/03/2024
22/03/2024