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| Angie Campanelli and her kids enjoy a family-friendly room and amenities at the Holiday |
TORONTO - Nothing puts a smile on kids' faces like a new travel adventure, and Holiday Inn, an InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) hotel, along with travel expert Angie Campanelli, wants guests of all ages to feel that same sense of joy this summer. A recent study commissioned by the Holiday Inn brand found 44 per cent of Canadians said that guest room facilities had that biggest impact on their hotel experience and happiness when travelling. Having the right room options and amenities, along with warm, friendly service, are especially important for families traveling together, which is why the Holiday Inn brand is sharing tips and tricks to bring smiles to the faces of the whole family.
Jonathan Lund, Regional Vice President, Franchise Performance Support, IHG Canada, says: "Our goal at Holiday Inn is to make every moment matter so every guest has an enjoyable experience and leaves with a smile. Whether it's dining at our on-site restaurants where Kids Eat Free, enjoying a fun-filled pool day, or relaxing in one of our spacious guest suites, our hotels truly put the joy in travel and leave a positive lasting impact on guests."
Angie Campanelli, Family Travel Expert, says: "I am a true believer that travel is the key to a happy life; however, as a mother of three, I have also learned how stressful travelling can be. In fact, the Holiday Inn study found that Canadian women were four times as likely as men to be happiest while planning their trip and less likely to be happiest on the trip itself as compared to men. A lot of women I know end up feeling exhausted or disappointed when they come back from vacation, but this can be avoided by making smart choices."
Inspired by her many travel experiences across the globe with her husband and children, Angie Campanelli shares her top five tips for optimizing vacation happiness for Canadian families:
- Choose the right hotel: Whenever I travel with my kids, I spend time doing thorough research into our hotel options to make sure the one we choose is family-friendly. Holiday Inn hotels are the perfect choice when travelling with kids because of their welcoming service and the many amenities they offer. Kids Eat Free at their on-site restaurant and the kid's menu ensures your picky eaters are full and happy throughout their stay. The indoor or outdoor pool at all their locations is a huge plus, providing family fun regardless of the season. The staff is friendly and helpful, so I can relax and enjoy my vacation.
- Book the right room: As the study showed, hotel rooms have a huge impact on happiness. I couldn't agree more that choosing the right room makes the world of a difference. If you're travelling with young children and want some privacy for nap and bedtime, check to see if bedroom suites are available to ensure the whole family is comfortable and happy. At Holiday Inn hotels, you even have the option of asking for a crib in the room if you're travelling with an infant.
- Travel during the week: In addition to choosing the right hotel and amenities, choosing the right time to travel is just as important. If your family has the luxury of travelling during the week – do it! Hotels are often quieter during the week, which means more room selection, more flexibility and ultimately, less stress. There's nothing better than having a full buffet breakfast to yourself or private pool day for you and your family!
- Be App-y: If you are travelling by plane or on the road for long periods of time, make sure there are plenty of snacks and some form of entertainment for your children. There's no need to stress yourself out packing oversized toys and games. Grab a few books, and a smart device loaded with kid-friendly apps and games. If you choose a hotel with free Wi-Fi like Holiday Inn hotels, they can even use their devices during downtime on the trip.
- Get a kids-eye view: The survey also found that more than half (61 per cent) of Canadians said sharing stories and photos with family and friends gives them the most enjoyment after their vacation ends. What better way to look back on your travels and extend that vacation happiness than by re-living your trip through your children's eyes? I love to arm my kids with kid-friendly cameras so they can snap their surroundings and document their favourite moments. I find their candid photos are often the ones we cherish most when looking back.
The Canada travel survey supports the Holiday Inn brand's Smiles Ahead campaign, which celebrates how the brand delivers the joy of travel to all through an unparalleled service culture. The campaign underscores the brand's priority and personal promise to go above and beyond to make guests' stays even more memorable than expected.
The research practice of Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada, Perspectives+, was commissioned by the Holiday Inn brand to conduct an online study of Canadians 18 years of age and older. In total 987 Canadians were surveyed between the dates of June 12-15, 2017. In order to ensure representativeness, the results of this study have been weighted to known population parameters for age, gender and region.
