Travel with Children - Hotels pursue teens, pre-teens with menus, getaway packages

USA Today: Hotels pursue teens, pre-teens with menus, getaway packages (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/story/2012-07-21/hotels-teens/56420100/1)

I thought this was of interest, at least to some out there! Pre-teens and teens certainly have some spending power and I think hotels that make an effort to appeal to these age groups could find some financial gains (via their parents). Although I'm not certain how much of a draw Tivi5MONDE will have.

Do children build interest in loyalty programs off of their traveling parent(s)?

:)

Bjorn Hanson, dean of New York University's hospitality school, says hotels are trying to build loyalty as early as possible. Teens and younger Millennials have become an influential demographic because they set social trends through their use of Facebook and Twitter, he says.

They also have a lot of pull with their parents, who "offer an increasing amount of influence, even control, to the teens in the family," he says.

I was happy to read about the revamping of the hyatt kids menu. That's always been my one complaint when i've filled out a survey.

My kids are just getting old enough to remember our trips and hotels.

Whenever we travel the questions they ask are:
1) Is there a pool?
2) And where is the regency club (we usually stay at Hyatts)?

They're of course too young to know about loyalty programs but they're aware that it's a special privilege for them to be allowed into the regency club.

I totally misread the title of this thread and at first thought there were gangs of marauding teens swiping menus and amenities from hotel facilities and the proprietors were in hot pursuit.

When traveling with my parents from a very young age, I remember having my favorite independent hotels and chains, probably starting from about age 5 or 6. I cared about swimming pools and restaurant food first; the actual hotel rooms didn't matter as much to me but I certainly noticed and remembered rude or indifferent staff.

I was driving six 8-10 year old girls to LA on a scout field trip. We drove past LA Live and my daughter saw the JW sign- she announced to the car- "that's a JW, they are nicer than regular Marriotts." Then she saw the Ritz Carlton sign and got really excited and told the car "Ritz Carlton is even better!" The rest of the girls pretty much ignored her, but she knows her Marriotts.