- This article explores 10 smart business reasons why hotels should invest in bespoke kids’ activity books.
Bespoke Kids’ Activity Books: A Low-Cost, High-Impact Strategy for Hotels
Family travel is on the rise and hotels that prioritise young guests are reaping the rewards. Parents are now actively seeking accommodations that provide engaging and child-friendly experiences. Bespoke (Not generic) kids' activity books present a simple yet effective way for hotels to stand out.
These activity books offer more than just screen-free entertainment for children—they help build long-term brand loyalty and can even drive additional revenue. More importantly, they provide a cost-effective solution that delivers lasting brand value without requiring significant investments in infrastructure or staffing.
A Simple and Good Return on Investment
Here are 10 smart business reasons why every hotel manager should consider incorporating a custom kids' activity book into their guest experience:
1 - Meet the Rising Demand for Family-Friendly Travel
Family travel is experiencing significant growth and presenting a substantial opportunity for hotels to attract this lucrative market. A Skift report shows that family travel now accounts for the largest share of U.S. leisure travel, making up 40% of the segment. According to Wanderland's Kids Hospitality Report, globally the "kids hospitality" sector is estimated to be valued at around $175 billion, highlighting the financial potential for hotels that cater to families.
With 77% of parents stating that their children's preferences influence vacation plans and 65% of families opting for city getaways, there is a rising demand for kid-friendly experiences across the board. Many urban luxury hotels tend to focus on adult-oriented amenities and often are not as well-equipped to accommodate young guests as traditional resorts. This gap presents an opportunity for more forward-thinking hotels to cater to this growing segment, differentiate themselves in the market and increase RevPAR.
2 - Minimal Investment to Build a Family-Friendly Reputation
Creating a family-friendly reputation doesn't require a hefty price tag. Instead of investing in costly renovations for play areas or large-scale digital entertainment features, a customised kids' activity book is a low-cost solution that provides young guests with a unique experience.
For a fraction of the cost of adding physical amenities, a well-designed activity book signals to parents that the hotel values its young guests. Moreover, the cost of producing these books can be easily absorbed into the room rate, making it a sustainable investment rather than a substantial upfront expense. A small allocation per room allows hotels to provide this added value without negatively affecting profitability.
3 - Justify Higher Pricing for Family Accommodation Packages
A recent Hilton survey found that 70% of global travellers with children choose their vacation destination based on their kids’ needs and interests. Hotels aiming to create family packages can tap into this lucrative market by offering amenities designed for young guests. A bespoke kids' activity book is a simple yet effective way to demonstrate this commitment and show that the hotel prioritises family travellers.
Unlike a generic add-on, a custom-made kids' activity book feels intentional and thoughtfully designed. Being tailored to the hotel's theme, location and brand, it creates a seamless and engaging experience that conveys to families that they are genuinely valued. Parents are more likely to book and pay a premium at hotels that understand their unique needs and provide thoughtful touches to make their stay smoother and more enjoyable for their children.
4 - Activity Books are Easily Refreshable
A kids' activity book provides a budget-friendly (and screen-free) way to engage young guests while requiring minimal maintenance compared to digital or tech-based solutions. Unlike apps or screens that require constant software updates and troubleshooting, a printed activity book can be updated seasonally or customised for special events with little recurring expense.
By introducing themed editions—such as holiday specials, summer adventure guides or exclusive activity pages linked to hotel events—hotels can keep the experience fresh and exciting for returning families. This flexibility allows hotels to continuously provide something new without making significant investments in new infrastructure or ever-changing technology.
5 - Engage Young Guests With No Additional Manpower
A thoughtfully crafted kids’ activity book helps hotels build a strong family-friendly reputation without the added cost of extra staff to manage a dedicated children’s programme. These activity books entertain children within the property, often requiring little to no staff involvement.
This allows hotel employees to focus on their core duties while ensuring parents and children enjoy a pleasant stay. By providing an effortless low-cost solution, hotels can enhance guest satisfaction, optimise staff efficiency and position themselves as an excellent choice for family travellers. All without additional manpower.
6 - Encourage Families to Dine In-House
According to a Hilton study, 63% of parents regularly or always let their children decide where to eat while traveling. To address this trend, hotels can provide a custom kids’ activity book that introduces the hotel’s dining options in a fun and engaging way. Creative and interactive activities like scavenger hunts to find specific menu items or designing their own meals—can spark curiosity and excitement, encouraging children to look forward to dining at the hotel.
Additionally, offering small rewards like a free ice cream or a special treat upon completing an activity, gives children an exciting reason to choose the hotel’s restaurant over outside dining options. By making dining a fun and interactive experience, hotels can enhance family mealtimes, increase foot traffic and boost restaurant revenue.
7 - Increase Guest Engagement with Hotel Facilities
A well-designed kids’ activity book can turn a hotel into a playground of discovery by guiding families to explore its various facilities. Scavenger hunts, location-based challenges and creative missions encourage children to visit play areas, gardens, pools and lounges—spaces that might otherwise be overlooked.
The more time guests spend enjoying hotel facilities, the greater the likelihood they will utilise additional paid services such as dining, drinks and kids workshops (e.g. cooking classes or sports lessons). By encouraging families to explore both complimentary and paid amenities, hotels can elevate guest satisfaction, increase on-site spending and strengthen their reputation as a top choice for family-friendly travel.
8 - Bring the Hotel’s Unique Story to Life for Young Guests
A customised kids’ activity book is an effective way to showcase the hotel’s unique history, cultural influences and brand story in an engaging and relatable format. Rather than being just a place to stay, the hotel becomes part of a child’s travel adventure, fostering a deeper emotional connection to the destination.
By including creative elements such as colouring pages inspired by local landmarks, trivia about the hotel’s heritage and stories that highlight cultural traditions, young guests can learn while having fun. When families associate the hotel with memorable, educational and culturally enriching experiences, they're more likely to return and recommend it to others.
9 - Strengthen Brand Recall with a Lasting Keepsake
A well-designed kids' activity book is more than just a time-filler during a family's stay. It becomes a cherished keepsake that extends the hotel experience beyond check-out. When children take the book home, they can relive their fun hotel stay through puzzles, colouring pages and activities, making them more likely to remember the hotel for future trips.
This subtle yet powerful branding tool reinforces a positive connection with the property, making families more likely to return or recommend the hotel to others. By incorporating elements unique to the hotel—such as mascots, signature attractions or local cultural highlights—the book becomes a distinctive memento that strengthens brand recall and fosters long-term loyalty.
10 - A Bespoke Kids’ Activity Book: A Cost-Effective Differentiator
Every hotel has its own unique story, and a custom kids' activity book is a powerful way to showcase it. Unlike generic entertainment options, such as cable channels or mobile apps that are widely available across properties, a custom activity book captures the hotel's distinctive character through its location, history and brand identity.
The book transforms a child's stay into a one-of-a-kind adventure by incorporating elements like local culture, signature hotel experiences and hotel-themed activities. These highly bespoke touches create a deeper connection with young guests and their families, making the hotel experience truly memorable. More than just entertainment, a custom activity book helps differentiate the property from competitors.
Creating a Lasting Business Impact with a Thoughtful Family Experience
Investing in a bespoke kids' activity book is more than just a fun addition or an afterthought—it’s a strategic business decision that enhances guest satisfaction, increases revenue and strengthens brand loyalty. By offering such a unique engaging experience for young travellers, hotels can stand out in a competitive market, drive more bookings and encourage repeat visits from families who feel valued and understood.
Check out this article to discover 14 small and impactful enhancements that can make any hotel more family-friendly.
Wan Tsau
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SUCCEED: A Powerful Storytelling Toolkit for Hotels
Unlock the power of storytelling with the SUCCEED Storytelling Toolkit, a 21-page guide designed to help hotels of all sizes uncover, craft and share the narratives that make their property unforgettable.
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