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Resorts cater to kids
CHRAQ News & Reviews
August 1991
Swinging to family interests
Resorts Cater to Kids Families are hitting the beach. And the swimming pool. And the golf course. In fact, according to one study, family attendance has strongly increased at resorts in the United States. In a survey conducted in the summer of 1990, Barb J. Brock, an associate professor of recreation management at Eastern Washington University, polled 63 premier resorts to determine what changes they've seen in their guest population in the past decade. In her questions, Brock asked resort operators to compare their situation in 1990 with that of 1980. She found that at 22 of the resorts there was a substantial increase in the number of couples with young children. Although the typical age of guests at the remaining resorts didn't change (36-49), those properties noted an increase of guests with adolescent children or grandchildren. More than half the operators reported that they had increased their recreation programs for children and families and added new programs. Nearly threequarters of the resorts offered specialized children's programs, particularly day care, special recreation programs, and children's excursions. When asked to name the most popular types of recreation at their resort, nine out of ten operators cited family activities, followed by adults-only programs and children-only activities (each cited by about half the resorts). Looking at specific
family-oriented programs, respondents reported the following as being popular (in descending order): holiday programs and festivals, arts and crafts programs, and such sports as skiing, tennis, hiking, bike riding, and golf. For children only, the most popular activities were popcorn-andmovie parties, children's day camps, arts and crafts, and swimming programs (all about equally popular). Tennis headed the list of popular adult activities, followed by water aerobics, beach volleyball, and golf. The resorts also reported the following successful activities. For children: beach combing, kite flying, cookouts, sledding, ski and tennis lessons, and kids" clubs. For adults: murder mystery weekends, casino nights, theme parties, romantic weekends, cooking demonstrations, and bicycling clinics. Brock's survey demonstrated the need for constanl renovation at resorts. Fiftythree of the 62 operators reported adding or expanding facilities during the '80s. The most common improvements were athletic facilities and more guest rooms. Motivations. Respondents cited conflicting motivations for families' vacationing at resorts. Jill M. Sullins, guest activity director at Radisson's Camelback Resort (Scottsdale, Arizona), observed a need for "togetherness." Sullins added: "'Vacation time may be the only quality time spent with family, so it is important for us to plan their activities tog e t h e r - a n d lots of activities!" In contrast, Mike Millen, golf
Walt Disney World is still the number-one general family resort, according to a Family Circle magazine poll. and recreation director at Ocean Creek (South Carolina), observed: "'Today more families bring their children on vacation and need separate recreation programs for kids so Morn and Dad can get some relief." Finally, a respondent from Whiteface Resort (in New York's Adirondack Mountains) commented on a special desire |or learning: "We are trying to explore more interesting and educational programs that can provide families with exciting activities and greater satisfaction." 6,000 families w~te. In its April 2, 1991, edition, F a m i l y Circle magazine published the results of a large, unscientific survey of more than 6,000 of its readers, who were asked to rate 126 properties on a mailin form published in the magazine. Some 50 resorts in six categories placed high on the list. The six resorts that topped each of the six categories were declared "family resorts of the year" for 1991. The following resorts received the highest ratings in their categories: G e n e r a l /'exol'tx." Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida: C a b i n resorts: Estes Park Center/YMCA of the Rockies,
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Estes Park, Colorado; B e a c h resorts: Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Florida; R a n c h r e s m t s : Rocking Horse
Ranch, Highland, New York: Ski resorts: The Village at
Smugglers' Notch, Smugglers' Notch, Vermont: and C r u i s e resorts: Carnival Cruise Lines, Miami Beach, Florida. F a m i l y Circle editor Jackie Leo observed that families have "an enormous loyalty to organizations that can deliver a family experience.'" She noted that 21 of the 50 favorite resorts were repeat winners from the year before. (Disney World and Amelia Island won top honors lor the second year in a row.) The criteria for including a resort on the ballot were as follows: hospitality, child and teen programs, entertainment, facilities and accommodations, flequency of visits, and costs. Voters ranked each of the resorts from highest to lowest on each of those criteria. Interestingly, chain resorts did not fare especially well in the balloting. Such resorts as the Marriott Tan-Tar-A, Hilton Hawaiian Village, and Hyatt Regency Maul were among the top 50, but most of the winners are independently operated.--G. W.
THE CORNELL H.R.A. Q U A R T E R L Y
August 1991
Swinging to family interests
Resorts Cater to Kids Families are hitting the beach. And the swimming pool. And the golf course. In fact, according to one study, family attendance has strongly increased at resorts in the United States. In a survey conducted in the summer of 1990, Barb J. Brock, an associate professor of recreation management at Eastern Washington University, polled 63 premier resorts to determine what changes they've seen in their guest population in the past decade. In her questions, Brock asked resort operators to compare their situation in 1990 with that of 1980. She found that at 22 of the resorts there was a substantial increase in the number of couples with young children. Although the typical age of guests at the remaining resorts didn't change (36-49), those properties noted an increase of guests with adolescent children or grandchildren. More than half the operators reported that they had increased their recreation programs for children and families and added new programs. Nearly threequarters of the resorts offered specialized children's programs, particularly day care, special recreation programs, and children's excursions. When asked to name the most popular types of recreation at their resort, nine out of ten operators cited family activities, followed by adults-only programs and children-only activities (each cited by about half the resorts). Looking at specific
family-oriented programs, respondents reported the following as being popular (in descending order): holiday programs and festivals, arts and crafts programs, and such sports as skiing, tennis, hiking, bike riding, and golf. For children only, the most popular activities were popcorn-andmovie parties, children's day camps, arts and crafts, and swimming programs (all about equally popular). Tennis headed the list of popular adult activities, followed by water aerobics, beach volleyball, and golf. The resorts also reported the following successful activities. For children: beach combing, kite flying, cookouts, sledding, ski and tennis lessons, and kids" clubs. For adults: murder mystery weekends, casino nights, theme parties, romantic weekends, cooking demonstrations, and bicycling clinics. Brock's survey demonstrated the need for constanl renovation at resorts. Fiftythree of the 62 operators reported adding or expanding facilities during the '80s. The most common improvements were athletic facilities and more guest rooms. Motivations. Respondents cited conflicting motivations for families' vacationing at resorts. Jill M. Sullins, guest activity director at Radisson's Camelback Resort (Scottsdale, Arizona), observed a need for "togetherness." Sullins added: "'Vacation time may be the only quality time spent with family, so it is important for us to plan their activities tog e t h e r - a n d lots of activities!" In contrast, Mike Millen, golf
Walt Disney World is still the number-one general family resort, according to a Family Circle magazine poll. and recreation director at Ocean Creek (South Carolina), observed: "'Today more families bring their children on vacation and need separate recreation programs for kids so Morn and Dad can get some relief." Finally, a respondent from Whiteface Resort (in New York's Adirondack Mountains) commented on a special desire |or learning: "We are trying to explore more interesting and educational programs that can provide families with exciting activities and greater satisfaction." 6,000 families w~te. In its April 2, 1991, edition, F a m i l y Circle magazine published the results of a large, unscientific survey of more than 6,000 of its readers, who were asked to rate 126 properties on a mailin form published in the magazine. Some 50 resorts in six categories placed high on the list. The six resorts that topped each of the six categories were declared "family resorts of the year" for 1991. The following resorts received the highest ratings in their categories: G e n e r a l /'exol'tx." Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida: C a b i n resorts: Estes Park Center/YMCA of the Rockies,
12
Estes Park, Colorado; B e a c h resorts: Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Florida; R a n c h r e s m t s : Rocking Horse
Ranch, Highland, New York: Ski resorts: The Village at
Smugglers' Notch, Smugglers' Notch, Vermont: and C r u i s e resorts: Carnival Cruise Lines, Miami Beach, Florida. F a m i l y Circle editor Jackie Leo observed that families have "an enormous loyalty to organizations that can deliver a family experience.'" She noted that 21 of the 50 favorite resorts were repeat winners from the year before. (Disney World and Amelia Island won top honors lor the second year in a row.) The criteria for including a resort on the ballot were as follows: hospitality, child and teen programs, entertainment, facilities and accommodations, flequency of visits, and costs. Voters ranked each of the resorts from highest to lowest on each of those criteria. Interestingly, chain resorts did not fare especially well in the balloting. Such resorts as the Marriott Tan-Tar-A, Hilton Hawaiian Village, and Hyatt Regency Maul were among the top 50, but most of the winners are independently operated.--G. W.
THE CORNELL H.R.A. Q U A R T E R L Y