Expectant couples holidays – Babymoons – touted as new trend
A new trend sweeping the US – Babymoons – offer the industry new revenue potential, according to a special report released today at World Travel Market.
The Babymoon is a package specifically designed for expecting couples – offering them an opportunity for one last holiday before the life-changing arrival of their first child.
While it is not recommended that women fly after 36 weeks of pregnancy, they can still travel by land or rail to nearby hotels for a getaway, according to the World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2006 produced by Euromonitor International.
Examples of hotels offering babymoon packages include the Miraval Resort and Spa in Arizona and Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands, both of which offer spa treatments specifically for expecting mothers, courses on parenting, as well as special menus catered for the erratic food desires of expectant mothers.
Euromonitor International’s global travel and tourism research manager Caroline Bremner said: “Babymoons are being marketed to expecting couples in the US as a holiday to remember, where they can relax and have valuable couple time before the arrival of their son or daughter.
“By helping couples celebrate such a special life stage event, travel operators have the opportunity to build customer loyalty, encouraging the couple to turn to them again when planning family vacations in the future.
“Other life stage packages we are noticing in the US, which the travel industry in the UK would be well advised to take note of, include teenage birthday party sleepovers in hotels and ‘grand travel’ packages, for grandparents wishing to bond with their grandchildren.”
Report by Phil Davies
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