From Fussy to Fun: Top Tips for Welcoming Families to Your Hotel Restaurant

Family travelers are a vital demographic in the hospitality industry, but standing out as a family-friendly hotel involves much more than just offering folding cribs for guest rooms. 

Having the option to easily get to breakfast, lunch, or dinner by taking a short walk or elevator ride from a guest room to a hotel restaurant is a major convenience for guests, especially those traveling with young children. Hotel restaurant managers know that catering to families with children can significantly enhance the dining experience, leading to increased patronage and positive reviews.

There are four key tips that hotel restaurant managers can follow to create a kid-friendly atmosphere:

• Provide child-friendly seating
• Offer a diverse kids menu and kid-friendly amenities
• Train staff to cater to families
• Implement key safety measures

Read on to learn how to create a positive dining experience for children and parents.

1. Child-Friendly Seating

A key deciding factor for parents when selecting a dining option is the availability of child-friendly seating. To ensure comfortable seating for children of varying ages, restaurants should have both high chairs and booster seats readily available. When shopping for highchairs, look for models like the NeatSeat that incorporate safety features like a wide, stable base, adjustable safety harnesses, passive restraints, and a commercial-grade finish that is easy to clean and sanitize. Offering safe and reliable seating options for children will provide peace of mind for parents and restaurant staff. When arranging the tables at your restaurant, keep in mind that high chairs and booster seats need to work at both smaller and larger tables to comfortably accommodate families of all sizes.

2. Offer a Diverse Kids Menu and Other Kid-Friendly Amenities

Create a dedicated kids menu featuring a variety of nutritious and appealing options. Include choices that follow your restaurant’s cuisine, as well as familiar favorites like chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, and grilled cheese sandwiches, while also incorporating healthier choices like fruit bowls or veggie sticks. If your restaurant is open for breakfast as well then be sure to offer breakfast staples like a pancake or waffles. Be mindful that a kid-friendly menu isn’t just about the food, but also beverage choices like milk and juice.

To stand out from your competitors, hotel restaurant managers should consider having disposable children’s sippy cups and plastic to-go cups with lids available to accommodate children of all ages. Also, while the kids are waiting, printable coloring sheets with crayons will go a long way to keeping little hands busy. Many restaurants have even gone higher tech with LCD writing tablets that are reusable and reduce the waste of crumpled paper and broken crayons. And kids LOVE them!

3. Train Staff to Cater to Families

A diverse kids menu and safe child-seating options can encourage a family to dine at your restaurant once, but a welcoming and patient staff can turn a family into return patrons who recommend your restaurant to their family and friends. All staff members should receive comprehensive training on how to interact with families and children effectively. Encourage them to be patient, friendly, and accommodating, especially during busy times when families may require extra assistance. Staff members who engage with children in a positive and respectful manner can enhance the overall dining experience for families.

4. Key Safety Measures

Hotel restaurants can implement simple safety features like protective outlet covers in the waiting area or on walls near dining areas as well as tables with rounded corners, non-slip mats by doors, and walkways that are dry and free of tripping hazards. Additionally, offering amenities such as sanitary baby changing stations in restroom facilities, and complimentary baby wipes or disposable bibs can ease the dining experience for parents with infants or toddlers. Ensuring that your restaurant is equipped with essential safety features and amenities not only gives parents peace of mind but also demonstrates your commitment to providing a family-friendly dining experience.

By implementing these strategies, hotel restaurant managers can create a welcoming and enjoyable dining environment for families, ultimately enhancing the overall guest experience and driving customer satisfaction and loyalty. Embracing the unique needs of families with children benefits the restaurant financially and contributes to building a loyal customer base for the hotel and a positive reputation within the community.

Shop all NeatSeats and Changing Stations from Foundations. Call us at 330-722-5033 or visit our website to discover our full line of industry-leading hospitality products.