Aman chief Roland Fasel: Here’s how to level up your next family vacation
As the chief operating officer of Aman, Roland Fasel oversees operations and growth of the London-based luxury resorts grouping – which currently operates 37 hotels and resorts in 22 destinations, with new resorts opening in Kyoto (this November), New York and United mexican states (in 2020) and Saudi Arabia (2023).
Hither he gives his accept on how travel is becoming more than family friendly and what steps Aman, an early adopter in the field, is taking in that management.
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THESE DAYS, Beingness A Family-FRIENDLY RESORT OBVIOUSLY MEANS MORE THAN Merely HAVING A Solar day-CARE CENTRE. FOR A LUXURY RESORT Grouping Like AMAN, WHAT DOES FAMILY-FRIENDLY TRAVEL Interpret INTO?
Probably because of our frenetic lives, people are increasingly using holidays as a fourth dimension to spend quality time with their families and, over the years, we accept definitely recognised this and been aligned with it.
More than anything, being family-friendly ways welcoming each and every member of the family into the resort and making them experience at home, relaxed and happy. That is the bottom line. Everyone is welcome.
And so Hither'Due south THE Matter. We'VE NEVER HAD THE SENSE THAT AMAN WAS Particularly FAMILY-FRIENDLY. ARE We FAR OFF THE Rails ON THAT?
Quite far! Think nigh how Aman started. The first resort, Amanpuri, which opened in 1987, was originally intended as a vacation domicile in Phuket for friends and family. The whole concept of the make is based on this principle: Of welcoming all guests every bit if into the dwelling house of an onetime friend. Nosotros have always been inclusive of children or younger guests.
Our first Amanjunkies – equally our more die-hard guests call themselves – travelled with their children. In plough, these children, now adults, are bringing their pregnant others and their own children to requite them similar experiences they had when they were growing up. Our resorts go part of standing fond memories they tin can look back on as a family.
Which is why each Aman offers a range of activities and experiences for all guests, including families. This includes the Cultural Discovery Centres in some of our resorts whose activities of unearthing local civilization and history are specifically designed to broaden children'southward minds whilst they are with u.s.a.. They're entertained and even educated as much as the adults are.
WE Stand up CORRECTED. And then WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THE GROUP IS DOING TO CREATE Family unit-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCES?
Nosotros effort to comprise the local civilisation or nature. At Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos Islands, for example, also having a Nature Discovery Centre that offers programmes such as eco-hikes for all ages, we have tailored activities for children and youths such as yoga and beach fitness classes. We even have a junior spa carte du jour.
At Aman Tokyo, families can make traditional furin air current chimes using glassmaking techniques that date back to the 17th-century Nihon, while at Amanbagh in Bharat, young children can get upwardly close with a camel and learn more nigh how they accept become part of local life.
And at Amanpuri, we recently introduced a new Eco-Discovery Society for 4- to nine-year-olds which offers both educational and fun ecology and cultural discussions and lectures – such every bit learning almost turtles or customising their ain batik-fashion surf trunks.
THOSE ARE FAIRLY SOPHISTICATED OFFERINGS. QUITE OFTEN, RESORTS PUT IN A H2o CANNON AND FISH FINGERS ON THE MENU, AND Call IT A DAY.
Well, the challenge is to always stay one step ahead of the curve. Nosotros are always adapting our overall services to reflect the changing expectations of our guests and, in item, the second generation. This includes a greater focus on food and beverage, inclusive wellness and spa offerings that even the younger generation tin enjoy, and expanding our family-focused offerings with kids clubs and activities that cater to the younger generation. Every family member needs to be well taken care of.
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ON A BROADER LEVEL, WHAT EMOTIONS SHOULD A Skillful Family-FRIENDLY RESORT EVOKE?
Personally, the emotions that I desire to experience when I travel with my ain family are those of happiness, joy, and serenity. It's nigh creating memories together, exploring a new destination together. Most of all, it's about feeling welcomed and knowing you can accept a memorable time together.
IN TERMS OF Architecture AND Design, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRACTICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RESORTS THAT ARE FAMILY-FRIENDLY, AND THOSE THAT CATER TO ADULTS ONLY?
The practical differences are that hotels that are family-friendly will accept features like multiple sleeping room villas, or inter-connecting rooms or larger outdoor spaces that are integrated into their accommodation offering.
On that front end, Aman has always had an ethos of offering generously appointed rooms with almost all our resorts offer standalone pavilions and villas, or cottages.
Then, at some of our backdrop such equally Amanbagh and Amanjena in Marrakesh, we have paddling or children's pools where kids can go to acquire how to swim, splash near and have fun. And these were congenital at the time of the hotel launch, not as an afterthought – which means they fit seamlessly into the design of the hotel as a whole.
SPEAKING OF AFTERTHOUGHTS, WHAT Do RESORTS Go Wrong WHEN Information technology COMES TO FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES?
I don't call back it'due south a case of getting it wrong. I just think information technology's a instance of giving more thought and time and consideration to putting programmes together. Nine times out of ten, there just hasn't been enough thought put into things.
As a parent, it is easy for me to think about all the different requirements and restrictions that are needed to make a family unit experience not bad. And and so, we encourage all our staff to think about what they would want to give their kids on their breaks away and, basically, we implement that.
So WHICH OTHER RESORTS Become It Right, AND WHAT IS Information technology THAT THEY DO?
I think the resorts that get information technology right are those that capitalise on their natural surroundings. They create experiences and activities that are authentic and inspired entirely by the destination, whether in the course of concrete adventures or inspiring, insightful cultural experiences.
HOW DO Y'all THINK Family-FRIENDLY TRAVEL Will EVOLVE IN THE COMING DECADE? WHAT Volition RESORTS Have TO Practise TO Arrange FAMILIES OF THE FUTURE?
Over the years, our family offerings have become more than influenced by the local culture and people of each destination. And so, it's no longer about creating a games parlour or moving picture room for children. It'due south virtually creating insightful cultural experiences that are going to actually teach children near the destination they're in.
I think we will also see more than and more families wanting to take function in CSR-related activities, which follows the general trend of travellers wanting to give back to the local environs in which they are travelling.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/people/family-holiday-destinations-245936
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