Here is something that we are really excited about.  The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to launch Ritz Kids around the world.  We’ve complained for years that hotels, especially resorts, are not nearly as kid-friendly as they should be.  When we vacation with our kiddos, we want kid-specific activities (think Disney!).  It sounds like the Ritz-Carlton is listening to our kids.  From the press release:

The Ritz-Carlton aims to delight their youngest guests by making memories that last well beyond their hotel stays. Ritz Kids is an engaging and immersive experience that builds upon the adventures of travel that children will always treasure at 84 hotels from Hawaii to Kazakhstan.

“We are very excited to continue our highly successful relationship with a unique individual whose entire life has been spent dedicated to preservation of the environment, with particular attention to marine conservation and education,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The new global brand standard for children’s programming includes robust activities for resorts, in addition to multiple touch points for children at city and urban properties. The refined luxury experience for young guests aged four to 12 provides a differentiated program which engages children to explore the world around them.

“The fun and exciting activities appeal to a child’s innate love of discovery and sense of curiosity.  All kids start out as scientists, constantly asking ‘Why? What’s that? How does it work?’   I have spent my life exploring the natural wonders of the world, seeking to understand how our planet works and how we can better protect it,” said Jean-Michel Cousteau.

Here is a little peek into the upcoming program:

The content of the Ritz Kids programming was created by Ocean Futures Society exclusively for The Ritz-Carlton. The environmental expertise of Ocean Futures Society allows The Ritz-Carlton to craft fascinating experiences that are based on four key pillars:
• Water: Emphasizing the importance of sea life and health.
• Land: Encouraging exploration and discovery.
• Environmental Responsibility: Promoting the environmental health of our planet for the future.
• Culture:  Exposing young minds to a variety of art forms, including music, local customs and history, as well as cuisine.

Finally, the kids will have something else to do besides eating $7 M&M’s from the minibar.

Source:  Ritz-Carlton Press Release