Business Trip or Family Vacation? Increasingly, It’s Both

by Siti Zawani @ 06 Nov 2015
Business Trip or Family Vacation? Increasingly, It’s Both Increasingly, higher-end hotels across the Washington region are finding that catering to business travellers means making sure their children and spouses feel welcome. Gone are the days, they say, of men in suits checking in for a conference and checking right back out. Instead, many are looking to add a bit of pleasure to their work trips, either by bringing along their families, or by extending their stays to include sightseeing, spa treatments or other vacation-like luxuries.

As a result, the Four Seasons in Georgetown now offers a third night free on all suite bookings (two nights for work, one night for fun). The Sofitel in Lafayette Square keeps toddler-sized robes, panda toys and snow globes on hand for young visitors. And at the Ritz in Tysons Corner, where more than 25 percent of business travelers now incorporate leisure into work trips, new mommy-daughter spa packages, tea parties and cupcake decorating competitions are geared toward families looking to stay busy while a parent is at work.

“This isn’t just a trend, it’s a tidal wave,” said Rajesh Khubchandani, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. “So many people are saying, ‘If my flight and hotel are paid for, why not stay longer or bring along my kids and family?’ The new normal is to indulge, but to indulge sensibly.” The full story can be found here: https://goo.gl/J2Ad36