Kids on Board: Exploring the Choice Process and Vacation Needs of Asian Parents With Young Children in Resort Hotels

Abstract

Vacation needs and the family decision-making processes are well researched in tourism. However, the role and influence of young children on parents' hotel choice remains sparsely researched in the context of Asian families. This study, hence, examines parents' choice criteria of resort hotels when holidaying with young children. Fifteen in-depth interviews with parents in Malaysia revealed five main themes: travel distance, quality of interactions, child-friendly amenities, safety, and family-oriented programs. Findings point to the importance of providing specific hotel amenities and services such as baby toilet seats and bottle warmers to create a satisfactory holiday experience. Findings also demonstrate how resorts can add to family quality-of-life by encouraging parent-child interactions through family-oriented activities. In this way, resort hotels are building social capital. Marketing and managerial implications for family-oriented resorts in Malaysia are offered.

National Cultural Constructs and Consumer Socialization Effects on Adolescent’s Influence on Family Vacation Decisions

“…The family consumption behavior domain presents some gaps, among which, the adolescent's influence is often underestimated or omitted, with regard to purchasing decisions (Khoo-Lattimore et al 2016, Watne and Winchester 2011, Kaur and Medury 2011, Carr 2006. Past research on traditional families found out that the adolescent is considered as a less relevant member when considering family purchasing decisions.…”

“…On family vacation decisions there has been argued that adolescent participation is minor or null in the final stage (Khoo-Lattimore et al 2016, Watne and Winchester 2011, Kaur and Medury 2011, Carr 2006. Niemczyk (2015) in his study on holidays decisions, concluded that adolescents have some say in the final decision solely in the case of domestic holidays, but they do not participate in that phase when it is concerned holidays more planned and abroad.…”

“…Previous research on family vacation has been limited because there is little consideration of the impact that adolescents can have on decision-making process (Watne et al 2014). The dominant social group on which people spend their vacation is the family, and also the most important social structure for companies that supply that service (Baía 2018, Khoo-Lattimore et al 2016, Carr 2006. In this context, it is fundamental for marketers to study the family in its various forms (Kaur and Medury 2013, Shoham and Dalakas 2005, Lee and Beatty 2002, Commuri and Gentry 2000.…”

“…This study examines the influence of the national cultural individualismcollectivism and power distance constructs, and consumer socialization effects on adolescent's influence on family vacations purchase decision, whose interest derives from the literature (Khoo-Lattimore et al 2016, Aleti et al 2015, Kim et al 2015, Feng et al 2011, Watne and Winchester 2011, Kaur and Singh 2006. The present research presents a holistic approach to the topic of adolescent influence, also considering the influence of service knowledge on his/her participation, and the influence of demographic variables such as household size and family type (Baía 2018, Ali et al 2015).…”

“…Although past literature indicates the adolescent as an influential element of family vacations purchases (Khoo-Lattimore et al 2016, Niemczyk 2015, Kaur and Medury 2011, Mangleburg 1990, Foxman et al 1989a, a holistic approach to the adolescents' influence on parent's vacations final decision remain unresearched (Baía 2018, Khoo-Lattimore et al 2016, Niemczyk 2015, Kaur and Medury 2011, Akinyele 2010, Kaur and Singh 2006. The subject of the present investigation is the consumption behavior of family vacations purchase.…”