According to USA Today, hotels and other lodging places are working harder to “woo vacationers and families.” Many are introducing new kid-friendly and leisurely services and comforts because today leisure travelers are seen as more important than business travelers. In 2004, leisure travelers surpassed business travelers as the primary hotel customer in the U.S. and in 2009, the number of leisure travelers rose from 399 million in 2000, to 476 million. According to the article, business travel is on the decline and travelers have also gotten younger. Now Gen X travelers (people in their late 20s to early 40s) are replacing Baby Boomers, and Gen X travelers are more willing to go on family vacations than travel for business.

Many hotels are adjusting their offerings due to the large amount of leisure family vacationers. Marriot International, for instance, is beginning to give out toddler care items such as fitted slip covers for cribs, bath toys and night lights. They’re goal is to provide the comforts for families with small children that are often overlooked and forgotten at home. According to the article, in July, Marriot will begin distributing free Nickelodeon-themed activity books and bracelets. They’ll also begin selling other child-friendly items in their gift stores, such as a Spongebob Squarepants backpack complete with a splash ball, sunglasses and paper doll.

Hotels are not only making over their child-friendly offerings, but are also beginning to offer more deals. According to USA Today, Homewood Suites by Hilton changed up it’s free meal program to help lure more leisure travelers to the hotel. Customers get free dinner and drinks (including alcohol), Monday through Thursday.

Looks like summer will bring many deals and luxuries for people on family vacations this year. For more information, please read the full article.