A major hotel chain is offering free rooms to grandparents after two years of Covid restrictions limiting travel opportunities. IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced its new Grandparents Stay for Free limited offer to mark the easing of curbs.
Research conducted by the group revealed that 53 per cent of grandparents agreed that creating new memories with the extended family is a key priority for 2022. When asked what they missed most about not being able to spend time together as an extended family, almost a third of grandparents (32 per cent) felt the loss of not receiving hugs, whilst nearly a fifth of all those surveyed (17 per cent) missed making each other laugh.
Almost a third (28 per cent) of those surveyed said that spending quality time together and making long lasting memories (21 per cent) are the driving force behind booking their next multi-generation break.
Psychologist, Dr Audrey Tang, said: “Over the last two years, we have been deprived of the wonderful element of connecting with one another. Grandchildren have been born, children are growing up, parents and grandparents were restricted to waving across online platforms. It was something, but it’s not the same as true, personal, in life connection.
"Lack of human physical contact can result in lower levels of happiness, higher reports of depression and stress, but as restrictions have lifted, people can once again come together to embrace life and each other, change their environments and create new memories and experiences as a family.”
The Grandparents Stay for Free offers is running for just three weeks encouraging families to have time to reconnect and spend quality time together. Available at select hotels across Europe, the offer enables families to book two rooms for two nights at participating IHG hotels and receive the cheapest room for free.
Karin Sheppard, managing director at IHG Hotels & Resorts in Europe, added: “We know that families have truly felt the impact of not being able to spend time together and none more so than grandparents who have missed out on milestone family moments. Creating special moments for everyone to come together is at the heart of the IHG Hotels & Resorts guest experience and we are here to help ensure that they have the best experience with us and be the gateway to new memories – whatever the reason for their stay."
IHG brands include Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental. More details are available from ihg.com/grandparents website.
