Customer Service for Kids?

This past holiday season I flew down to Florida with my five-year-old daughter.  My wife had the unfortunate luck of having to delay her departure, so for the first few days of the trip, it was just my daughter and I.  Although I was initially concerned about traveling alone with a young child, I was amazed by the way that US companies take special care of their little customers.

As soon as we crossed the border, our first experience was at the Millennium Hotel in Buffalo, where staff provided crayons and a colouring book for my daughter before I even reached the check-in counter.  The Hyatt in Orlando also offered crayons and colouring books, in addition to having tropical birds and a Christmas train display in the lobby which are both fascinating for kids.  Hotel staff even arranged for a room so that my daughter could have a view of Disney's nightly fireworks display.  She was ecstatic because of all the excitement, and I was worry-free because it truly felt like a vacation.

Also in Orlando, we received excellent service at Flipper's Pizzeria. Since a late dinner equals a late bedtime, and my wife would have had my head on a platter, I explained my situation to the server / host who greeted us promptly as we walked in. He listened to my situation and immediately sat us, flipped the menu to the kids' section, and patiently waited for our order.  When he delivered our drinks (my daughter's complete with a lid), he also brought the bill, ensuring our meal was         quick and enjoyable. The service was so efficient that I had enough time to indulge in the server's suggestion of freshly baked cookies for dessert.

Overall, if a company can anticipate the needs of kids, they can also make life easier for adults.  Having happy, relaxed customers means additional sales, repeat business, and new word-of-mouth business for your company.