RIU Unveils New Kids Program in North American, Caribbean Resorts

This summer, RIU Hotels & Resorts is launching kid-friendly RIULand in Mexico and the Caribbean. In 2008, RIU’s Entertainment and Activities Department created this new concept of children’s entertainment and activities.

After introducing it in its hotels in Spain, this summer RIU is launching it in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. RIU Bambu, RIU Mambo, RIU Merengue and RIU Bachata in the Dominican Republic; RIU Negril and RIU Ocho Rios in Jamaica; and RIU Tequila in Mexico will provide a professional children’s entertainment ideally suited to every age group. In the winter of 2009-10, RIULand will also be featured in RIU Jalisco, located in Riviera Nayarit, in Mexico, and in the RIU Palace hotels in Mexico -- RIU Palace Mexico, RIU Palace Riviera Maya, RIU Palace Las Americas, RIU Palace Pacifico and RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas.

RIULand was conceived to give RIU’s entertainment and activities program for children an improved and modern twist. The activities are planned with different age groups in mind (Club 4 to 7 and Club 8 to 12), and to place a premium on physical group activities outdoors instead of more static pastimes, such as handicrafts and table games. RIULand comes complete with a new image and a song of its very own.

RIU suggests that children explore a program of 12 themed days that include Aqualand Day, with games in the pool; RIU Olympic, a day for group sports and individual events; and Piratesland, a day of tough pirate contests and treasure hunting. Two of these themed days stand out for the educational value that tops off the fun: RIU World and Ecoland.

The first introduces children to the cultures of different countries through the most popular children’s games from these places. And Ecoland is a day devoted to ecology that encourages kids to get to know the ecosystem of the hotel’s natural surroundings through a number of different activities that also seek to reinforce the importance of caring for the environment.

Another feature of RIULand is that children are always the protagonists, which is why the children’s plays staged once a week in the hotel’s theater are not performed for children, but by them instead. In addition to glittering shows in the evening, RIULand offers RIULand Parties, which feature dance games, shows and the Miss and Mr. RIULand contest, with a prize given to the winners.