Tuesday, June 24, 2025

In a world where discerning families increasingly prioritize safety, engagement, and exceptional service during their travels, the newly launched Luxury Childcare Association (LCA) is filling a crucial gap in the luxury hospitality market. Created by Worldwide Kids, the LCA is redefining family travel by uniting the world’s top luxury destinations under one standardised banner for exceptional childcare. Beth Kevan, Head of Business Development at Worldwide Kids and Luxury Childcare Association (LCA) shares her experiences about what are role and contribution of Luxury Childcare Association (LCA).

The core purpose of the Luxury Childcare Association (LCA) is to provide a benchmark of quality and safety for childcare services at luxury resorts and hotels, much like the widely accepted standards in fine dining and wellness. With food, rooms, and spa services already rated by prestigious organisations, LCA adds an equally vital dimension—professional childcare tailored for the luxury segment.

To achieve membership, properties must pass an annual, in-depth audit conducted by a Worldwide Kids childcare expert. These audits assess everything from facilities and equipment to activities and safety protocols. A key requirement is that all childcare staff must complete the City & Guilds-accredited International Childcare for Leisure and Tourism program. This three-tier, multi-year training model begins with essentials such as safeguarding and risk assessments and advances to topics like mental health, infant care, and leadership development.

The benefits to parents are transformative. LCA-certified hotels give guests complete peace of mind. Parents can fully enjoy their vacation, confident their children are in the care of trained professionals operating under strict global standards. Children, in turn, are immersed in a safe, engaging, and nurturing environment filled with developmentally appropriate activities.

The initiative launched in April with the first LCA plaque awarded to Mandarin Oriental Jumeira in Dubai. Quickly following suit were five other Dubai properties: One&Only The Palm, One&Only Royal Mirage, Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal, and JA The Resort. Additionally, four premier resorts in Greece—Creta Maris Resort, Stella Hotels Collection, Parga Beach Resort, and Elix, Mar-Bella Collection—have joined the network.

For resorts and hotels, LCA membership is more than just a certification—it is a strategic marketing asset. Certified members gain visibility through a dedicated consumer platform, exclusive family-focused marketing, and access to a community of over 80,000 travel-savvy families. This not only enhances brand credibility but also supports direct bookings and long-term loyalty.

A major operational benefit comes through the use of Worldwide Kids’ Digital Safety Platform, a cloud-based tool that centralises all childcare operations. This platform handles registration, monitoring, reporting, and staffing forecasts—ensuring both safety and efficiency. It also ensures that properties remain compliant and deliver a seamless family experience.

Importantly, LCA membership is not restricted to existing Worldwide Kids clients. Any hotel or resort worldwide that is committed to offering safe, high-quality childcare and willing to meet the rigorous LCA standards can apply. The program represents a partnership of excellence, continuously assessed and improved to keep pace with global best practices.

Looking forward, the Luxury Childcare Association’s long-term vision is to create a globally recognised gold standard for family excellence in luxury travel. By expanding its network and increasing accountability, the LCA aims to elevate industry-wide standards, ensuring that families have safe, enriching experiences wherever they travel.

In a time when families seek both adventure and assurance, the LCA offers a transformative promise—that luxury family travel can be both exceptional and secure.

The Luxury Childcare Association (LCA) was created to unite the world’s top luxury destinations offering exceptional childcare and family experiences. It fills a key industry gap by setting a benchmark standard for childcare quality and safety, similar to standards seen in other luxury services like dining and wellness. With a growing community of families seeking trusted family-friendly getaways, the Luxury Childcare Association connects parents directly with destinations that truly prioritise their needs. 

Properties undergo an annual comprehensive audit conducted by a Worldwide Kids childcare professional, evaluating facilities, equipment, activities, safety procedures and interactions. All childcare staff are required to complete the City&Guilds accredited ‘International Childcare for Leisure and Tourism’ programme, which provides professional, industry-specific training aligned with Worldwide Kids’ operating procedures and standards. Members also benefit from access to the Digital Safety Platform, a cloud-based system that streamlines childcare management, supports compliance, and offers full operational oversight. 

By choosing an LCA member property, parents gain invaluable peace of mind, knowing their children are cared for by highly trained professionals in a secure, stimulating environment that meets the highest international childcare standards. This assurance allows parents to relax and enjoy their holiday; confident their little ones are safe and engaged in enriching activities designed to suit their age and interests. The result is a balanced holiday experience that genuinely caters to all members of the family. 

The first plaque was awarded to Mandarin Oriental Jumeira in Dubai in April. Since then, five more Dubai properties: One&Only The Palm, One&Only Royal Mirage, Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal and JA The Resort have received plaques, along with four Greek resorts: Creta Maris Resort, Stella Hotels Collection, Parga Beach Resort and Elix, Mar-Bella Collection. 

All childcare staff complete the City&Guilds accredited ‘International Childcare for Leisure and Tourism’ course, developed for luxury hospitality. Delivered in three progressive tiers over three years, it starts with core topics including risk assessments, safeguarding, policies and procedures and activity planning. Ongoing training covers areas such as infant specific care, additional needs, mental health in children and leadership development, ensuring continuous growth and long-term development aligned with the latest in childcare best practice. 

LCA membership clearly communicates a hotel’s dedication to exceptional childcare and family services. Certified staff and rigorous safety protocols, supported by industry experts, reinforce credibility and position the hotel as a premier family-friendly destination. Members also gain exposure through a dedicated consumer platform, personalised profiles, targeted marketing and access to a database of over 80,000 families, helping brands stand out as leaders in luxury family hospitality. 

The Worldwide Kids Digital Safety Platform plays a key role in childcare operations by supporting secure, efficient and compliant management. Designed specifically for structured childcare settings, it streamlines registration, monitoring, reporting and safeguarding. The technology helps hotels forecast staffing needs, maintain safety standards and deliver a seamless experience for families, providing comprehensive control and reassurance. 

Any property can apply for membership in the Luxury Childcare Association, provided they are committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and engaging childcare. Membership is open to hotels and resorts that are prepared to meet and maintain the benchmark standards defined by Worldwide Kids, the global leader in luxury family hospitality. 

Whilst Worldwide Kids provides the operational expertise and professional tools, the Luxury Childcare Association represents the visible mark of quality. It is an ongoing partnership, signalling to guests their long-term commitment to prioritising families, with annual assessments to ensure childcare services consistently meet high standards and evolve in line with international best practice.  

The Luxury Childcare Association strives to establish a new global benchmark for family excellence within luxury hospitality. The long-term goal is to recognise and elevate the very best properties that prioritise the safety, security and well-being of children, giving parents the confidence to travel with total peace of mind whist enjoying services tailored for their families. By expanding membership across the globe and building a curated network of leading family resorts, the LCA aims to increase visibility and accountability, raise industry standards, and inspire more properties to prioritise the evolving needs of families in luxury travel.  

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