Royal Sonesta Crowns Its Youngest Guests

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has launched Young Royals, a family programme that turns a stay at a Royal Sonesta hotel into a royal adventure for children, from check-in to check-out. It debuts at five Royal Sonesta hotels, including one in Toronto, and gives advisors a family hook for city stays.

What children get

The programme has six parts:

• Once Upon a Stay: a Young Royals colouring and storybook introducing a cast of characters and destinations.
• Meet the Royal Court: a plush toy based on the hotel’s own mascot, which then turns up in storytelling, activities and photo moments around the property.
• Crown Yourself Royalty: a crown-making kit, to wear around the hotel and take home.
• A Castle Fit for Young Royalty: dedicated play spaces and in-room or banquet-room castle set-ups.
• The Royal Quest: a property-wide scavenger hunt with clues and challenges that takes families through the hotel and its amenities.
• Dine Like Royalty: a kids’ menu and branded cups.

Where it starts

Sonesta says Young Royals will debut at select Royal Sonesta properties, including:

• Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown
• Royal Sonesta San Juan
• Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill
• The Benjamin Royal Sonesta, New York
• The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto

The release does not give a start date, prices, or whether any part of the programme costs extra or needs booking ahead. It also does not say whether the in-room castle set-ups are included or a paid add-on.

Why it matters

Sonesta describes itself as the eighth-largest hotel company in the US, citing Smith Travel Research, with about 1,100 properties and 100,000 rooms across 13 brands in 11 countries. Young Royals is built around The Royal Sonesta brand, and each hotel’s own mascot, so the experience can feel local rather than generic.

For Canadian advisors, The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto puts the programme within reach of a drive-to family weekend from across Ontario.

For advisors

• Who to pitch: families with children of roughly storybook-and-crown age on city weekends, and multigenerational groups in Chicago, Washington, New York, San Juan and Toronto.
• Ask before you book: confirm with the hotel whether Young Royals is live yet, whether the castle set-up has to be requested, and whether there is a charge.
• Pair it: Royal Sonesta San Juan for a winter family beach break; Washington, DC Capitol Hill for a school-holiday history trip.
• Loyalty: sign clients up for Sonesta Travel Pass, which Sonesta says gives members its best rates.

Sources

• Sonesta International Hotels Corporation via PR Newswire, 8 Oct 2026