The IKFT Mark of a Kid Friendly
Welcome
Understanding the IKFT Awards.
The IKFT™ Awards highlight 3★, 4★ and 5★ hotels that show a proven focus on families with children. Each level reflects the depth of verified evidence available about a property’s family suitability features.
IKFT recognitions represent independent family suitability evaluations based on information available at the time of review. Each level corresponds to the depth of verification performed.
IKFT issues two badge types: IKFT Recognized™, the foundational review based on public evidence, and IKFT Verified™, the optional onsite verification for properties that undergo a deeper assessment.
IKFT RECOGNIZED
Foundational Level
The Online Assessment
IKFT Recognized™
This badge indicates that a hotel meets IKFT’s foundational criteria, evaluated through transparent and publicly available information at the time of review.
Our reviewers assess visible family features using verified public data sources and guest feedback available at the time of evaluation.
Our checks review the visible presence of the visible presence of key family related features, including guest experience indicators, location, play and recreation opportunities, family dining options, accessibility elements, and shared leisure areas.
Recognized status is not automatic. It is granted only after a hotel meets the minimum IKFT Kidspecs™ score required for Bronze level during IKFT’s review cycle.
The Recognized badge applies across 3★, 4★, and 5★ categories, ensuring fair comparisons within each class. IKFT thresholds are calibrated by hotel category (3★/4★/5★) so that evaluations remain fair within each class and budget range.
Platinum is reserved for hotels that maintain Gold IKFT Recognized Badge for two consecutive years.
Each assessment follows IKFT’s proprietary Kidspecs™ criteria and independent scoring framework to ensure fairness and consistency across all hotel categories.
IKFT VERIFIED
Onsite Verification
The Onsite Assessment
IKFT Verified™
Only hotels that have achieved IKFT Recognized™ status may advance to IKFT Verified™ following a structured onsite assessment. IKFT thresholds are calibrated by hotel category (3★/4★/5★) to maintain fair comparison within each class.
While Recognized™ status is based on comprehensive online analysis, IKFT Verified™ reflects a deeper level of review conducted through an anonymous onsite assessment.
IKFT onsite assessments are performed anonymously and independently; visit times and reviewer identities remain confidential. During each audit, IKFT auditors physically inspect the property against our comprehensive set of 250 + Kidspecs™, evaluating comfort, accessibility, and the practical reality of features observed at the time of assessment.
Earning IKFT Verified™ status demonstrates strong onsite performance and provides families with added assurance about the property’s current family suitability standards. To achieve IKFT Verified™ status, a hotel must meet or exceed the minimum Kidspecs™ score for Bronze level during the onsite audit.
The Verified™ badge with ribbon may be awarded to any 3★, 4★ or 5★ hotel that achieves Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum status under the onsite review criteria.
Platinum within the IKFT Verified™ level is awarded to hotels that maintain Gold status for two consecutive years.
Future iterations will add digital consistency checks and AI-supported evidence mapping to complement human onsite verification.
*The current program covers hotels only. Assessment frameworks for cruise lines and airlines are in development for future release.
Fair Recognition Across Every Hotel Category & Pocket
The IKFT Awards highlight hotels that demonstrate genuine family suitability through independent IKFT evaluations.
To ensure fairness, IKFT evaluations are calibrated by star category. Expectations for a 3★ hotel differ from those for a 5★ property, with each following its own scoring thresholds. This approach recognizes family friendly excellence equally across all standards and budgets.
Each recognition falls under one of two levels; IKFT Recognized™ or IKFT Verified™ and may reach Bronze, Silver or Gold status depending on the score achieved within its category.
Platinum applies to hotels that maintain Gold status for two consecutive years within the same level of recognition.
*IKFT™ awards and recognitions are based on verified information available at the time of assessment or IKFT audit and represent our independent professional opinion. They are intended as helpful guides, not guarantees of service quality or personal experience. Conditions may change, and families should confirm current details directly with each hotel. IKFT recognitions complement, but do not replace a property’s internal quality assurance or brand audit systems.
HOTELS
Our Two Levels of Recognition
To ensure fairness, our standards are calibrated by star class, as expectations for amenities and services differ for 3★, 4★, and 5★ properties. The final IKFT recognition is the result of a comprehensive analysis across several core categories. At IKFT, we believe in a clear and transparent process. Our awards are based on a rigorous 250 + kidspecs frameworks, but the way we gather evidence differs for our two levels of honor. Recognized status is earned through a deep analysis of public information, while Verified status is earned through a physical, in person verification. This framework will evolve to integrate semi automated review validation, AI supported crosschecks, and live reader feedback as our next development phase.
We combine manual evidence checks with technology assisted pattern recognition to ensure fairness and consistency across global data sources.
Below are examples of how recognition levels apply within each hotel class.
*All IKFT recognitions are independent evaluations based on verified information
available at the time of review.
All IKFT Recognized™ badges are issued independently for 3★, 4★ and 5★ hotels that successfully meet the required Main IKFT online Kidspecs™.
All IKFT Verified™ badges are granted to 3★, 4★ and 5★ hotels that successfully meet the required standards during an onsite IKFT audit.
Below are examples of how recognition levels apply within each hotel class.
The IKFT Badge Matrix
24 recognitions across all hotel levels
12 Badges - IKFT Recognized™
12 Badges - IKFT Verified™
*Above are examples of how recognition levels apply within each hotel class.
Our Methodology & Scoring
The IKFT Recognized
What we analyze online?
Our global team of analysts conducts a detailed, independent review of each property’s public profile. We analyze official websites, booking platforms, and guest feedback across multiple sources. This is not a simple check; it is a structured data gathering process based on verifiable public information and family relevant indicators. We look for consistent, traceable evidence of a genuine commitment to family friendly travel.
Main Areas We Analyze Online
• Public Information on Family Suitability: We identify stated policies and guest feedback mentioning family relevant features such as pool fencing, balcony locks, or in room child amenities.
• Clarity of Accessibility Information: We review how clearly a property presents accessibility details to help families with diverse needs make informed choices.
• Evidence of Family Facilities: We check for quality photos, clear descriptions, and guest reviews mentioning playrooms, kids’ pools, or other dedicated family spaces.
• Staff Readiness & Service Transparency: We note guest feedback highlighting helpfulness toward families and review information about family services such as babysitting or concierge support.
These areas form part of IKFT’s proprietary Kidspecs™ model, applied consistently across all properties.
The IKFT Verified
What we assessed onsite?
The IKFT Verified™ recognition is awarded only after an anonymous onsite assessment.
Reviewers experience the hotel as a regular family would a mystery guest approach comparing public promises with the reality on site. During the visit, auditors inspect and verify the property against IKFT’s full suite of 250 + Kidspecs™ criteria.
Main Areas We Verify Onsite
• Physical Condition & Child-Friendly Features: Inspecting rooms, play areas, and dining spaces for maintenance, practicality, and child comfort.
• Practical Accessibility & Inclusivity: Observing whether routes, lifts, and family facilities are easy to use and consistent with the property’s published information.
• Family Facilities & Comfort: Confirming the usability and cleanliness of family areas and how they accommodate different age groups.
• Real World Staff Interaction: Assessing staff awareness and responsiveness to family related needs through anonymous observations.
These onsite review areas form part of IKFT’s proprietary Kidspecs™ framework, applied consistently across all properties.
IKFT recognitions reflect independent evaluations of family suitability based on verified evidence at the time of review. They are not certifications or guarantees of personal experience or safety.
Know a Great Hotel for Kids?
Help us discover the world's best kid-friendly hotels. If you've had an exceptional experience in one of the Country we cover presently, that is not listed, tell us about it. Your nomination can help thousands of other families travel with confidence. Your insight helps us refine our public evidence base and guide more families to the right stays.
*Nominations are reviewed for factual accuracy before inclusion and do not imply endorsement.
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Expanding Our Standards...
Cruises & Airlines
The principles of child comfort, inclusivity, and thoughtful design are universal. We are currently adapting our rigorous assessment framework for the unique environments of commercial airlines and cruise liners. Our goal is to extend the same principles of clarity and trust to air and sea travel, helping families plan their entire journey with confidence.
These upcoming programs will also integrate digital assurance tools, remote verification models, and live traveler feedback loop.
IKFT Awards for Airlines & Cruises are scheduled
for release in **2027** for the Year 2026
Know a Great Airline or Cruise liner for Kids?
Help us discover the world's best kid-friendly Airlines and Cruise liners. If you've had an exceptional experience tell us about it. Your nomination can help thousands of other families travel with confidence.
Nominations are checked for factual accuracy before inclusion and do not constitute endorsement by IKFT.
Badge Policy (Summary – 1st Edition)
IKFT Recognized™ and IKFT Verified™ badges represent independent recognitions for 3★, 4★ and 5★ hotels under the IKFT Kids First model. Each badge reflects the information verified at the time of assessment.
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IKFT Recognized: Independent evaluation based on verifiable public information. Optional Hybrid Audit service available for deeper assessment. When an audit is performed, a *Prove It* summary is published.
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IKFT Verified: Available only to hotels already Recognized. Requires an onsite audit; includes a public *Prove It* summary.
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Edition validity: Part of the May Edition each year; valid until the next edition.
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Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold. Platinum awarded after two consecutive Gold years within the same level.
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Scope note: IKFT awards express independent evaluations at the time of review and are not guarantees of personal experience or safety. They promote inclusion, awareness and responsibility in family travel.
FAQs
Can families contribute feedback?
“Yes. IKFT Recognized™ guest feedback and traveler nominations help us identify properties for review and validate our findings. Public input supports the continuous improvement of our independent database.”
Think of it as a blueprint versus an in person inspection. IKFT Recognized™ is our expert assessment based on the property's public "blueprint" all the information we can meticulously analyze online.
Verified™ is the result of sending our auditors to the property to conduct a physical, "mystery guest" inspection to confirm the reality on the ground. For a parent, it is the higher level of confidence.
What is the main difference between IKFT Recognized™ and IKFT Verified™?
How do you assess properties for children with disabilities?
This is a core pillar of our mission. We analyze the entire experience, starting with the clarity of accessibility information on the website. We look for tangible, stated features like sensory friendly spaces, adapted bathrooms, and staff awareness, presenting our findings in plain language so families can make informed choices based on the property's own information.
How does a property get an IKFT Recognized™ award? Do we need to apply?
We combine human expertise with digital verification tools and, in later phases, AI assisted data validation. This ensures faster updates and consistent accuracy, while every final decision remains human led.
How does IKFT use technology in its reviews?
We use advanced technology to organize large amounts of publicly available information, identify comfort and amenity patterns that a single person might miss. However, technology is only our starting point. For all award levels, every final decision is reviewed and confirmed by our team to check how the hotel aligns with our kids friendly standards. We use tech to help find the facts, but our specialists make the final call.
How do you rate a 3 star hotel versus a 5 star hotel?
We believe excellence is possible at every level. Our scoring is calibrated by star category. We don't expect a 3 star hotel to have the same amenities as a 5 star luxury resort, but we do expect it to be exceptionally child-focused, clean, and welcoming for kids within its category to earn a high rating.
Does an IKFT award guarantee I will have a perfect trip?
No rating can guarantee a personal experience. Our recognitions are intended as trusted guides, reflecting a property’s consistent commitment to families and children at the time of review.
How often are the awards updated?
We continuously review signals and release one public IKFT Edition each May. We also continuously monitor new guest feedback and will conduct interim reviews if we see evidence that a property's standards have significantly changed.