Plaza Premium Group has unveiled Plaza Petit, a global initiative that carves out child-focused spaces inside its airport lounges and hotels to make travel less stressful for families. The programme, announced on 20 October, starts at major international hubs and is designed around play, reading, discovery, food and calm.
What Plaza Petit offers families
The rollout begins at lounges and properties serving Hong Kong International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport and both London Gatwick and Heathrow. Plaza Petit zones are intended to give children somewhere safe to play and read under parental supervision while adults have space to relax or work.
- Dedicated children’s areas with child-scale furniture and sustainably sourced materials.
- A Room to Read Story Corner stocked with a curated selection of printed books and access to a digital library in multiple languages.
- Activity packs for young passengers and a child-friendly menu to suit travellers’ needs.
- Donation points within the installations to support Room to Read’s literacy programmes globally.
The programme is built around five pillars — Read, Play, Discover, Taste and Relax — that aim to offer a rounded, age-appropriate airport experience rather than a single play area.
“Plaza Petit reflects PPG’s ambition to transform airport hospitality through experiences that are both thoughtful and meaningful,” said Mei Mei Song, Chief Transformation Officer at Plaza Premium Group.
Education tie-up and sustainability
Plaza Premium has partnered with the international charity Room to Read to bring books and digital reading material to the new zones. The collaboration supplies a library of chosen titles and underlines a literacy focus rather than purely entertainment.
Design elements aim to be environmentally conscious: the furniture and fittings are described as sustainably sourced and scaled for children. The group has also included donation points so travellers who wish to support global literacy efforts can contribute directly while at the airport.
Where the concept is heading
After the initial openings in Hong Kong, Toronto and London, Plaza Premium Group says further rollouts will target other important international gateways. Cities named for future expansion include Dubai, Helsinki and Rome, signalling a push across multiple continents.
| Initial locations | Key features |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong International Airport | Story corner, activity sets, sustainable furniture |
| Toronto Pearson International Airport | Child-friendly menu, digital library access |
| London Gatwick & Heathrow | Play and relaxation zones, donation points |
Dr Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read, highlighted the partnership’s educational aim:
“Through Plaza Petit, we are helping children experience the joy of reading.”
Why it matters for South African travellers
The concept responds to a common travel pain point for families — long waits in departure lounges and long layovers — by providing structured, safe ways for children to spend time. South African parents travelling internationally, whether visiting family, on holiday or transiting through global hubs, are likely to find such dedicated spaces helpful, particularly on long-haul itineraries that frequently route via European or Middle Eastern airports.
For operators and airport hospitality teams, Plaza Petit signals rising demand for family-first services. If successful, the model could influence what travellers expect from lounges and airport hotels, pushing more providers to add age-specific amenities and literacy partnerships.
The Plaza Premium Group initiative is a timely reminder that travel products can be both practical and purpose-driven — helping families while supporting a global education charity — and that thoughtful design can make airports feel less like a hurdle and more like part of the journey.
