19 hotels. 550 happy families. 450 hidden ducks. One unforgettable celebration.
Worldwide Kids’ flagship family festival returned on Friday 7th August for its third consecutive year, transforming 19 luxury resorts across Greece, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Türkiye and France into vibrant hubs of celebration. WK Fest brought together an estimated 550+ guests, 67 team members and 33 prizes for a single day designed to put family connection at the heart of the luxury hospitality experience.
From first-time hosts including D Maris Bay, Gennadi Grand Resort, Fodele Beach Resort, Mangia’s Sardinia, Mangia’s Brucoli and Mangia’s Costa Ragusa, to established favourites such as Creta Maris, Marbella, Elix, Parga Beach Resort, Stella Palace and Vasia Resort & Spa, now marking their third or fourth year, WK Fest 2026 proved once again why it has become a genuine highlight of the summer season for resort partners and guests alike.
Why WK Fest delivers real value for resort partners
It elevates the guest experience
Multiple properties reported parents playing alongside their children rather than watching from the sidelines, creating exactly the kind of shared, memorable moment luxury families are seeking from their stay.
It raises the profile of the Kids Club
D Maris Bay and JW Marriott Crete both saw the event reach families who hadn’t previously used the Kids Club, with JW Marriott reporting direct new sign-ups as a result. Sentido Apollo Palace received guest feedback naming it “the best Kids Club we’ve ever experienced on a holiday.”
It opens the door to more
At Parga Beach Resort, resort management were so impressed with the day’s success that they’re now exploring regular weekly parent-and-child activities as a direct result.
It energises resort teams
Mangia’s CRB described the day as one that “really stands out when you look back on the season,” and Stella Hotels Collection, Les Bordes and Sentido Apollo Palace all highlighted how the planning process strengthened teamwork within their departments.
A firm favourite: the Duck Hunt
Among this year’s activities was a Duck Hunt, run for the first time across nearly every resort, with 450 ducks hidden across playful, discoverable corners of each property and a coveted Golden Duck awarding the finding family a luxury prize such as afternoon tea, a spa pass or a hotel voucher.
Creta Maris called it “an absolute sensation,” with families exploring the resort grounds together.
The response was outstanding:
- JW Marriott Crete turned it into a resort-wide moment, with staff from other departments joining the search alongside guests and a €100 spa voucher on offer for first place.
- Les Bordes elevated the concept into a 40-minute scavenger hunt complete with clue sheets, crepes, waffles and a hamper for the winning family.
- Mangia’s Brucoli saw the format’s cross-generational appeal in action, with an 18-year-old joining his younger sister for the hunt.
- At Parga, JW Marriott Crete and Creta Maris, children were seen wearing their medals and VIP passes around the hotel for days afterwards, a clear sign of the lasting impression WK Fest leaves behind.
Bringing local flair to a global celebration
Every resort put its own signature on the day. Stella Hotels Collection prepared Duck Hunt clues in Hebrew, German, French and Greek to suit its international guest mix. Parga’s team coordinated across F&B, Guest Relations and Marketing, complete with matching outfits and a homemade photocall. Mangia’s Sardinia ran a wild boar-themed programme alongside the standard Duck Hunt format, and Gstaad Palace transformed its garden into a “Paint & Plant” activity for younger guests.
Looking ahead
WK Fest 2026 delivered outstanding turnout and glowing feedback across a diverse mix of first-time and established host resorts, with the new Duck Hunt format cementing itself as an instant favourite. The clear throughline across every resort’s experience: WK Fest succeeds because it turns family time into something guests actively participate in, together, and several properties are already exploring how to bring that same energy to their guest programming beyond the festival itself.
WK Fest returns Friday 6th August 2027.
