(MONEY Magazine) – A growing number of execs are packing up the kids as well as their carry-ons before hitting the road. Nearly one in seven business trips now includes children, according to the US Travel Data Center. And a recent Gallup poll of MONEY subscribers found that of the parents who travel on business, more than one in six of them had taken kids along on a business outing -- and, what's more, nearly everyone had a great time. The trend is proving a boon to hotel managers, who want to attract business. Beyond front-desk babysitter services (at $6 to $12 an hour), concierges often provide referrals for bonded nannies and a list of parks, museums, zoos and other activities for kids. Some hotels even offer on-site, supervised care: -- Hyatt Hotels (800-233-1234) unveiled Camp Hyatt programs last summer that include daylong activities for kids at 14 conference centers and resorts. Kids ages three to 15 sign up for such events as underwater photography (in Florida) or snorkeling (in Hawaii) at costs of $5 an hour or $25 a day. Various Camp Hyatt programs are available at most locations, as are room discounts for families. Marriott (800-228-9290) is currently promoting mini- vacations: each of the 20 Marriott resort properties -- where half of the guests are conventioneers -- offers weekend discounts of 30% to 50%; 15 have supervised programs for five- to 12-year-olds at costs ranging from $10 to $25 a day. -- The Four Seasons chain (800-332-3442) features such kid amenities as room discounts, milk-and-cookie evening turndowns and a ready supply of cribs, high chairs, playpens, strollers and free disposable diapers. -- For the gold-plated playpen set, Boston's Ritz-Carlton has a $495-a-night ''Junior'' Presidential Suite that sleeps four and is stocked with Nintendo and a kid-scale bath. There's an adjoining room for parents. -- Finally, spurred by demand, there is Sitters Unlimited (800-328-1191, 714-380-8733 in California), which is creating a network of child care for traveling families. Service is so far limited to Chicago, the Washington D.C. area, Hawaii and Southern California, but more cities are on the way. Prices start at $6 for in-home care and $7 for hotels. Child-care experts recommend that you check the references of all babysitters and spend some time observing them or asking questions about their planned programs just to make sure all's well. You should also leave medical information and written emergency-care authorization with a counselor or supervisor. ''We do all that when choosing a nursery school at home,'' observes Dorothy Jordon, the founder of Family Travel Times, a New York City- based newsletter (212-206-0688, $35 a year). ''Why not do it on a trip?''