Polish hotel group offers incentives to boost birthrate

Polish hotel and property giant Arche Group, led by businessman Wladyslaw Grochowski, is rewarding couples who conceive children during their hotel stays with an incentive program aimed at boosting the country's declining birthrate.

Grochowski and his wife Lena have launched the initiative, which not only offers 10,000 Polish zloty ($2,700) to employees and homebuyers for each child conceived within five years of a property purchase, but also promises complimentary gifts, such as commemorative gestures like tree planting and baby starter kits, to couples who conceive during their stay at any of the group's hotels.

Poland's plummeting birthrate has left policymakers and population experts searching for solutions to avert a looming demographic crisis, and Grochowski maintains that businesses have a responsibility to help solve the pressing social problem.

The entrepreneur contends that without new generations, there will be fewer customers for hotels and other businesses, threatening economic sustainability.

"Any couple who conceives a child during a stay at one of Arche Group's 23 hotels will be offered a complimentary family celebration to mark the birth, for example a christening reception hosted in one of our event halls or restaurants," Grochowski announced last week.

According to terms and conditions on the company's website, conception must result in birth within 300 days of the hotel visit, and couples must prove they stayed overnight at an Arche property.

When unveiling their initiative, the couple described Poland's falling birthrate as "one of the greatest challenges of our time".

Grochowski added: "In 2026, Poland will spend nearly 5 percent of its GDP on defense. But what good is that if demographics wipe us out?"

The initiative has drawn praise from observers for highlighting Poland's demographic challenges, reported The Times newspaper.

Poland's population has steadily declined over the past 12 years to its current 37.5 million, with projections suggesting it might halve by 2100.

Birthrates have been declining since the 1990s, with recent data showing Polish women average just 1.1 births, which is significantly lower than both the European Union's 1.38 average and the United Kingdom's 1.56.

The Grochowskis, who are known in Poland for their philanthropy, particularly their Ukrainian refugee foundation started in 2014, have joined a broader movement looking to address Poland's demographic challenges.

Their initiative coincides with other proposals, including Polish President Karol Nawrocki's plan for zero income tax for parents of multiple children, for up to $39,000 of income, and a public petition that seeks monthly stipends of $646 per child for mothers.

The Times newspaper reported that lackluster results of a government program that offered monthly payments of $220 per child suggest that financial incentives alone may not overcome barriers to family growth, which include poverty and restrictive abortion laws.