We love our pets. We wouldn’t be lying if we said we have at least 3 cats always ‘intruding’ on our weekly online meetings.
NB: This is an article from Hotelchamp
Since the pandemic, many of us found comfort and companionship through our pets while we’ve been either staying at or working from home—and we are not the only ones. 78% of U.S. pet owners have acquired pets during the pandemic—and the expenditures on pets continue to increase.
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Even though people don’t spend nearly as much time at home as they did during the pandemic, they haven’t forgotten their four-legged friends. Approximately 78% of American pet owners travel with their pets each year! More importantly, people want to take their pets on overnight stays. And as travellers consider their furry friends part of their family, hotels have an opportunity to give guests and their travel companions an excellent vacation.
Travellers want to bring their pets
People take their pets on holiday more than ever before. The rate at which pet owners take their furry friends for holiday travels has increased by 19% over the last decade. As a result, bookings for pet travel have increased by more than a third compared to pre-pandemic. Zooming in more specifically to the pet most likely to accompany us on our holidays – yes, dogs! Bringing in the largest part of the revenue coming from pet travel, dogs make great travel companions. This is why 27% of dog owners demand more dog-friendly services. Following this trend, hotels should be quick to recognise the increasing demand and make sure they service these guests.
Why offer pet-friendly services?
So why should hotels choose to offer pet-friendly services? Aside from just the increased search demand, allowing pets is a great opportunity to generate additional revenue. Hotels can charge a fixed cost per stay or ask for a deposit for the potential damage caused. Rooms for pet owners can also be offered for a premium price. Gifts for pets can be printed with a logo to help create brand awareness. Or you could also offer dog walking services or doggy daycare for an additional fee. Offering a pet-friendly service could be the difference between a guest choosing your hotel or a competitor.
Looking at Google Trends, worldwide Google searches for “dog friendly hotel” and “pet friendly hotel” have been steadily growing in popularity. And though usually, in the past two decades, searches used to spike in the months of July and August, post-pandemic these searches are popular all-year round.
Highlight your pet-friendly accommodation
When booking a stay with a pet, guests might have a number of different questions during their stay. It’s important to make sure that there is less opportunity for confusion and that information is specified on your website for these guests. For example, it is common to specify which animals are allowed to stay and a size or weight limit. Similarly, make sure to clarify which areas of the hotel animals are allowed in. In most cases, communal areas such as swimming pools, gyms and bars are prohibited for pets. Although this differs per property, it is advisable to clearly state this on your website. Generally, a smaller number of guests will be staying with their pet and it’s important to make sure that guests staying without pets also have an enjoyable experience.
