While most of the economy limps along, the pet industry is thriving. It’s estimated that 50.84 billion will be spent on our pets in the U.S. In 2011. America’s and the world’s love affair with their furry companions is evidenced by their spending habits. Dog and cat parent’s spending is at an all time high…and much of it’s on travel expenses. That is right – falling in line right behind pet health & boarding expenses, dog and cat parents are opening up their pocket books to take Fido and Fluffy to pet friendly hotels and buy them those much need travel supplies.
We conducted an online survey of dog and cat parents who travel with their little ones to uncover what they look for when sniffing out dog and cat friendly hotels and accommodations. Here are their top 5.
Fees: Even though pet parents are not afraid to open up their wallets for their cats and dogs, they still want a deal. When choosing pet friendly hotels or accommodations, pet parents compare pet fees when determining where to book their stay. Many look negatively on pet friendly accommodations that charge high fees, as they equate high fees as “not pet friendly.” Amenities: Pooch and kitty welcome baskets, beds, and bowls are among the little touches that go a long way with pet parents. To most, the way to their hearts is through their animals. Pet friendly hotels and accommodations that offer these perks to pamper Fido and Fluffy factor into their decision of where to stay. Amenities become more of a factor for longer stays or vacation stays. Dog walking, pet sitting and pet concierge services are among the amenities that become more important to pet parents for these types of stays. Location: Pet parents are less apt to drive off the beaten path for accommodations when traveling with their four-legged companions. When they’re booking overnight stays on their way to their final destination, they’ll select pet friendly accommodations closest to their travel route – and are willing to pay a little bit more for it. Cat parents in particular have a stronger preference to not drive any further than they’ve to. Commonly, cats are not as seasoned travelers as dogs and are not as happy traveling. Hence, the less time in the car, the better. Pet Policy: Accommodations and hotels that allow domestic animals, but whose policies list numerous restrictions are perceived as “not pet friendly.” Pet parents are less likely to book their stay at accommodations whose pet policy is loaded with restrictions and penalties. They seek out accommodations that welcome their furry companions and therefore tend to pass on accommodations with overly restrictive pet policies. Loyalty to Pet Friendly Hotels Chains: A very interesting habit of pet parents is that once they find a friendly hotel chain that takes care of their dog or cat to their liking they’ll tend to book at that hotel chain even at times when they’re not traveling with their four-legged friends. As mentioned before, the way to their hearts is through their pets!
As the world’s love affair with their little critters grows, pet parents will continue to flex their financial muscle…raising the bar for pet friendly hotels and pet travel.
If possible examine this information meticulously, the challenge and the results have many different variants. Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular web site features pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the US and Canada, along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy, and safe in their travels.