America’s love affair with pets continues to grow by leaps and bounds. With 70% of Americans having at least one pet, and pet spending at an all-time high, more people are focusing on their furry kids. Many companies are following suit – especially when it comes to the hospitality sector.
More hotel brands are recognizing that people are bringing their pets along with them when traveling; so, they’re listening to their human guests and making the move to welcoming four-legged guests at 100% of their properties.
Brands making the change
As of January 1, all Homewood Suites properties officially became pet friendly. They joined their sister brands Home2 Suites and Canopy by Hilton in offering 100% “pets-allowed” accommodations.
Further, beginning in April, additional brands will be opening their doors to furry guests. Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton and Tru are adding “pet friendly” to their list of features.
“This is a big step in the hospitality industry and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” remarks Kim Salerno, CEO/Founder of TripsWithPets. “With the increase in pet parenting coupled with Americans’ eagerness to travel and return to normal, these changes will be very well received.”
Among the more popular
hotel brands that were early adopters of a brand-wide “pets allowed” policy are La Quinta, Candlewood Suites, Red Roof Inn, and Motel 6. These are some tried-and-true favorites of pet travelers and their people.
Heed different rules for “pets allowed”
While these brands all allow pets, most defer to the individual hotels within the brand to determine their own specific pet rules. That means pet fees, pet weight limits, number of pets allowed, breed restrictions, types of pets welcome, pet amenities, and whether pets are allowed to be left alone in rooms, are up to the discretion of the individual hotel property.
For example, one hotel may allow up to 2 pets under 25 lbs. and charge a pet fee of $15/pet per night, while another hotel from the same brand allows only 1 pet up to 60 lbs. and charges a pet fee of $50/night.
“Given that hotels within most brands have different pet rules, it’s very important to ensure that the specific hotel you’re looking to book can accommodate your needs,” Salerno adds. “Don’t assume that because they are part of a 100% ‘pets allowed’ brand that they will welcome your entire crew.”
With the news that more brands are opening their doors to four-legged patrons, pet parents now have more options when selecting a
pet-friendly place to stay. However, before booking a room or hitting the road, pet travelers need to be clear on individual hotel rules as they pertain to pet guests.
