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94 Percent of Pet Owners Would Trade In Favorite Hotel Amenities for Pet-Friendly Accommodations

Pet parents dish on their wishes for pet-friendly travel.
Julie Keller Callaghan

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As peak summer travel season approaches, Wag!, a mobile-first platform that connects pet parents with professional pet caregivers for boarding, sitting, walking, and drop-ins, surveyed pet parents nationwide to understand the obstacles they face when traveling with their four-legged family members. Between transit restrictions, hotel limitations, and narrowed dining options, there is stress abound for pet parents planning a trip.

Wag! polled 1,002 respondents and found that 70 percent of frequent travelers almost always seek out pet-friendly hotels, and 94 percent would trade away at least one common amenity, like a hotel bar, in exchange for more pet-friendly policies. Most respondents would even trade away concierge services and gym access.

Some other key highlights include: 

  • Putting pet needs ahead of your own: 26 percent of pet parents rank “pet friendly” as the top hotel attribute, ahead of service, convenience, comfort, and even affordability.
  • The struggle is real: 84 percent have encountered at least one issue with overnight accommodations when traveling with their dog or cat.
  • Transportation proves troublesome: 56 percent of frequent travelers have experienced confusion or other issues with the location of their dog on a plane.
  • Because they’re worth it: 36 percent would pay over $100 per night extra for pet-friendly hotel accommodations.
  • Removing the hurdles would make a world of difference: If they had no obstacles in doing so, 59 percent would bring their pets when traveling all or most of the time.

Wag! recently partnered with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to offer a bevy of pet-friendly benefits on-site. “Wag!’s survey findings reinforce what we continue to hear from our guests—that meaningful pet offerings and amenities are more important than ever for pet parents,” says Kathleen Reidenbach, chief commercial officer at Kimpton. “At Kimpton, we are proud of our best-in-class pet amenities, which now include on-property and at-home walks and drop-ins through our partnership with Wag!”

About The Author
julieKeller_author-1

Julie is the co-founder of Well Defined and a longtime influencer and advocate in the wellness world. Along with her work at Well Defined, she is an executive recruiter and marketing specialist for Hutchinson Consulting. She is also a consultant and content strategist for numerous wellness brands. She is the former editor-in-chief and publisher of American Spa and was named a 2019 Folio Top Woman in Media in the Industry Trailblazers category and a 2018 winner of ISPA’s Innovate Award. She is also a seasoned journalist, specializing in spa, travel, health, fitness, wellness, sustainability, and beauty. She has been published in Departures, ForbesTraveler.com, E! Online, Gayot.com, Insider’s Guide to Spas, Luxury Travel Advisor, Marin Magazine, Ocean Home, Smart Meetings, Spa Asia, and Travel Agent.