Pet-Friendly Hotels a Draw As People Hit the Road

Dog-Friendly Policies Help Hotels Compete With Airbnb

By Danielle Hess
Hotel News Now

Apr 23, 2021 | 8:09 AM

Many people with more time at home last year adopted dogs, and now that they're hitting the road to travel, they're bringing those pets along. Hoteliers are finding new ways to accommodate travelers and their furry family members.

Yunior Rodriguez, general manager at The Marker Key West Harbor Resort in Key West, Florida, said the hotel became a dog-friendly property in March to keep up with the competition.

He noticed more people traveling with their pets, and with many Airbnb properties listed as pet-friendly, he knew his hotel needed to be able to compete with that.

Not only is The Marker pet-friendly, it also has a dog park with a grassy area, a fire hydrant and room to play, as well as specific packages for dogs that include customized welcome bags with toys and treats, he said.

Minor Changes Brought On by Pandemic

Andrew Ladd, general manager of the Kona Kai Resort & Spa in San Diego, said his property had to implement some minor changes to its Island Paws Program at the height of the pandemic, such as not being able to deliver as many in-room items to limit face-to-face contact.

Guidance has changed, and the program is up and running again with its resident Bark Butler on hand to deliver in-room amenities including a bed and food and water bowls to its dog guests.

Paddleboarding for Dogs

The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, welcomes cats and dogs on property, and offers complimentary dog walking and doggie bags to guests, General Manager Lynette Eastman said via email interview.

The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, allows dogs and cats to stay at the hotel. Shown here is a dog in the hotel's lobby. (The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club)

"On any given day, there's an average of 10 dogs on-site at The Surfjack," she said.

The Surfjack also partners with a local doggy day care service that picks up dogs from the hotel's lobby. It also partnered with SUP Dog Hawaii for the summer, which offers stand-up paddleboarding and swimming lessons to dogs, she said.

"Humans are welcome to join in on these lessons as well," she said.

Pup Turndown Service

The Bristol Hotel in Bristol, Virginia, is another hotel that's always welcomed dogs, General Manager Sean Copley said via email interview.

While the hotel didn't make any changes to its pet policies because of the pandemic, it continues to offer a pup package, which allows guests to pamper their pups with snacks at check-in, along with plush beds and food and water bowls in the room, he said.

Copley added that The Bristol also offers a turndown service where a treat is left on the pillow for dogs.

Advice for Becoming a Pet-Friendly Property

For boutique hotels considering becoming pet-friendly, Eastman said now is a good time.

Hoteliers should "keep in mind that last year during quarantine, thousands of people adopted pets and will likely want to travel with them," she said.

For those considering a revamp to their hotel's pet program or thinking about becoming pet-friendly, Ladd said hoteliers should be very clear in their policies and make sure the fine print posted on the website is clear.

Hoteliers should also be creative about welcoming their pet guests. One example is keeping a chalkboard at the front desk and writing the names of dogs staying at the hotel that day, he said.

Those looking to go pet-friendly should also keep staff training in mind, Rodriguez said.

Not everyone is a pet lover who wants to clean up a room that had a dog in it or deliver a special amenity for a pet, so it's important to train staff members to have empathy for guests and their four-legged friends, he said.

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