Over 100 million households in the U.S. have a cat or dog, according to the American Pet Products Association. A welcome addition to many families, these four-legged friends aren’t always embraced by accommodation providers.
Some hotels ban them outright. Others charge hefty pet fees, or place limits on the size of allowed pets and where they can go in the hotel.
However, as pet ownership has exploded in recent years, some hotels across chain scales have adapted their policies to accommodate pet owners and their furry companions.
Increased demand
Though pet ownership has grown steadily in the U.S. over the past three decades, it surged in 2020, as Americans sought animal companionship amid pandemic isolation. According to a survey by Forbes Advisor, 78% of Americans with pets in 2023 acquired their animals during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported in 2022 that 23 million U.S. households, or 1 in 5, adopted a pet during the pandemic.
As Americans emerged from COVID-19-related lockdowns, The Washington Post noted monthslong waiting lists for doggy daycares and boarding centers. Dog-walking and -boarding apps like Rover and Wag, which often take care of animals when owners are away, also noted a boom in customers as owners resumed their pre-COVID routines.
Traveling with pets, however, presents a unique set of challenges. A 2022 survey by the app Wag found that 3 out of 4 pet owners would like to take their dog or cat with them, at least some of the time, when they travel. But challenges with transit, dining and accommodation are “major barriers” to doing so.
Meanwhile, 81% of the pet owners Wag surveyed said they seek out pet-friendly hotels, while 48% say they find hotel accommodations “difficult” with pets.
Accommodating four-legged guests
“There’s a lot of ‘red tape’ when it comes to where you can take your pet,” Brittany Hattingh, program director of Pets Are Welcome at Sonesta, or PAWS, told Hotel Dive.
Hattingh and her team developed PAWS in 2021 and launched it at the beginning of 2022 to provide pet-friendly experiences at Sonesta hotels.
“Sonesta was always a pet-friendly company but after our exponential growth in the number of hotels we experienced during 2020 and 2021, we wanted to ensure that the pet-friendly experience was consistent across our hotels,” she said. “It aligned well with the surge of pet ownership that happened during COVID.”
The program ensures dog water bowls are in Sonesta’s lobbies. The hotels also offer in-room amenities such as food and water bowls, and the hotel’s full-service properties provide plush pet beds.
Attracting pet-owning travelers goes beyond simply allowing them to have a dog in their room. Many hotels have gotten creative with their pet-friendly amenities.
While Kimpton hotels have been dog-friendly since they launched in 1981 — thanks to their founder, Bill Kimpton, who liked to bring his dog Chianti with him to work — the brand has recently added a high-tech touch to their pet amenities.
Kimpton partnered with Wag in 2022 to offer a suite of pet amenities for guests, meaning travelers can access Wag Premium for free during their stay to connect with professional pet caretakers and walkers. Kimpton also provides water bowls, mats, doggie bags and other items to guests.
A spokesperson for the brand told Hotel Dive that Wag is “a very popular program at Kimpton and very well utilized by guests staying on property.”
The brand also employs several Directors of Pet Relations, such as Theodore, a toy Morkie at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, and Marvin, an Olde English Bulldog at Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle, who greet guests. (They aren’t the only hotels with dog employees — Baymont Hotels by Wyndham is currently searching for its “Baymont Buddy of the Year.” The chosen pup will star in a forthcoming marketing campaign.)
Changing trends
Marriott brand Aloft Hotels also designed a more pet-friendly policy in recent years. The brand launched its Animals R Fun (ARF) program, which provides branded dog beds, bowls, treats and toys to guests’ pets.
“As more and more travelers are taking their pets along on their epic trips, Aloft Hotels recognized a need for not only a pet-friendly hotel, but a hotel that offers amenities to all members of the family, including pets,” a spokesperson for the brand told Hotel Dive.
Hattingh noted that the rise of extended stay has also impacted the number of pets in tow. As guests increasingly opt for longer stays, as well as trips that blend work and leisure, travelers find arranging pet-sitting services more challenging, meaning they often end up bringing their pets with them.
Though policies vary by location, most WoodSpring Suites — one of the fastest-growing hotel brands in the country — welcome pets. Wyndham extended stay brand Echo Suites, which has a pipeline of 200 hotels in the works, also welcomes furry guests.
