Operator playbook · 2026

Travelling with pets for hotels

Pet-friendly is now a filter, not a differentiator. What separates properties is whether the policy is honest and complete: guests abandon a booking when the fee, the size limit or the alone-in-room rule appears at the last step.

Context: travelling with pets is growing 27% year on year, with an average spend of $1,200 per trip over 4 days. See the full data brief.

What to change, in order

  1. Step 1

    Publish the full policy before the payment step

    Weight limit, number of pets per room, exact fee per stay or per night, and whether the pet can be left alone in the room. Hidden pet fees at checkout are one of the highest-friction moments in the funnel.

  2. Step 2

    Say what happens at dinner

    Owners plan the trip around whether the dog can stay in the room or join the terrace. A clear yes/no plus a vetted local pet-sitter contact settles the decision.

  3. Step 3

    Assign ground-floor and hard-floor rooms

    Dedicated pet rooms with washable flooring and direct outdoor access reduce cleaning cost and complaints from other guests, and let the property charge a fair rather than defensive fee.

  4. Step 4

    Provide the basics instead of selling them

    Bowls, a bed, waste bags and a towel for muddy paws. Low unit cost, high review impact.

  5. Step 5

    Map a 10-minute walking loop

    A printed or in-app route with green space, water and waste bins. This is the first thing every arriving owner needs and rarely exists.

  6. Step 6

    Train reception on the arrival script

    Greeting the dog by name, confirming the walking loop and the vet's number takes 60 seconds and shapes the entire review.

What guests expect

  • Transparent pet policy up front: weight limit, number of pets, breed restrictions, fees per night vs. per stay
  • Real dog bed, bowls and welcome treat in the room; not just a signed waiver
  • Ground-floor or elevator-adjacent rooms with quick outdoor access for potty breaks
  • Designated relief areas on property with waste-bag stations and lighting for night walks
  • Dog-friendly common areas: lobby, patio, restaurant terrace — not just the room
  • In-room dining menu that includes a dog menu or plain protein option

Deal-breakers

  • Hidden or per-night pet fees that surface at check-in and exceed $50-$75/night
  • Blanket breed bans (pit-mix, shepherds) after the booking was confirmed
  • No potty area on-site and no walking route within 5 minutes of the door
  • Housekeeping refusing to enter a room with a crated, well-behaved dog
  • Marketing as 'pet-friendly' but with kennels required and no in-room stay allowed

Amenities they value

  • Dog bed, bowls, waste bags, welcome treat kit provided at check-in
  • On-property dog walker or partnership with a local dog-walking / daycare service
  • Curated GPS routes for dog walks from the front door: 2 km, 5 km, off-leash loop
  • Dog-menu at the restaurant, patio seating and a bowl of water at the host stand
  • Emergency vet contact card and 24/7 concierge line for pet issues
  • Grooming station or paw-wash near the entrance after muddy hikes or beach days

Watchouts

  • Hidden fees at check-in are the #1 negative review driver in the segment
  • Blanket breed bans clash with adoption trends (pit-mix is the most-adopted US dog); vet-verified behavior beats breed lists
  • 'Pet-friendly' with no dog on-site plan (kennels only, no rooms) is read as a bait-and-switch
  • Ignoring cat and small-mammal travelers leaves 20%+ of the segment on the table

How to know it worked

  • Abandonment rate at the step where the pet fee is disclosed
  • Mentions of the pet policy in review text, positive versus negative
  • Incremental cleaning cost per pet stay against the fee charged
  • Share of pet bookings in shoulder season versus total

Sources

Next

Travelling with pets data briefOpen studies