Winning Guests’ Hearts: How Allowing Pets in Your Hotel Can Make a Difference

Love dogs? So do your hotel guests. Allowing pets can be a great way to win over potential patrons.

For many people, leaving pets behind while traveling just isn’t an option. This can be for many reasons, like making a long distance move, separation anxiety, or simply wanting to include the pet in vacation activities. Going above and beyond as a pet-friendly hotel can make guests with service animals feel more welcome, too.

The additional labor that can come with allowing pets may seem daunting, but there are many ways to offset it. Overall, allowing pets can be a great boon to business.

1. Why you should

The most obvious reason to become a pet friendly hotel is the additional customers. It can be hard to find pet friendly hotels, so being the only one in a given area can potentially be very prolific. When done right, guests who aren’t pet parents won’t mind it, either.

Additional revenue doesn’t have to just rely on additional customers, too. Many hotels charge extra for pet guests. A refundable deposit can be added to cover additional cleaning costs that may come up, so there’s no need to worry about taking a loss.

Allowing pets will also create a sense of brand loyalty for many. Pets are important members of the family, especially to those hoping to travel with them! Owners will remember the hotel that helped them create fun memories with their pets.

And on the subject of branding, allowing pets can open up a world of opportunity. Adding branded dog beds to rooms or including branded pet bowls as a gift are a couple of great ways to encourage patrons to remember their new hotel of choice.

2. How to do it right

When becoming a pet friendly hotel, it isn’t all about the pets. Other guests want to feel welcome, too. This comes down to maintaining all of the cleanliness standards of a petless hotel.

Stay on top of cleaning so that guests without pets won’t even know that dogs are around (if the pet amenities weren’t there to clue them in, of course).

Start by equipping pet owners with the tools to prevent excessive mess. This can include special sheets to cover furniture to accommodate pets. Another idea is to provide owners with wipes for their pet’s feet when coming from outside.

A few improvements to an already established cleaning routine can make a world of difference. Making use of water filter vacuums will help eliminate pet hair and other residue. Liquid cleaners made to remove pet dander and odors will kick the stuff you can’t seen.

Another consideration is to have designated non-pet rooms so guests aren’t subject to unwanted doggy neighbors. This can also streamline clean up.

Safety has to be a priority, too. When welcoming pet guests, consider requiring vaccine records and other information beforehand.

3. Going above and beyond

Attracting pet owners is easy for the only pet friendly hotels in an area. But when competition is around, hotel managers have to stay ahead of the game.

Pet amenities should go beyond allowing guests to walk their dogs in the patch of grass outside. Designated walk areas with doggy bags and trash cans are a step in the right direction.

Leashless play areas, pet furniture, and toys are other ways to set the hotel apart from competition.

Spruce the lobby up, too. Welcome pet guests with a treat. Sell pet food alongside snacks – owners will really appreciate this in case of an emergency.

There are lots of ways to make pet owners feel particularly welcomed. Higher end hotels have even been known to go so far as to provide dog daycare.

Hotels have the opportunity not to simply allow pets, but to make it a highlight of guests’ stay. From this, they’ll collect more than just a one-time additional fee. Loyalty will grow.

When it’s time for vacation, hotels have the opportunity to be more than just a roof over the heads of guests. Including pets in the fun will encourage owners to create memorable experiences at your hotel.