Is it time to rethink your pet policy?
- Posted By Jenny Chellew
If you’re running a motel, holiday unit or some form of accommodation, you’ve probably had guests asking the question …
“Can I bring my dog?”
“Or cat?”
“Or bird?”
You breathe a sigh of (mild) frustration.
“No, sorry, we don’t allow pets”. The guests then turn away… book somewhere else… and take their furry (or feathery) friends with them.
Even if that situation hasn’t happened to you, the question has probably crossed your mind at some point. And fair enough, too.
It was reported in late 2021 that a whopping 69% of Aussie households now own a pet, with around 50% owning at least one dog. Indeed, we have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world.
So, it isn’t surprising that travelling with dogs and other pets has become a wildly popular trend. If your accommodation is currently not pet-friendly, you may be missing out on some easy - and potentially much needed - business.
But we understand that offering pet-friendly accommodation isn’t for everyone as it comes with its own challenges and even downfalls. So, if you’re on the fence about whether or not you should change your policy, keep reading as we present both sides of the argument.
Oh, and if you’re already on team pet-friendly but want some tips on how to do this well - skip ahead to part 2 of this guide, where we’ll dive into the nitty gritty!
Should you become pet-friendly?
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons for and against.
No: why you shouldn’t be pet friendly
If you’re not pet-friendly, then these reasons won’t surprise you.
· Loud barks, meows and squawks.
There’s no denying it.
Animals can get loud.
You're trying to run a peaceful motel where guests can enjoy themselves and get a good night's sleep.
How is that possible when Fido next door is barking his lungs out?
· Animals tend to wreck things.
Animals can be gorgeous. But we can’t doubt the risk that Fluffy and Foo Foo will tear up your furniture and carpeting or otherwise damage other parts of your property.
Not to mention … do their business all over things.
This means you'll have to repair or replace this material and pay a fortune in cleaning costs.
· Allergies.
Your guests may react badly to animals walking throughout your motel, especially if they shed a great deal.
You don’t want that kind of risk on your hands.
Yes: The 2 PAWSOME reasons why you should become pet friendly
Despite the risks of experiencing the above, there are plenty of reasons to become pet-friendly!
And these good reasons actually outweigh the bad!
· You can expand your customer base IMMENSELY
Over 60% of Aussie households own a pet, and 8.5 million fuzzy friends are treated like family (according to IBISWorld research)
Across 2020 and 2021, more and more people are now traveling with their animals too.
When a potential guest calls up and asks to book a room and asks if they can bring their pets ...
... you can say “Absolutely!”
You won’t have to turn away owners who want to bring Spot or Buster on their adventure to your accommodation.
Offer a pet-friendly service – and your competitors won’t take your customers anymore.
· Pet owners spend … A LOT
Aussie dog owners spent $20.5 billion on dog products in 2020-2021. Billion.
Cat owners spent around $10.2 billion in 2020-2021.
Being a pet-friendly motel will give you an opportunity to charge premium prices for:
- Pet-friendly rooms
- Gifts for your pet guests (with your logo and branding)
- Dog walking services
- Doggy daycare
- Dog washers and groomers
- The possibilities are limitless!
(I’ve read about some hotels charging $635 a night, plus an extra $120 per night for a dog or cat - and people pay it!)
How can I become pet-friendly?
Come to the conclusion that being pet-friendly is the way to go but don’t want the hassle of dealing with allergies, broken furniture and ridiculous cleaning costs? Keep reading because we’ve got some practical strategies to help.
1. Draft a “pet policy”
Think about the rules you want to impose for your guests that come with Fluffy and Fido. It’s critical to articulate these rules clearly and to ensure all your guests have access to the policy.
Put it up on your website, Facebook and Instagram – and any other booking platform you use.
Your policy should answer some basic questions about pet guests.
For example, will pets only be allowed in particular areas or rooms? It might be a good idea to have a particular doggy ‘play area’ or, only allow your pet guests to stay in particular rooms.
Also, will you charge a security deposit in case a pet causes damage? Chances are that most pet owners will understand such a requirement and won’t put up a fuss if their dog destroys something.
Having a clear policy in place can prevent all sorts of miscommunication issues with your guests later down the line.
2. Remove carpeting
Dogs, cats and other pets can potentially do significant damage to your carpet – whether that’s through tearing it up or doing their business over it.
Where you can, remove as much carpeting as possible in that room. Replace it with beautiful wood laminate, vinyl planks, tiling or another form of easily washed flooring.
This may be an expensive investment, but it can truly pay off in the long run if you receive an influx of fluffy guests and their parents.
3. Provide pet facilities!
You won’t be truly pet friendly without providing some basic pet amenities for your new fluffy guests. You should at the very least be providing:
· Poo bags
· Treats (although, be careful of what’s in them)
· Feed & water bowl
· Dog bed
Providing a dedicated & safe doggy ‘play area’ is a bonus – and your guests will absolutely love you for that.
This can also encourage your pet owners to do the right thing – especially if Fido decides to do his business in the middle of the play area!
4. Train your staff properly
Train your staff on how to deal with animals. They don’t need to become qualified animal carers but they should be given some education when it comes to managing pets that are roaming around what is essentially their workplace.
For example, you should train your staff on how to:
· Handle animal-related complaints
· Respond when faced with an aggressive pet
· Resolve disputes between guests in relation to animals
5. Ask all your guests about allergies (before they book, if possible)
Pet allergies are common – in fact, dog and cat allergies affect between 10% and 20% of the world’s population.
By asking all your visitors (both pet-free and pet parents) if they are allergic to particular animals, you can take steps to providing a safe environment form them.
Provide spaces for those guests so they are kept well away from pets and even offer them particular rooms where pets are not allowed to stay.
Pet-friendly accommodation is ‘paw-some’ – you just have to be prepared!
Your business has a tremendous opportunity to open up its doors to a flurry of new guests who want to travel with their animals.
With Aussie dog owners alone spending $20.5 billion on dog products in 2020-21, just imagine the opportunities you can tap into.
That being said – a lot of thought must go into creating a pet-friendly environment that both critter parents and pet-free parents love.
Do your research, follow industry best practice and get in touch with our team if you’re looking to implement more pet-friendly practices into your accommodation!