In the past three years, an average of 14% of US adults has travelled more than 50 miles on a holiday or trip with their pets. This means that over a million have dared to take their four-legged friends on holiday outings.It is important to say that a lot more would do the same if they thought that their pets would be allowed to enter every hotel and restaurant they were to visit. Indeed, the pet-friendly approach is still quite alien to many large hotel chains around Europe and the United States. Some say that they have good reasons for this.Cleaners have been known to complain strongly about the presence of pets in hotel rooms, particularly about the fact that the carpet needs to be shampooed on a regular basis and that in-depth cleaning is required much more frequently than for humans. Similarly, although special sleeping areas are usually provided for pets, they often sleep in the same bed as their owners, leading to further problems for the hotel cleaning staff. Another problem surrounds dogs being unattended and barking in rooms. Extra fees for pets tend to compensate for such problems, which arise on a regular basis.However, there is still a huge number of pet owners who wish to go on holiday with their pets. Hence, the P.A.W. (Pets Are Welcome) sign is a frequent sight at many hotel receptions. After all, money is money and the objection is to please the customer. Hotels have even been known to introduce “pet in room” signs for door in the “do not disturb” mould. Furthermore, grooming services have been made available along with a host of other pet-related services such as dog walking and room service with water bowls. The debate as to whether this should be allowed or not in public places continues to be a hot topic.
PET FRIENDLY HOTELS: HELP OR HINDRANCE?
Nils Kraus
- Nov 25, 2008
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Most pet owners are responsible tavellers and their right to travel with pet must be respected. The pet owner must realize that the company of pet is their choice and others must not be forced upon to accept their pet at their terms. So here comes the convenience. As statastics indicate 1 in 7 person travel with pet. 6 and 7 does not and possibly 5 in 7 do not want to sleep in the room used by pet. So here is the dilema. Pet owner wants to have the same accommodation as no pet owners and use the facility as others. Pet owners must realize the pet friendly entity is facilitating their convenience at added cost and they are not compensating other guest to accommodate your pet. So hey will restrict the pet presence in public area and lobby. Yes you may feel that you and your pet may be treated as second class citizen. Keep in mind that if the entity that provide you service is relaxing that to allow pet in the room but they also have to service 86% non pet owners. This balance must be maintained for their existence.
Some people are allergic to pets and it may risk non pet owners to stay away from pet friendly hotels. So it is help to guest travelling with pet and hindrance to guest travelling without pet.