Does It Pay To Make Your B&B Pet Friendly?

Travelers love to spend their adventures with the family and friends that they are closest to — and many times this includes their four-legged pals.

Since many large corporate hotel chains do not accept pets, many guests turn to smaller, locally-owned establishments such as B&Bs.

If you are evaluating your property management strategy, it might be time to consider becoming a pet-friendly location.

How Common Is Pet-Friendly Accommodation?

There is an increasing number of pet-friendly hotels in destinations across the globe, but these hotels are still not as common as hotels that are not pet-friendly.

As you consider your B&B management strategy, you should identify all of the pet-friendly hotels in your region and see if it will be worthwhile for you to become a pet-friendly accommodation.

Is It Lucrative To Become A Pet-Friendly Hotel?

The short answer is: Yes! It is lucrative to be a pet-friendly hotel, and the statistics show that it will only continue to grow more lucrative over time.

From 2004 to 2014, the number of travelers who brought their pets along for vacation doubled. And these pet owners are willing to spend more money in order to provide their pet with the same comfortable accommodations as they will enjoy.

What Features Do You Need in a Pet-Friendly Property?

If you are going to become a pet-friendly B&B, you will want to add some of these features to your property:

• A potty area
  Designate a specific area of your property for pets who need to use the bathroom. Ideally, this would be situated away from all lounging and gathering areas. Provide bags and other products for pet owners to properly clean up after their pets.
• Treats
  Keep special treats in the lobby in order to pamper pets upon their arrival.
• Crates
  Offer crates and other products as extras for guests who don’t want to pack up their own supplies.

Will It Limit Or Increase Your Marketing Ability?

Becoming pet-friendly will likely increase your marketing ability, as you will appeal to a specific set of travelers who are looking for accommodations where their furry family members are welcome. Be sure to promote your new pet-friendly status as much as possible!

Will Non-Pet Owners Stay At A Pet-Friendly B&B?

While there may be some travelers who will refuse to stay at a location because pets are welcome, there are far more travelers who are accepting and welcoming of pets — even if they don’t have their own.

You are never going to appeal to everyone, and in most cases, becoming pet-friendly will help rather than hinder your hotel brand.

As you evaluate your property management guidelines, be sure to take the time to update your B&B marketing strategy. You will want to incorporate your pet-friendly status into both traditional marketing products as well as your online marketing campaigns.

This will provide your potential guests with the valuable information they need before they book a room at your property, and it also opens the doors to a new traveler segment for you to target.