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HOTELS ARE WISING UP TO AN IMMUTABLE FACT : ANIMALS ARE PART OF THE FAMILY , TRAVEL AND ALL .
By STEFANI C . O ' CONNOR
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H otels are going to the dogs — in a good way .
The red carpet is out at hotels for what the industry considers some of its most influential guests . These VIPs are “ very important pets ,” a group that ’ s becoming increasingly part of the demand picture across a range of hospitality segments .
When it conducted a survey on pet-friendly hotels in 2016 , the American Hotel and
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Lodging Association ( AHLA ) found 75 % of economy , midscale and luxury properties were participating in some type of accommodations program for pets . Eight years later , and given brand proliferation and changes in guest expectations , that percentage has increased .
“ We ’ ve seen a significant uptick this year in guests traveling with pets across the portfolio ,” said Brittany Hattingh , director of brand
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programming and innovation for Sonesta International Hotels , which over the past two years has ramped up its efforts at attracting guests and their significant fluff balls . “ Sonesta has been a pet-friendly brand , however , pet fees were not regulated rates and we did not provide consistent amenities .” Sonesta ’ s PAWS program ( Pets are Welcome at Sonesta ), which launched in 2022 , regulates what fees the hotels |
26 hotelsmag . com September 2024 |