The “Pandemic pet boom” has increased the demand for pet-friendly accommodations. Travellers love their furry friends and will specifically seek out accommodations that welcome their four-legged family members.

Accepting animals in your vacation rental allows you to target a specific business niche. Your vacation rental will appeal to a larger audience, and therefore increase your bookings. Here are some suggestions on how to make your property pet-friendly:

Welcome basket for the pet

Providing a welcome basket for their pet has two positive outcomes:

• Your guests will be delighted to see gifts for their loved companion and in turn, will provide a great review; and
• By including items that assist with cleaning up after their pet, it protects your home from a preventable mess. Provide a dog towel to wipe their paws, a dog blankie to place on your furniture, and poop scoop bags! Providing dog dishes for their food and water are also a great addition.

Guidebook

Add to your guidebook a list of contact information for local vets/emergency pet hospitals, and doggie day cares. In addition, research and provide recommendations for local dog parks, dog beaches and dog-friendly restaurants.

Protect your assets

While it may seem risky to some property owners to allow pets on your property, there are certain things you can do to protect your rental. Consider purchasing furniture with durable fabrics such as microfiber or leather. These fabrics are easy to clean, stain resistant, and stronger to hold against claw marks and scratches. Alternatively, and less costly, a pet-friendly furniture cover can be secured over your sofa and chairs.

Providing a dog pen and/or gate can help to contain their pet in a defined space. Ensure it is easy to store and easy to put together for your guests to encourage its use.

Make certain that your cleaners are told in advance about the addition of the pet in the booking so that they may allot extra time in their cleaning schedule.

Finding a pet-friendly vacation rental can be difficult for pet-owners. When they find a home that allows them to bring their pet, guests don’t mind paying a higher nightly rate or pet fee. Pet fees range from $50-$100 per stay. You may also consider a pet “deposit” as insurance for acute damages. If there are no issues noted during the check-out inspection, the pet deposit can be refunded back to the guest.

When you consider that 70% of North American households own pets, offering a pet-friendly vacation rental will significantly boost the earning capacity of your property. Your guests will be thrilled to bring their treasured pets along on holidays, and you will be happy about your great reviews and increase in revenue!