11:52 AM About the Pet Travel Industry | ||||
Approximately 30 million people in this country travel with pets each year. Photo courtesy of PriceGrabber In terms of hot pet industry trends. pet travel is absolutely exploding. Here are some whys, hows and ways to get on the pet travel bandwagon. My Personal Experiences with Pet Travel Back in 2003, I made a 700-mile move from New Jersey to Western North Carolina when I landed a job as an editor of a magazine in the Smoky Mountains. As I was making the trek with my two cats, Daisy and Amanda, I was obliged to stay in pet-friendly motels along the way. (What an adventure!) In those days, the only pet travel resource I was able to locate was the site takeyourpet. an Internet directory of pet-friendly lodging establishments. While I managed to find motels that allowed me to bring my cats, they provided lodging…that’s it. I had to bring my own litter boxes (I purchased disposable ones), food and water bowls . But in the years since, there has been a huge surge in elaborate pet travel amenities and services. I spoke with Steve Tempelman, founder of takeyourpet, to find out how he started this service. The Origins of Pet Travel Resources “As far as we know, we were the first to do this,” said Tempelman, who’s based in Colorado. “The site has been up for 12 years.” The former journalist and attorney came up with the idea when he decided to take his Akita on a trip. “We spent the better part of an hour on the phone long distance, in the days before there was such a thing as unlimited calling plans,” he said. “We saw the value in this.” Tempelman subsequently purchased a U.S. lodging database and began calling various establishments to ask which ones allowed pets. “It was surprising that many did allow pets, and which ones did. Large towns like New York allowed pets, but North Carolina did not.” But in the years since, the pet travel landscape has changed dramatically; the site now includes 40,000 pet travel resources. Plus, there’s plenty of competition, as the Internet is now teeming with similar pet travel resource sites. Why Pet Travel is Booming According to the Travel Industry Association of America, about 30 million people travel with pets each year. In order to meet this demand, an increasing number of hotels are offering pet-friendly lodging. Among those I have reported about are the Showboat Casino. Atlantic City’s first casino/hotel to welcome pets, and New York’s posh Carlton Hotel . These are just the tip of the iceberg, as many other lodging establishments now welcome pets. Pet Air Travel Increases In addition to pet-friendly lodging establishments, airlines have become much more cognizant of the need to cater to pets. While the majority of pet parents rendezvous with their critters by car (and 75 percent of pets that travel are dogs), there is a growing need for airline resources for pet travel. To help to meet this need, Pet Airways launched the first pets-only airline in 2015. There is also an increased need to ensure pet safety, as pets traveling by air are more inclined to get injured, lost. or worse. (Lest we forget Jack. the cat that got lost at JFK Airport for two months!) That’s why Boston’s Logan Airport devised a Passengers with Paws program, to train airport, medical and other personnel about pet safety procedures and proper emergency responses. Continental Airlines also allows most domesticated pets to travel in the main aircraft cabins on most U.S. flights, and in 2006 unveiled a 1,100 square-foot pet kennel at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, complete with separate species-specific caging areas, dog runs and grooming facilities. Pet Travel Amenities Increase As I mentioned earlier, there were slim pet travel pickings when I embarked on my journey with my two cats. But no more. There are now all kinds of elaborate amenities for pets on the go. For example, Chateau Poochie in Pompano Beach, Fla. offers luxury accommodations for overnight pet guests, complete with flat-screen TVs, a gourmet doggie restaurant, pet fitness center and upscale spa services for the furry set. There are also options for those who love to camp with their pets such as Four Paws Kingdom in Lake Lure, N.C. the first dog designated campground in the U.S. which also features dog-friendly hiking trails, play parks, doggie bathhouse with pet grooming station and more. Meanwhile, an increasing number of bed and breakfast inns are getting on the pet travel bandwagon. One example is the Paw House in West Rutland, Vt. an historic farmhouse with such dog amenities as special dog beds in guest rooms, numerous outdoor activities for pooches, an elaborate dog park and Mario’s Playhouse dog sitting facility for guests who wish to engage in activities without their pets. Pet travel has become so popular that AAA even came out with a special travel guide. just for the furry set. How to Get on the Pet Travel Bandwagon Those who wish to enter this industry must keep pet safety in mind, first and foremost. It’s also important to evaluate your establishment’s layout and overall design to determine if accommodating pets is fully feasible. Otherwise, pet travel experts recommend:
“The smarter properties segregate portions of the rooms where pets are not allowed so as not to alienate people who have allergies,” Tempelman added. Otherwise, do your homework. If you do decide to get on board with pet travel and go about it the right way, you can rest assured that you will be barking up the right tree as this is a pet trend that s expected to continue to grow. share on facebook pin to pinterest
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