When it comes to organizing a meeting or convention nowadays, inclusion and accommodation are key factors for planners. Anything planners can do to lessen attendees’ stress contributes to a meeting’s overall success and allows attendees to be their most productive and focused. One major plus for many attendees who travel long distances is feeling a sense of “home away from home.” While many planners have been open to guests bringing along their spouse or children to resorts, in recent years planners increasingly are choosing hotels and resorts also welcoming of extended family—pets.
Whether accustomed to their canine or feline companion by their side as they work remotely, requiring assistance from a certified service or companion animal, or simply preferring not to be away from their beloved pets, many professionals are choosing to travel with their pets. Many hotels are heeding the call of animal lovers—offering special pet-package rates, creating pet-friendly spots throughout the property, and adding pet treats and amenities. Some chains are taking this to the next level, rolling out the red carpet for animals much as they do for any guest. More and more hotels with conference and event facilities are adding to their appeal as a one-stop meeting destination, now also as a “pawsitively perfect” property for guests with furry friends.
‘Pawsitive’ appeal for planners
Choosing a pet-friendly property does offer advantages for planners and attendees. Katherine Beja-McLennan, area director of sales and marketing for Hyatt Centric Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., explains, “In recent years, we have noticed the hotel industry embrace the idea of allowing people to bring along their pets, as they often feel more comfortable bringing them along rather than leaving them at home or with a dog sitter. The advantage to meeting planners is the ability to maximize the overall guest experience by catering to guests’ needs and exceeding their expectations,” she says.
Beja-McLennan adds, “Our guests have shared an abundance of positive feedback regarding our pet-friendly environment. TripAdvisor recently named our hotel the No.1 pet-friendly hotel in the country.”
According to Beja-McLennan, Hyatt Centric Las Olas welcomes all pets up to 50 pounds, at an additional $75 for up to two pets. “Hyatt Centric Las Olas’ pet-friendly policy adds to the hotel’s appeal among guests and meeting planners alike, as travelers seek out accommodations where pets are welcome. This has become an important aspect for meeting planners to consider as they source venues for upcoming meetings and conferences,” she adds, noting the hotel offers more than 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. “Those who are traveling for a conference at Hyatt Centric Las Olas will have the added convenience of being able to bring their furry friend along with the comfort of knowing they are not only welcome but also treated as a VIP—Very Important Pet.”
Owned by IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) since 2015, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has nine hotel properties across Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee. All of these Kimpton hotels include meeting space and share a love of pets—a business approach first established by hotel founder Bill Kimpton, who passed away in 2001. As Kathleen Reidenbach, senior vice president of marketing and commercial, luxury and lifestyle Americas at IHG, explains, “Knowing pets have the innate ability to lift spirits and bring comfort, Kimpton would bring his dog, Chianti, to work regularly,” she says. “Since Kimpton’s passing, we have carried on his philosophy that pets are an important part of the family and should be treated as such.”
For meeting planners, this enhances the experience for attendees who do not have to leave part of the family at home hundreds of miles away. “Pet ownership has increased over the years, with nearly 63 percent of Americans reporting they own a pet, according to American Pet Products Association,” Reidenbach says. “Hosting a meeting or work event at Kimpton properties provides our guests peace of mind,
as each property has programming and resources tailored to those traveling with their pet. Additionally, an increasing number of studies show being in the presence of a pet has the immediate ability to lower stress levels, which can contribute to creating a more positive and inclusive environment for meetings.”
Pet perks
Kimpton has always been a pioneer when it comes to pets and hotels, according to Reidenbach. “We take pride in our best-in-class pet policies and are always exploring innovative ways to cater to the evolving needs of pet parents,” she says. “In 2022, Kimpton launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with Wag! pet services, providing guests and employees at more than 65 U.S. Kimpton properties with onsite (and at-home) pet-walking and drop-in services. Additionally, with each stay guests at participating Kimpton properties can enjoy a complimentary month of Wag! Premium, enhancing the experience for both pets and their owners.”
At Kimpton Overland Airport in Atlanta, guests can take advantage of the property’s exclusive “Bark & Brunch” dog-friendly brunch, featuring a special menu for pups. The brunch is offered on the third Sunday of the month, May through September, and available only on the hotel’s APRON patio. APRON is the hotel’s onsite restaurant, featuring an expansive patio with fire pits and racetrack views of the nearby Porsche Experience Center.
The VIP treatment at Hyatt Centric Las Olas begins immediately at check-in. “The hotel provides pets with water and food bowls, treats, and a toy to ensure every pet feels right at home,” says Beja-McLellan. “With close proximity to the area’s best dog beaches, BarkYard n’ Brews dog park, the pet-friendly famed Las Olas Boulevard., as well as museums, galleries, and plenty of onsite amenities, Hyatt Centric Las Olas places guests in the center of all the action to enjoy a getaway with their pup.”
Other hotels across the South have floors or blocks of rooms designated for pet owners, while some have special packages available for purchase. Thompson Austin (Texas) hotel, part of the Hyatt family, offers the top level of its 16-floor hotel exclusively for pet owners and their extended family. For meeting attendees, the property offers 6,300 square feet of event space, including two ballrooms and three boardrooms. Guests can enjoy a day of business, and then relax with their family—people and pets—at the end of the day.
Some properties are creating special promotions to increase appeal for potential customers. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, boasting 267,973 total square feet of meeting space and 40 event rooms, is welcoming pets with a new initiative. “JW Marriott developed the ‘Pet Retreat Package’ last summer to allow families to have their dog join them on vacation,” says Nina Shokrian, director of marketing and public relations for the property. “Service dogs are always welcome, but otherwise the resort is only pet-friendly with the purchase of the ‘Pet Retreat Package.” Guests can book the “Pet Retreat Package” through the resort’s website, using the booking code “U8D,” she adds.
“The resort wanted to provide guests with the ability to have their dog join them on vacation because we know dogs are important members of families. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa’s primary focus is the guest experience” Shokrian explains. “We understand pet accommodations can be a significant part of travel plans. We want our guests to feel welcomed and at ease
during their stay, and hope the ‘Pet Retreat Package’ alleviates travelers’ concerns about pet accommodations.”
The resort’s “Pet Retreat Package” rooms are conveniently located on the first floor, with direct walk-out access to patio lawns and walking trails—making relief and exercise breaks quick and easy between or after meetings.
As Shokrian explains, the “Pet Retreat Package” is exclusive to the San Antonio Hill Country property and is not offered at all Marriott properties. “Our resort caters to everyone’s unique needs, and we know many people do not like to travel without their dog. With the purchase of our ‘Pet Retreat Package,’ business travelers will have peace of mind they can travel with their pet and still enjoy resort accommodations in a comfortable, pet-friendly environment.”
Fort Lauderdale’s W Hotel is also pet-friendly. As Alex Caceres, director of sales and marketing, says, “W Fort Lauderdale has always had the P.A.W. policy (Pets Are Welcome) in place, welcoming all pets under the 45-pound weight limit. We value our furry four-legged guests as much as our two-legged ones. We make sure our guests have plenty of options to choose from for ultimate pampering—not only for themselves but also their pets, with a one-of-a-kind lineup of pet-specific amenities,” she says. “Our most recent offering is ‘Bark & Bougie,’ featuring everything a pup needs to shake off those post-squirrel wiggles and lounge in style. From a luxe dog lounger to splash out in the sun, a doggie dress-up station with blinged-out clothes and outfits to match your look, a ‘barkcuterie’ board for some Fido-approved bites, and more, W Fort Lauderdale has your paws (and hands) covered.”
Under the Marriott Hotels brand, W Fort Lauderdale has 18 event rooms offering more than 35,000 square feet of event space, with the largest having a maximum capacity of 600. Meeting planners can ensure elegant accommodations and top audiovisual equipment and banquet facilities for attendees while also ensuring safe and comfortable accommodations for any pets. “Our team is always happy to work with meeting planners to create something special for their travelers, including pets,” says Caceres.
Virgin Hotels, with properties in Dallas, New Orleans, and Nashville, Tenn., is another pet-friendly chain with meeting facilities. “Virgin Hotels has always been pet-friendly,” says Heather O’Dell, area director of public relations. “We believe guests should have the ability to travel with their furry friends without exorbitant fees and breed restrictions. Virgin Hotels allows both dogs and cats to stay on property, with no breed or size restrictions.”
O’Dell adds, “Pets are allowed throughout the majority of our spaces—minus the pool, of course—as long as they are on a leash. We have dedicated pet-relief areas outside of the property, and our onsite concierges can recommend nearby trails for our guests to walk with their pets.”
Health and happiness for all guests
Dedicated floors for guests with pets and designated pet-relief areas help alleviate common concerns often associated with pets. As Caceres explains, “At W Fort Lauderdale, we are always working to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for guests and pooches alike, and thus take medical sensitivities, like allergies, seriously. If a guest discloses discomfort to being around pets, we are happy to accommodate their needs accordingly.”
According to O’Dell, there have been minimal challenges with odor or cleaning concerns associated with Virgin Hotels’
pet-friendly policy.
At Hyatt Centric Las Olas, while pets are allowed on every floor and in the hotel’s outside garden sitting area, they are not allowed in certain areas. “Hyatt Centric Las Olas aims to ensure each guest staying at the property is comfortable, including those with pet allergies,” Beja-McLellan says. “We have designated specific areas of the hotel to be pet-free, such as the pool area and inside the property’s restaurants.”
Kimpton also has special pet protocols in place to ensure the health and happiness of all guests. “Kimpton welcomes all pets with open arms, but we are also sensitive to guests who may deal with allergies at the same time,” says Reidenbach. “Each property has pet-free rooms for those who may have allergies or simply prefer this accommodation. We have a rigorous in-room cleaning protocol and also offer courtesy waste bags for guests to use while walking their dogs to help ensure our hotels, restaurants, and bars continue to be safe, welcoming spaces for everyone.”
