Lets Guide

Searches for Pet-Friendly Holiday Homes soared post-covid. This means that more guests than ever are now looking for a stay that allows them to bring along their paw-fect pal.

More Searches, More Bookings

As an owner of a holiday home, this is a simple way to add a sought-after feature to your home.

How to market being Pet-Friendly?

• Showcase being Pet-Friendly as a feature in your summary and property description
• Specify how many dogs you are comfortable for guests to bring
• If you have an enclosed outdoor space this is a key feature in which pet owners and families would appreciate. Make sure you mention this in the property description and capture this in the photography
• Remember to inform guests during the booking process if a charge will apply if they choose to bring along their furry friend

Marketing Tip

We all love a freebie. By offering guests the opportunity to bring along their pooch with no charges, is a tried and tested way to attract more bookings

Fetch those Bookings

• Shout out about being a Pet-Friendly holiday home in your socials and blogs
• Help guests plan for their stay by sharing ideas of the best spots for them to exercise the dog or set out on an adventure with that pooch by their side

Guest Information

Why not put together a list of the best walks and share these details n the guests information folder for guests to discover and experience. Guests will also appreciate a few thoughtful provisions to help them keep their packing light and ensure their pooch can settle into the stay. Here are a few ideas:

• Blanket
• Dog towel
• Dog cushion or bed
• Dog bowls
• Providing a dog cage upon request
• Keeping dog poop bags in your inventory to encourage guests to pick up after their pet

Guest Experience – adding value to guest stays

By including dog treats and a tennis ball in the welcome hamper. You can be sure that the entire guest party feel welcomed into your holiday home and sets the tone for a fabulous stay.

Boosting Guest Experiences is a fabulous way to provide memorable stays and encourage repeat bookings.

Nervous about offering your holiday home to guest with pets?

For those that are nervous about offering their holiday home to dog owners and their pets. We would encourage you to remember that not every booking will include a dog in the guest party. This feature is just another way for your holiday home to have a broader reach of the types of guests you can welcome at your property and help boost bookings. Especially in the shoulder weeks of the year.

You can rest easy by ensuring you have clear booking conditions or house rules to encourage guests and their pets to enjoy the space in a respectful manner to maintain the property in a good standard and assist the changeover for the next guest arrival.

A few house rules you may consider, include:

• Advising guests that dogs should not be left alone in the property

This ensures that pets will be supervised at all times when in the property

• If you are concerned about dogs on the furniture, you could specify what areas or you are comfortable to open up to pets

Including a few notes or house notes to discourage pets on the furniture can be tastefully included in the guest information folder.

When thinking about the worst case scenario of pet stays, many think about the possible damage. By having a security deposit in place for each booking, can offer owners some reassurance that you have access to funds should you need to carry out additional cleaning or in the extremes have to rectify any issues caused by a dog staying in the property.

We all have that dinner party story of the extremes of guest and pet stays. Please remind yourself, that there are many many more successful booking vs these extremes.

When I am speaking with owners about letting and the benefits of being Pet-Friendly. I always remind them, that they must feel comfortable with the decision of letting their home to pets. The role of agents and consultants like myself, is to share all the ways in which owners can appeal to more guests and in turn, increase bookings.