Growth of Pet Friendly Holiday Packages

Instead of leaving pampered pets behind while holidaying, UK consumers are bringing man’s best friend along for the ride. According to a new report launched at the 2007 World Travel Market, demand is growing for pet-friendly holiday packages and facilities, a niche market to watch as pets become the ultimate travel companion.

The 2007 WTM Global Trends Report, produced by market intelligence firm, Euromonitor International, has identified pet friendly holidays as a key growth area for the industry. Pets are increasingly important to their owners and are willing to spend on their comfort both at home and on holiday. According to Euromonitor International, the number of pets in the UK rose to 49 million in 2007 with spending on pet care products expected to reach £2.7 billion by the end of 2007, offering a glimpse of revenue possibilities for the tourism industry.

Clement Wong, Euromonitor International’s Global and Tourism Research Manager said, “We predict that in the next two years we will see many more hoteliers offering pet friendly services. Considering the success in the US of PAW (Pets are Welcome) offered at Starwood’s W Hotels, it may not be too long before other international hotel groups recognise the business potential. The UK’s domestic tourism industry will likely benefit the most from the rise of the pet travel sector.”

According to the 2007 WTM Global Trend Report, hotels in the UK have realized the potential in catering to pets and have begun accommodating the needs of dogs, cats, birds, and larger animals such as ponies and horses. The online pet services directory, petplanet.co.uk, already lists 1,427 such establishments across the UK that allows pets. The most common services offered include food and water bowls, pet cuisine and ID tags. Some more unusual pampering choices can be found at niche pet hotels such as Holne Chase Hotel in Devonshire, which offers luxury king-size accommodations, special menus and a blind date with the resident Basset Hound amongst several other pet focused options.

“With the amount of consumer attention on the UK pet population showing no signs of abating and with holiday-taking expected to remain an integral part of consumer lifestyles, pet travel will enjoy continuous growth,” said Clement Wong of Euromonitor.

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