Pet owners don’t leave their animals behind anymore. Increasingly, they book around them.
52% of travelers now base their travel plans on whether a destination accommodates their pet. 60% say a holiday isn’t truly a holiday without their furry companion. And 38% of consumers aged 18–34 say they travel with pets frequently — the same demographic that books on mobile, expects instant responses, and chooses vacation rentals over hotels at a higher rate than any other age group.
The traveling with pets market is no longer a niche. The global pet-friendly hotel sector was valued at 4.6€ billion in 2025 and is growing at 12.3% annually — projected to reach over 8€ billion by 2030. Vacation rental platforms are seeing significant increases in searches filtered for pet-friendly listings. And properties that accept pets consistently generate more revenue per booking than those that don’t — not just from room rates, but from the fees, services, and upsells that the pet-owning guest is demonstrably willing to pay.
For property managers and hoteliers, the question in 2026 is not whether to go pet-friendly. It’s how to do it profitably, with the right policies, the right fees, and the right protection in place.
Why the Traveling With Pets Market Is Growing So Fast
Three converging forces are driving sustained growth in pet travel demand — and none of them are going to reverse.
Pet ownership has hit record levels. 63% of U.S. households now own at least one pet. In Australia, 73% of households have a pet. European pet ownership has similarly expanded across all age groups. With more households owning pets than ever, the baseline demand for pet-friendly accommodation grows automatically.
Pets are family, not luggage. 95% of pet owners describe their animals as family members. This isn’t sentimental hyperbole — it drives concrete booking behavior. 37% of dog owners said they chose not to travel at all rather than leave their dog behind. 38% drove instead of flying when taking their dog wasn’t an option. Properties that accept pets are capturing travelers who would otherwise stay home or drive past.
Younger travelers lead the segment. Millennials and Gen Z are both the most likely to travel with pets and the most likely to book vacation rentals. 46% of pet-traveling Airbnb/VRBO users are Millennials. This demographic also has above-average spend per trip and a strong preference for properties that feel like a real home — which is exactly what well-managed vacation rentals offer over hotel rooms with weight limits and restricted breeds.
Read more about: Modern Guest: How to Meet the Expectations of Today’s Travelers
What Pet-Traveling Guests Actually Want
Understanding what this guest segment expects helps property managers build an offer that converts — and generates the reviews that compound over time.
- Clarity before booking. Pet travelers have been burned before: non-refundable fees buried in the fine print, surprise breed restrictions at check-in, properties that claim to be pet-friendly but provide nothing beyond grudging tolerance. They read listings carefully. Properties that are explicit, transparent, and genuinely welcoming attract bookings at higher rates and generate better reviews.
- Space and practical amenities. Pet-friendly listings on Airbnb and VRBO are disproportionately houses (59%) vs. condos (6%), because guests traveling with pets seek outdoor access, space for the animal to move, and the feeling of a real home. Properties that offer a fenced garden, hard flooring in key areas, or easy ground-floor access convert at higher rates.
- A real welcome for the pet, not just tolerance. The properties generating the best reviews in this segment go beyond “pets allowed” to actively welcoming animals: a welcome note for the dog, a water bowl, a list of nearby pet-friendly parks and walks, information on local vets. These are low-cost gestures that create memorable stays and reviews that specifically mention them — driving future bookings.
- No nasty surprises. Pet owners expect a pet fee. They don’t expect it to appear as a shock on checkout. Transparent fee communication at the point of booking — clear, fair, explained — builds trust and reduces disputes. Properties that bury fees or spring them on guests at check-in generate exactly the negative reviews that kill pet-friendly listings.
More about: Benefits of accepting pets in vacation rentals
How to Structure Your Pet Policy: The Commercial Framework
A well-structured pet policy does three things: protects your property, generates additional revenue, and builds trust with the guest. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
Pet fee: charge what it’s worth
A pet fee is not just cost recovery for cleaning — it’s a commercial transaction. Pet-traveling guests are willing to pay it. The same guest who sees a 50€ hotel pet fee as reasonable is also willing to pay a nightly or per-stay fee on a vacation rental.
Market data supports meaningful pricing. Properties that charge a pet fee consistently see guests pay without complaint when the fee is clearly communicated and the property genuinely caters to pets. The fee also acts as a filter: guests who would cause damage and argue about it are deterred; committed pet owners who value the property pass through without friction.
Typical pet fee structures:
- Flat per-stay fee: 30–80€ depending on property type and market
- Per-night fee: 10–25€/night, common for longer stays
- Per-pet fee: charged per animal for multi-pet bookings
Define your rules clearly
The most common source of pet-related disputes is ambiguity in the rules. A clear pet policy should specify:
- Which pets are accepted (species, breeds, size/weight limits if any)
- Maximum number of pets per booking
- Where pets are allowed within the property (all areas, or specific rooms/zones)
- Whether pets may be left unattended in the property
- Guest responsibility for pet-related damage
- What happens in case of noise complaints or disturbance to neighbors
Rules should appear in the listing, in the booking confirmation, and in the digital check-in process — so the guest has seen and acknowledged them before arriving.
Turning Pet Travel Into a Revenue Stream: The Upselling Opportunity
Accepting pets generates a base fee. But the real revenue opportunity in the traveling with pets segment is the upselling layer — and it’s one most properties are missing entirely.
Pet-owning guests are already in a spending mindset. They’ve paid for pet transport, bought travel supplies, planned around their animal. They’re also highly responsive to relevant offers: a curated recommendation for a pet-friendly hiking trail, a local dog-sitting service for an afternoon they want to explore without the dog, a welcome kit with treats and a toy, a pet-friendly dining recommendation with a note that the property can make the reservation.
Chekin’s Upselling & Experiences feature lets property managers build exactly these offers and deliver them automatically during the digital check-in flow — the moment when guest attention is highest and they’re most receptive to enhancing the stay.
Examples of high-converting pet upsells:
- Welcome pet kit — water bowl, mat, treats, a toy — pre-priced as an optional add-on at check-in (15–30€, high perceived value, minimal cost)
- Pet-friendly local guide — curated list of nearby parks, trails, beaches, cafés, and restaurants that accept dogs. Presented as part of the digital guidebook but also offered as an enhanced “local pet guide” upsell with specific recommendations
- Dog-sitting or dog-walking partnership — if you have a local partner, offer the service as a bookable add-on directly through the check-in experience. The guest books the afternoon free, the dog gets walked, you earn a referral fee or commission
- Early or late check-in/out — especially valuable for pet-traveling guests who are managing logistics around the animal’s schedule
- Post-stay deep clean fee — offered as an optional add-on for longer stays, framed as a convenience (“we handle the extra cleaning so you don’t have to worry about it”)
These offers don’t require staff to pitch them. They appear automatically in the guest’s digital check-in journey, contextually presented at the right moment. The guest opts in or doesn’t — and the ones who do increase your revenue per booking without any additional effort.
Protecting Your Property: Security Deposits for Pet-Friendly Stays
The main reason property managers hesitate to accept pets is damage risk. It’s a legitimate concern. But the solution isn’t refusing pets and losing the revenue. It’s having the right protection in place.
A security deposit that is pre-authorized before check-in and returned automatically if no damage is reported is the cleanest possible mechanism. The guest sees the hold, understands it’s for damage protection, and arrives knowing the expectation. If nothing happens — which is the case for the large majority of pet stays — the deposit is released with a single click. If damage does occur, the funds are already secured.
Chekin’s Damage Protection & Deposits handles this entire process digitally:
- Pre-authorization of the security deposit at the point of check-in — the card is held but not charged
- Automatic release with one click once the guest checks out and the property has been inspected
- No friction for guests who leave the property in good condition — the hold disappears without requiring them to chase a refund
- Coverage available for managers who want insurance-backed damage protection rather than (or in addition to) a deposit
For pet-friendly properties in particular, this removes the primary operational risk that prevents managers from accepting animals in the first place. The deposit is visible and agreed upon before arrival, the process is automated, and most guests — including those with pets — never trigger it.
A simple policy to communicate clearly:
“A refundable security deposit of [amount] is pre-authorized at check-in and released within 48 hours of check-out, pending a standard property inspection. This applies to all bookings, including those with pets.”
Transparent, fair, and completely automated.
Setting Up Your Pet-Friendly Listing for Maximum Visibility
Beyond policy and pricing, how you present your property to pet-traveling guests directly affects how often it appears in filtered searches and how often it converts.
On OTA listings (Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO):
- Enable the pets-allowed filter — obvious, but frequently missed
- Mention pets explicitly in the listing title or first line of description if it’s a strong differentiator
- Include photos of the garden, outdoor spaces, or pet-friendly features
- Add specific pet-relevant details to the amenities section: fenced yard, ground floor access, hard flooring
On your direct booking channel:
- Dedicate a section of the property description to the pet policy and what you offer
- Show the pet fee clearly and explain what it covers
- Include a brief summary of nearby pet-friendly attractions
In the booking confirmation and digital check-in:
- Confirm the pet policy details the guest agreed to
- Share the welcome pet kit option and local pet guide as part of the pre-arrival experience
- Set expectations clearly: rules, deposit, and what to do if something goes wrong
Discover how Chekin can help you automate check-in, stay compliant, protect your property, and boost revenue—saving 87% of your time and earning more from every booking.
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Airbnb Pet Policy: Complete Guide for Property Managers
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I accept all types of pets or only dogs? Most properties start with dogs and cats, which represent 80% of traveling pets. Whether to accept other animals depends on your property type and risk tolerance. Birds and small caged animals are generally low-risk. Exotic animals or reptiles are worth excluding explicitly in your policy.
How much should I charge as a pet fee? A flat per-stay fee of 30–80€ is typical for vacation rentals in most European and North American markets. Luxury properties can charge more. The key is to price it at a level that covers your additional cleaning costs and reflects the market — and to communicate it clearly upfront. Opaque or surprise fees cause more damage (in reviews) than the pet.
What if a guest brings an undisclosed pet? This is why a security deposit and clear house rules matter. If your check-in process requires guests to confirm the number of pets and acknowledge the pet policy digitally, you have documented agreement. If they breach it, the security deposit provides recourse.
Do pet-friendly properties earn more? Yes, consistently. Pet-friendly listings command higher rates, achieve higher occupancy (because fewer properties in any given market accept pets), and generate more repeat bookings from loyal pet-traveling guests who will return to a property that treated their animal well.
How do I protect my property from serious pet damage? A pre-authorized security deposit is the most effective mechanism. It’s held before check-in, released automatically post-checkout if no damage is reported, and requires no awkward conversations with the guest. For high-value properties or in high-risk scenarios, insurance-backed damage protection provides an additional layer.
Conclusion: Pet-Friendly Is a Business Decision, Not Just a Guest Preference
Traveling with pets is one of the strongest and most durable demand trends in hospitality right now. The market is large, it’s growing, it’s underserved in most destinations, and the guests it represents — younger, high-spending, loyal, and vocal reviewers — are exactly the guests that every property wants more of.
The barrier isn’t demand. It’s operational hesitation: worry about damage, uncertainty about fees, reluctance to navigate the logistics. All of those barriers have practical, automatable solutions.
Accept pets, charge what it’s worth, protect the property with a pre-authorized deposit, and use the check-in moment to offer genuinely useful pet-friendly extras. That’s not a complicated strategy — but it’s one most properties haven’t executed cleanly.
The ones that have are winning a growing segment of the market that their competitors are still turning away at the door.
→ See how Chekin handles pet fees, upselling, and security deposits in one digital check-in flow
