Nearly half of European households live with a pet, and more than 75 % of pet parents choose their travel around pet-friendly accommodation. Making your hotel truly pet-friendly — with a protocol, the right equipment and a real experience — is no longer a nice gesture: it’s a business decision. This guide walks you through it step by step, from admission policy to professional certification of your space.
1. Why now: the market data
The traveller with a dog is no longer a niche. According to data compiled by ITVET™, the professional pet-friendly certifier, in Spain alone there are more than 9 million dogs, 49 % of households have at least one pet, and over 65 % of owners consider their dog a full member of the family — figures mirrored across Europe. The direct consequence for hotels: this traveller doesn’t leave the dog at home; they choose destination and accommodation around it.
And here’s the key nuance: guests travelling with pets pay more and return more often when the experience is good, because finding a hotel where their dog is genuinely welcome (not merely tolerated) is still hard. That’s the differentiation opportunity.
2. Define your admission policy
Everything starts with clear decisions, in writing. Before announcing that you welcome pets, define:
- Which animals you accept: dogs and cats is the standard; set weight or size limits only if your space truly requires it (arbitrary limits generate bad reviews).
- How many per room: one or two is the industry standard.
- Fee: decide whether you charge per night or per stay, and what it includes — a fee that delivers something tangible is accepted without friction.
- Permitted and restricted areas: rooms yes; restaurant, terrace and common areas according to your operations. Clear signage prevents 90 % of conflicts.
- Admission form: a short check-in document with the animal’s details, up-to-date vaccination record and acceptance of house rules protects the hotel and signals professionalism.
3. Prepare the rooms
You don’t need to renovate. Most successful pet-friendly hotels assign a block of rooms (ideally on the same floor, with easy outdoor access) and equip them for pet turnover: easy-clean floors or covers for beds and sofas, plus a reinforced cleaning protocol between stays. That protects the rest of your rooms and guests with allergies.
4. Equipment and amenities: where the experience is won or lost
This is where a hotel that “allows dogs” becomes a pet-friendly hotel that gets remembered, photographed and recommended. The standard already applied by chains that work with PetGuest® (Hilton, Sheraton, IHG, Accor) is to welcome the pet with its own welcome kit:
- All-in-one welcome kit: food and water bowls, natural snack, toy, waste-bag dispenser and biodegradable bags. In the case of PetGuest® welcome kits, everything in sustainable materials with a patented design guests photograph and share.
- Customised with your brand: hotel logo on label and bowl. The kit stops being a nice touch and becomes a brand asset at the most emotional moment of the stay: arrival.
- In-room accessories: a dog bed (King or Queen, like your guests), a pet “do not disturb” sign, and fixed bowls in higher categories.
Logistics matter: work with suppliers offering short lead times and reasonable minimums. PetGuest® produces in Barcelona, delivers across Europe in 3-5 working days and customises from 45 units — designed so an independent hotel can start without tying up storage.
5. F&B: the doggy menu as a differentiator
Very few hotels in Europe offer a dog menu via room service or on the terrace, and it’s one of the things that generates the most conversation in social media and reviews. A ready-to-serve doggy menu — healthy recipes, F&B-safe format, no dedicated kitchen needed — makes your restaurant part of the pet-friendly experience and adds extra spend per stay.
6. Train your team and certify your space: the difference between saying it and proving it
The best kit can’t compensate for a receptionist who doesn’t know what to do when a guest walks in with a dog. And any hotel can write “pets welcome” on its website; very few can prove their team and facilities meet technical, regulatory and animal-welfare criteria. The two things — training and validation of the space — go together, which is why we recommend solving both with ITVET™, the professional pet-friendly certification PetGuest® partners with: beyond certifying, it trains your organisation.
On the training side, the ITVET™ protocol covers what your team needs to master: pet check-in protocol (admission form, kit delivery, explanation of areas), admission and coexistence criteria, internal code of conduct, cleaning and disinfection protocols, and an incident action plan — from persistent barking to a veterinary emergency. It also includes assignment of a local reference veterinary centre, with expert support for any incident.
On the certification side, ITVET™ includes an on-site technical inspection by a veterinarian, who assesses facilities, admission protocols, biosecurity and hygiene, and compliance with animal-welfare legislation. It is endorsed by CEVE, AEDPAC, AWEC and the UAB, and certification earns you the “Certified by ITVET™” seal for your communications, signage for pet-friendly areas and the ITVET™ Manual for your organisation. It is, today, the most serious way to turn “we’re pet-friendly” into a verifiable guarantee — for your guests and your own legal cover.
Our honest recommendation: the product (kits, menus, accessories) is on us; leave your team’s training and your space’s validation to a professional certifier. Booking an ITVET™ inspection is the step that separates hotels that improvise from hotels that lead.
7. Communicate it (well)
Once the service is in place: a pet-friendly section on your website with a clear policy and real photos of the kit and rooms, the pet-friendly label activated on Booking/Expedia/Google Business, and social content whenever a furry guest stars in a photo (with permission — it’s the highest-reach organic content in hospitality).
8. The 5 most common mistakes
- Charging a fee and giving nothing in return. The number-one complaint in reviews. A fee is accepted without friction when it includes something tangible (the welcome kit).
- Generic plastic amenities. A cheap logo plastic bowl communicates the opposite of what a 4-5★ property stands for.
- A hidden or confusing policy. If guests have to call to find out whether their dog can come, you’ve already lost the booking.
- Not training housekeeping and reception. The experience breaks in operations, not in marketing.
- Improvising the regulatory side. Admitting animals without admission, biosecurity and liability protocols is a real risk. It’s exactly what ITVET™ certification solves.
9. Summary checklist
- Written admission policy (animals, number, fee, areas)
- Admission form at check-in
- Assigned pet room block + cleaning protocol
- Welcome kit customised with your brand
- Bed, bowls and in-room accessories
- Doggy menu in F&B (optional, high impact)
- Team trained and space certified with ITVET™ (training + veterinary inspection)
- 24 h veterinary clinic identified
- Website, OTAs and social media communicating the service
Start by seeing and touching the product
Request a free sample of our welcome kits and evaluate it with your team. Exclusively for hospitality professionals.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make a hotel pet-friendly?
Much less than it seems: no renovation required. The typical initial investment is equipment (customised kits and accessories from 45 units), internal training and, if you want to do it properly, professional certification of your space. Most hotels recover it through the pet-friendly fee within the first season.
Do I need to accept pets in every room?
No. Best practice is an assigned block of rooms, ideally on the same floor. That protects other guests (allergies) and simplifies housekeeping.
What is ITVET™ certification and why do you recommend it?
It’s the professional pet-friendly certificate: a veterinarian inspects your hotel on site, trains your organisation in admission, coexistence and emergency protocols, and validates your facilities against animal-welfare legislation. It’s endorsed by CEVE, AEDPAC, AWEC and the UAB. We recommend it because it turns your “pet-friendly” claim into something verifiable — and because we partner with ITVET™ precisely for that seriousness.
Can I try the welcome kits before committing?
Yes. We send a free sample to your hotel and a digital mockup customised with your brand before production. The minimum order with full customisation is 45 units, delivered across Europe in 3-5 working days.