Under Canvas (www.undercanvas.com), a luxury brand that offers high-end ‘glamping’ experiences in national park locations across the U.S., has become a magnet for travelers and their pets. Guests stay in safari-style tents furnished by West Elm with daily housekeeping, wood burning stoves, and expansive patios, and pets are equally pampered and excited with the park locations, whether Great Smokey Mountains or Mount Rushmore. Just recently, Under Canvas launched Pendleton Pooch, an optional enhancement that includes a Pendleton dog bed, dog-friendly local trail map, a Pendleton toy, dog treats, and a bandana for pets.
Ruby Loves Her King-Size Bed at the Kimpton Hotel Arras in Asheville, North Carolina
“With our camps perfectly positioned near national parks and monuments, paired with consumers seeking experiences steeped in nature and the great outdoors, our demand is once again very strong and we are anticipating just as many travelers and possibly more bringing their pups along for the adventure,” says May Lilley, Under Canvas Chief Marketing Officer.
Aloft Hotels (www.aloft-hotels.marriott.com) now offers the ARF (animals are fun) pet program. Dogs receive an Arf kit complete with bowl, picker upper bags, treats, a dog tag, pet toys, and their very own signature bed during a hotel stay. While pet fees are different at each individual property (up to $50 a night), many hotels offer free stays for pets.
Perhaps Aloft’s most notable pet-friendly hotel, Aloft Asheville Downtown offers welcome treats in partnership with Asheville Wolfgang Bakery, Serta Beds for dogs, and a rooftop puppy path, which allows guests to go for a quick dog walk without leaving the hotel. Aloft Asheville also partners with Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue (www.charliesangelsanimalrescue.com) to find homes for foster dogs, so guests will always find a cute adoptable dog in the lobby daily.
Montage Hotels (www.montagehotels.com) offers an extensive pet program that includes luxurious pet beds, toys and accessories, custom based treats, and a high-end pet cuisine menu (think Angus beef and vegetables and salmon), as well as professional dog walking, doggy daycare, and grooming services. The luxury hotel brand even has pet ambassadors at various locations. Montage Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000 acre resort in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina, features a resident canine ambassador, Cauley, a rescue dog, who often greets guests upon arrival.
Kimpton Hotels (www.kimpton.com) was the first hotel chain to pioneer the pet travel movement, and the brand has truly reigned as the petfriendliest hotel chain since 1981. “We’ve always viewed pets as crucial members of our guests’ families, so much so that our liberal pet-friendly policy has been in place since our founding,” says Nick Gregory, Kimpton SVP, Operations. Gregory notes that about 15 to 20 percent of guests travel with pets, and based on the location, some properties with higher leisure guest frequency may nearly double that.
Family Outing in Asheville, North Carolina
Photo: ExploreAsheville.com
Kimpton provides a number of amenities and perks for pets, including beds, food and water bowls, homemade and specialty treats, personalized door hangers, and complimentary waste bags as part of its “Forgot It? We’ve Got It!” amenity program, and all pets stay for free. “One of the most popular pet experiences we’ve ever had at a Kimpton was our “Puppies and Prosecco” package at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver,’ says Gregory. “The package and partnership with local shelter Lifeline Puppy Rescue (www.lifelinepuppy.org) remains in-tact today with adoptable pups coming on property once a month to interact with guests during wine hour and possibly even going home with their forever family! Recently, we’ve also curated a Spotify Pet Playlist, giving animals and owners lightness and entertainment to listen to on the road or in the comforts of the hotel room.”
