Fine Hotels Goes Pet Friendly

WELLESLEY, MA—As more travelers are predicted to take to their cars this summer for vacations, Fine Hotels is betting that plenty of pets will be coming along for the ride. In anticipation of the increasing demand for pet-friendly accommodations, Fine Hotels has implemented the P.A.W. Program. Now “Pets Are Welcome” at Fine Hotels properties in 13 popular vacation destinations, including the Lancaster Resort & Conference Center in Lancaster, PA; the Sturbridge Host Hotel near Old Sturbridge Village, MA; the Sheraton Four Points near the gates of historic Williamsburg; and the Holiday Inn, Newton, where the PAW Program originated. According to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), 14% of all U.S. adults (29.1 million) have traveled with a pet on a trip of 50 miles or more away from home in the past three years, most often staying with friends and relatives. But Fine Hotels believes theres opportunity to be found in expanding the pet-friendly options available to the 29% of pet travelers who stay in hotels. The Fine Hotels PAW Program welcomes “well behaved small pets” preferably 30 lbs. and under, and provides a special doorknob tag to let housekeeping know when pets are contained in their carriers so that the room can be made up. In addition, a designated Pet Zone has been set aside at each hotel for pet walking, and directions are provided to a nearby pet-friendly parks.