Imagine this.
A traveler has found the perfect place for their summer getaway. The location is ideal, the reviews are glowing, and they're ready to book. Then, they start looking for one important detail:
Can my dog come, too?
After clicking through the listing, they're still unsure. Are pets allowed? Is there a size limit? Are there extra fees? The answers aren't clear.
Instead of taking the chance, they keep searching—or worse, cancel the trip altogether.
It's a scenario playing out more often than many operators realize, and it's creating a significant opportunity for hotels and vacation rentals that make pet travel easy.
PetScreening's latest national survey found that nearly half (45%) of pet owners have changed, limited or canceled travel plans because they couldn't find accommodations that worked for their pets. For Gen Z pet owners, that number climbs to 57%.
As summer travel ramps up, here are three insights every operator should know.
Today's travelers don't just want pet-friendly accommodations—they're actively looking for them.
With 71% of Americans identifying as pet owners, it's no surprise that pets have become part of the travel planning process. In fact, 64% of pet owners say their pets influence where they travel, what they book and how confident they feel clicking "Reserve."
For many guests, a pet policy isn't a small detail. It's part of the booking decision.
When travelers can't quickly understand whether their pet is welcome, uncertainty often wins.
Rather than calling the property or searching for more information, many simply move on to another listing—or reconsider traveling altogether.
Even when guests leave their pets at home, they're often paying for boarding or pet care. Our survey found that nearly half of pet owners spend between $25 and $50 per day on pet care while traveling. For many families, that's enough added expense to rethink the trip entirely.
The easier you make it for guests to understand your pet policies, the easier you make it for them to book with confidence.
The operators that stand out this summer won't simply advertise that they're "pet-friendly." They'll make the entire pet experience clear, consistent and easy to navigate.
That means communicating expectations upfront, creating standardized pet policies and providing guests with confidence before they arrive.
For travelers, clarity removes uncertainty. For operators, it creates consistency, reduces policy confusion and helps protect both staff and property.
As demand for pet-friendly travel continues to grow, pet policies should be viewed as more than a checkbox. They're an opportunity to improve the guest experience, increase conversions and capture bookings that might otherwise be lost.
PetScreening helps hotels and short-term rental operators standardize pet policy enforcement and pet-related documentation within the booking journey, making it easier to welcome pets while setting clear expectations and accountability for everyone involved.
Veridata Insights fielded the online survey from May 20 to May 22, 2026, among 1,000 US adults aged 18 or older.
