With nearly 70% of U.S. households owning pets1, and 97% of pet owners viewing their pets as family members2, there has been a shift in how people with pets approach vacation planning. Millennials and Gen Z travelers, in particular, are prioritizing pet-friendly options and booking their trips to include their pets.
But where long-term residential housing has embraced the benefits of catering to pet owners, vacation and other short-term rentals still lag behind, often missing out on the revenue potential of clear, well-defined pet policies. According to KeyData, pet-friendly vacation rentals generate 24% higher revenue per available night compared to non-pet-friendly rentals. Yet, on sites like Airbnb, only 27% of active property listings allow pets.3
For vacation rental hosts and owners, recognizing the demand for pet-friendly stays and adapting by implementing thoughtful amenities, clear guidelines, and a forward-thinking strategy can be a game-changing opportunity to increase revenue, book faster, and build guest loyalty.
Gone are the days of relying on pet sitters or kennels to watch your pet while on vacation. Instead, today’s modern pet owners are hitting the road with their furry companions in tow. And the properties that proactively prepare for pet guests are the ones positioned to capture more bookings, better reviews, and higher repeat rates.
The effort can include installing pet-waste stations, offering a crate, food and water bowls, a fenced yard when applicable and supplying pet-friendly covers and blankets for furniture. Hosts can also create a welcome kit for pets and their owners, which can include items such as:
Additionally, while most pet-friendly rental listings assume dog-friendliness, keep in mind that cats are often travel companions, too. Make certain to address this distinction and consider adding features such as secure screens to ensure cats don't have any easy escape route.
These thoughtful touches not only enhance the guest experience but can lead to better reviews, increased repeat bookings, and a stronger competitive edge in the growing pet travel market.
In vacation rentals, clear and upfront communication of pet rules is critical. A lack of clarity can lead to unauthorized pets, property damage, and frustrated guests — all of which could have been avoided with clear, upfront pet policies.
Short-term hosts can partner with our platform to ensure all pet fees are collected upfront, all relevant pet information (such as vaccination records, pet breed and weight) is submitted and all pet-related rules are formally acknowledged. For instance, hosts may choose to prohibit any visiting pets that aren’t part of the initial agreement. This covers them from a liability standpoint if an incident occurs with an unauthorized pet.
Unlike multifamily, where there's often more time to assess a pet before move-in, vacation rental hosts frequently receive last-minute booking requests — and need to make fast, informed decisions. Whether you allow pets across the board or review them case by case, having a clear, streamlined way to evaluate pets before arrival can make all the difference. With tools like PetScreening, hosts can quickly screen pets and their owners to flag potential risks, and ensure everyone — including the pet — is a good fit for the property. PetScreening evaluates assistance animal requests, helping you stay ADA compliant while protecting against fake service animals—all without slowing down the booking process.
Taking care of these steps before the visitor arrives helps alleviate any potentially awkward situations at check-in.
While many short-term rental properties are open to welcoming pets, hosts often have specific guidelines to protect their spaces. For example, some may not want pets sleeping on the bed, while others might require pets to be leashed at all times when outdoors. Others may prefer to limit pets to certain areas of the home, like keeping them off carpeted spaces or out of bedrooms.
Kindhearted signs—like “paws off the bed, please” or “tail-wagging welcome, just not on the rugs”—can make these requests feel friendly rather than restrictive, helping set expectations without compromising the guest experience.
At the end of the day, going pet-friendly isn’t just thoughtful — it’s smart business. In a market where the majority of U.S. households have a pet and demand for pet-inclusive travel is booming, short-term rental hosts who embrace this audience are tapping into one of the most underserved — and lucrative — segments out there. It leads to faster bookings, higher revenue per stay, and better guest experiences that turn into glowing reviews and repeat visits. Pet-friendly isn’t just a niche — it’s a competitive edge.
Transform pet-friendliness into a key advantage for your vacation rental. Schedule a PetScreening demo today to discover how our platform streamlines pet policies, minimizes risks, and helps you attract more reliable pet-owning guests, ultimately leading to increased bookings. — Request a demo now.
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Sources:
1 American Pet Products Association (2023-2024)
2 Pew Research Center (2023)
3 Key Data (2025)
