Barking mad

Hoteliers worldwide are reaching for their dog bowls to meet the increasing demand of business travellers bringing their pets

- DEREK PICOT

DEREK PICOT A HOTELIER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND AUTHOR OF THE HOTEL DETECTIVE AND HIS LOVER

Guests at Giraffe Manor, a 1930s luxury boutique hotel near Nairobi in Kenya, have long appreciated its famous resident herd of Rothschild's giraffes. While diners browse the breakfast menu, giraffes pop their heads into the restaurant through large windows to see what delights are on the buffet.

Welcoming animals inside properties has historically not been quite so popular. But pampered pooches, fussed-over felines and one or two other unusual travelling companions are increasingly appearing in some of the most upmarket hotels.

Pet passports and revised policies by airlines and train providers have made it easier than ever for people to travel with their four-legged friends. And after the years of lockdown and working from home, the number of business travellers with pets they can't leave behind has also increased.

As a result, the hospitality industry is looking afresh at animal opportunities, with specialised travel agencies including them in their programmes and hoteliers scrambling to accommodate their new guests with dog baskets, dog menus, Dogalize Maps for nearby strolls and even doggy daycare centres.

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