Pet-friendly venues can make your next event even more ‘pawsome’
Unsurprisingly, many people consider their pets family—in fact, 95 percent of them, according to Human Animal Bond Research Foundation. What better way to entice attendees to attend your event than selecting a venue where those furry family members can be included? This saves attendees from paying for boarding and gives them peace of mind in knowing their pet is nearby, especially with anxious or elderly pets or pets on medications.
Hotels and other venues have been taking notice—not just tolerating pets on property but catering to those four-legged guests.
The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif., pampers its furry guests with a luxurious plush Meritage Resort and Spa-branded dog bed (for use during stay only), a gifted dog bowl to take home, a “barkuterie” board with gourmet dog treats and foods, and pet amenity bags, which includes organic wine bottle cookies, an assortment of peanut butter bone cookies, and potty pick-up bags so pups can roam the expansive resort grounds with their two-legged friends, according to its website.
Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Ariz., has a mid-century modern vibe with a historic ballroom, where Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner hosted their wedding reception in 1957. That space, available for meetings, caters to people who might be especially interested in that time period, and they also offer timeless perks for dogs. “We have a pet amenity that is free for those who bring pets,” says Abigail Betts, director of sales. “It includes dog treats, dog bowls for water and food, a dog bed, and a pet clean-up bag. We will also provide a sign for the door, noting there is a pet in the room,” she adds.
“The Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group has always been a pioneer when it comes to pets and hotels,” says Kathleen Reidenbach, senior vice president of marketing and commercial, luxury and lifestyle Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, which has owned Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group since 2015. “With nearly 63 percent of U.S. households now owning a pet, according to American Pet Products Association, we take pride in our best-in-class pet policies and are always exploring innovative ways to cater to the evolving needs of pet parents,” she adds.
Kimpton isn’t kidding about the overarching term “pets.” According to the website for its location in Huntington Beach, Calif., “Kimpton Shorebreak Resort simply goes wild for pets. Doesn’t matter if your extra family member is furry, feathery or scaly. It’s okay by us, and there is no extra charge—no matter their size, weight or breed.” The pet policy extends to all Kimpton properties.
For meeting planners, this enhances the experience for attendees who no longer have to leave part of the family at home, hundreds of miles away, along with part of their attention span, wondering how their pet is doing with a sitter or in boarding. “Hosting a meeting or work event at Kimpton properties provides our guests peace of mind, as each property has programming and resources tailored to those traveling with their pet,” Reidenbach says. “Additionally, an increasing number of studies shows being in the presence of a pet can immediately lower stress levels, which can contribute to creating a more positive and inclusive environment for meetings.”
As attendees know, back-to-back meetings barely leave time for potty breaks for themselves—let alone their pets. Some hotels help arrange for dogs to get out to do their business and stretch their four furry legs, without interrupting attendees’ meeting schedule.
With an advanced appointment, guests with pets at The Meritage Resort & Spa can schedule pet-sitting and dog-walking services, through Fetch! Pet Care.
In 2022, Kimpton launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with Wag!, providing guests and employees at more than 65 Kimpton properties across the country with onsite and at-home pet walking and drop-in services. Additionally, guests at participating Kimpton properties can enjoy a complimentary month of Wag! Premium with each stay, enhancing the experience for both pets and their owners, Reidenbach says.
When attendees take breaks with their dogs, there are plenty of options at Brian Head Resort, home to Brian Head Lodge, in Brian Head, Utah. “Brian Head Lodge is an exceptionally pet-friendly hotel, with plenty of nearby parks, open spaces, and trails, making it a great place to bring your pets along to explore,” says Amber Palmer, marketing manager. Leashed pets at the lodge can enjoy the three-mile Adventure Trail through the surrounding forest, with scenic views of the area and Brian Head Peak. Dogs are also welcome at the Bristlecone Pond in the center of town. Just a few miles from Brian Head, Cedar Breaks National Monument allows pets on its paved areas, including overlooks and the two-mile mile Sunset Trail.
Happy campers
Looking for a fun, unconventional venue experience? Consider making your attendees happy campers, literally. San Diego Metro KOA Resort in Chula Vista, Calif., has 21 hotel-style cabins (most pet-friendly) and 150 Resort RV sites. “Our hotel-style deluxe cabins sleep up to six guests, have linens, bathrooms, kitchens, and private outdoor patios with grills and fire rings,” says Nannette Bell, vice president of marketing for Kampgrounds Enterprises Inc. “People, especially pet owners, are more relaxed and open to socializing when spending time outdoors and around a campfire. There are so many more opportunities to connect with other guests and pet owners,” Bell says.
“Onsite, we offer all outdoor dining at our pet-friendly Sandcastle Café,” Bell adds. “Groups can order catering to have at meeting spaces or headquartered from a Deluxe Cabin. We offer a group coordinator for large groups to help with reservations and catering.” In addition, the coordinator can also help with onsite activities, such as tie-dyeing shirts, a scavenger hunt, and a LEGO building contest.
What to ask, what to know
It is important for planners to make sure they are not “barking up the wrong tree” when selecting a meeting location. Before determining if a venue is a good fit for attendees, event planners should inquire about basic pet policies. For example, according to Betts, “Planners should ask the following questions: Is there a pet fee? What animals, breeds, size, weight limits are allowed? What is the hotel’s policy on pets—leashed, caged during housekeeping service? What is the policy for pets indoors, at restaurants, meeting spaces, etc.?”
Brian Head Lodge charges a $30 per-day pet fee, for up to two pets, Palmer says. “At check-in, we help familiarize guests with the resort’s pet policies, the common areas where pets are allowed, water bowls, and pet-relief areas. Brian Head Lodge doesn’t have a pet-size restriction for its hotel rooms, but does request pet owners limit the number of pets to three small dogs or two large ones.”
The Meritage Resort & Spa welcomes furry friends with a pet weight limit of 80 pounds, according to the resort website. Owners will be responsible for their canine companions and any excessive damage they may cause. Additionally, owners will be required to sign a pet waiver upon check-in. Those pet perks include a one-time $100 cleaning fee and additional $50 per pet. The property also requests pets be leashed at all times when walking through public areas and, of course, requests people clean up after them.
Attendees with pets must pay close attention to those public-area restrictions, as “pet-friendly” does not necessarily extend to the entire property. “There are restrictions on pets in meeting spaces,” Betts says, adding, “We cannot have animals in the same spaces as food and beverage, unless it is outdoors.”
In the summer months, especially, attendees with pool-loving pups also need to take note. “Pets are not allowed at the pool, restaurant, bar, or deck area,” according to Palmer.
The Meritage Resort & Spa website cites a similar paws-off policy. “With the exception of service dogs, pets are not permitted in any area that may serve food and/or beverage, some of the enclosed spaces, and in the property’s pool/whirlpool areas. However, dogs are permitted on the Siena restaurant patio, and patios outside of Crush Ultra Lounge and Blend.”
Location, location, location
Most event planners care about a venue’s proximity to an airport. To make attendees with pets to feel truly welcome, consider the venue’s proximity to dog parks, pet-friendly restaurants, pet services, and pet-supply stores.
Brian Head Lodge is approximately 30 minutes from plenty of pet services, like Red Rover Retreat, which offers pet grooming and daycare, Palmer says.
In addition to its onsite dog park, San Diego Metro KOA Resort includes access to walking trails. “The resort is located in a major metropolitan area, with a Petco store less than a mile away. There is also a designated dog beach on Coronado, just a 15-minute drive,” Bell says, adding the front desk also has a list of doggie daycares in the area.
For dog lovers at Kimpton Shorebreak Resort, there is an extra bonus: “We happen to be the closest resort to Huntington Dog Beach, which is nothing to bark at,” notes the property website.
Hotel Valley Ho also has nearby dog-friendly spots for Spot. “We are located steps from a great canal for walks,” Betts says. Also nearby are Chaparral Dog Park and Papago Park, which allows dogs on the hiking trail.
The Meritage Resort & Spa provides a hiking trail in its vineyards for pets to enjoy the Napa Valley terrain. There are also several pet-friendly places to walk nearby the resort, including Canine Commons Dog Park at Alston Park, Napa River Trail, and throughout downtown Napa. Additionally, Wine Country Pet Resort and Ruff dog daycare are located just a couple of minutes from The Meritage Resort & Spa, for pets needing extra attention during the event.
When it comes time to business, consider if the venue has a pet-friendly meeting or conference space. “Pets are welcome at Brian Head Lodge’s Three Peaks Conference Room,” Palmer says. “The indoor event space accommodates 40 people and can be arranged in a number of configurations, from banquet to classroom. The room has plenty of natural light, great views of the area, and opens directly to the outdoors. If an event is not ideal for pets, guests can leave their pet in the room and provide a phone number at the front desk where they can be reached.”
San Diego Metro KOA has two onsite meeting spaces, “one of 500 square feet, with a fire ring, and a 200-square-foot indoor/outdoor poolside room with firepit,” Bell says. “Additionally, it is nine miles from the San Diego Convention Center and two miles from the new Chula Vista Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center, opening mid-2025.”
When meetings transition to teambuilding events, Palmer recommends adding a few to include pets. Some venues will help coordinate those.
Finally, when it comes to planning your next event out west, picking a pet-friendly venue could increase attendance among attendees who prefer not to leave furry family members at home—and boost their overall event experience. Now that is the way to make yourself a “top dog” in the events planning industry!
