This first experiment in taking Bob with us to a hotel appears to be a success, if for no other reason than she seems happy at not being left home alone. We are part of a growing trend in leisure travel, one in which more and more people want their pets with them when they vacation and are demanding lodging that will accommodate. A survey by retailer PETsMART last summer showed that nearly one-fourth of Americans have planned vacations that allow them to take their pets. Josette Constantino, a spokeswoman with AAA publishing, which puts out a guide on some 10,000 hotels that allow pets, says the drift is unmistakable. What it showed was that more and more people are viewing their pets as members of the family and traveling with them.
Hotels seem to be getting more and more requests.
When the idea of catering to pets was brought up to an executive team at the Loews hotel chain some years ago, many on the team were pet owners. I've had lots of complaints about noisy people. Just the same, Cynthia Psarakis, who edits the AAA guide, says the trend in hotel acceptance of pets has generally been one of ebb and flow. Each year, there are hotels that seem to tire of pets and ban them or tighten restrictions . Meanwhile, other hotels discover and embrace the pet-friendly policy as a way to attract customers.