A Five-Star Furry Guest Experience
Exploring the Benefits of Pet-Friendly Accommodations
By: Katie Frankhart

Premium pet pricing
Hotel guests are often paying around $100 USD on top of the room rate for their pet to join them on their stay. Besides charging a base pet fee for guests upon booking, your standard room may even go for a premium price depending on the bonus dog-friendly amenities you offer. Bonus: Being dog-friendly can also help you stay booked year-round, even after tourism season ends.
The Art of Good “Petiquette”
Of course, keeping all guests — both pet owners and non-pet owners — safe and happy during their stay remains your goal. With strong policies and good pet-etiquette in place, you can maintain a pleasant, safe, and welcoming experience for everyone who stays with you.
Here are a couple of things operators can do to ensure A-plus “petiquette” as a pet-friendly establishment:
Have policies in place
For safety, cleanliness, and overall guest experience, ask all owners to provide vaccination records for their dog upon booking or checking in. Operators should also confirm with their insurance providers to see if any additional coverage needs to be implemented for the property. Some establishments even have limitations on breeds and sizes of dogs, and most limit the number of furry guests per family.
Mission Point’s Liz Ware insists that having clear pet policies in place and being transparent about those policies is key for keeping all guests — both those with dogs and those without — happy during their stay. A transparent policy also helps mediate any challenges that may arise.
“It’s important to have a simple and transparent dog policy so that guests looking to travel with their dogs are aware of the fee, requirements, and other necessary information and aren’t met with surprises or confusion,” Ware says. “Fielding questions and plastering our pet policy throughout the booking process tends to help set expectations for potential guests, whether they have a dog or not.”
Both Element and Aloft have weight limits and a maximum number of dogs per room. Since neither establishment requires pet or additional cleaning fees, guests must sign a pet waiver at check-in covering potential damage liability. After check out, the housekeeping team follows strict cleaning protocols in rooms pets have stayed in.
“We also have a policy for our housekeeping team so they are aware there is a dog in the room before entering,” Sigler explains. “Magnets with the dog's name are placed outside the door and coding as a pet-in-room in our housekeeping charts to help keep our staff and the dogs safe.”
Designate dog-friendly areas
Not all guests have their sight set on dog-friendly accommodations, but a few degrees of creative separation can maintain an ideal experience for both kinds of visitors. Designated dog-friendly areas — whether specific blocks of guest rooms or outdoor areas for bathroom and exercise breaks — offer convenience for dog-owning guests without impacting the experience for other guests, plus easier maintenance for owners and operators.
Ware says that as both a pet-friendly and family-friendly resort, Mission Point is cognizant of where pets are placed throughout the hotel.
“Taking noise into consideration around families traveling with small children can make or break someone’s ‘extraordinary Mackinac Island experience,’” Ware explains. “Being both pet and family-friendly always means some noise, but keeping noise under control is greatly appreciated by all parties.”
Pet-friendly rooms are centrally located around the west end of the Straits Lodge to keep any potential pet noise in one easily-maintained area, near the closest exits to accommodate pet needs, for the convenience of owners.
“One challenge has been noise disturbances to other guests if a guest leaves their dog unattended in the room for a long period of time,” Sigler says.
But that doesn’t stop Aloft and Element from welcoming furry guests.
As city-centered hotels, there aren’t onsite pet-friendly outdoor areas to offer, so Aloft and Element compensate with names and locations of two nearby dog parks at check-in, giving guests somewhere to take their dogs to relieve themselves and burn energy. Sigler says this simple workaround helps mediate noise complaints, keeping all guests happy.
Hotel guests are often paying around $100 USD on top of the room rate for their pet to join them on their stay. Besides charging a base pet fee for guests upon booking, your standard room may even go for a premium price depending on the bonus dog-friendly amenities you offer. Bonus: Being dog-friendly can also help you stay booked year-round, even after tourism season ends.
The Art of Good “Petiquette”
Of course, keeping all guests — both pet owners and non-pet owners — safe and happy during their stay remains your goal. With strong policies and good pet-etiquette in place, you can maintain a pleasant, safe, and welcoming experience for everyone who stays with you.
Here are a couple of things operators can do to ensure A-plus “petiquette” as a pet-friendly establishment:
Have policies in place
For safety, cleanliness, and overall guest experience, ask all owners to provide vaccination records for their dog upon booking or checking in. Operators should also confirm with their insurance providers to see if any additional coverage needs to be implemented for the property. Some establishments even have limitations on breeds and sizes of dogs, and most limit the number of furry guests per family.
Mission Point’s Liz Ware insists that having clear pet policies in place and being transparent about those policies is key for keeping all guests — both those with dogs and those without — happy during their stay. A transparent policy also helps mediate any challenges that may arise.
“It’s important to have a simple and transparent dog policy so that guests looking to travel with their dogs are aware of the fee, requirements, and other necessary information and aren’t met with surprises or confusion,” Ware says. “Fielding questions and plastering our pet policy throughout the booking process tends to help set expectations for potential guests, whether they have a dog or not.”
Both Element and Aloft have weight limits and a maximum number of dogs per room. Since neither establishment requires pet or additional cleaning fees, guests must sign a pet waiver at check-in covering potential damage liability. After check out, the housekeeping team follows strict cleaning protocols in rooms pets have stayed in.
“We also have a policy for our housekeeping team so they are aware there is a dog in the room before entering,” Sigler explains. “Magnets with the dog's name are placed outside the door and coding as a pet-in-room in our housekeeping charts to help keep our staff and the dogs safe.”
Designate dog-friendly areas
Not all guests have their sight set on dog-friendly accommodations, but a few degrees of creative separation can maintain an ideal experience for both kinds of visitors. Designated dog-friendly areas — whether specific blocks of guest rooms or outdoor areas for bathroom and exercise breaks — offer convenience for dog-owning guests without impacting the experience for other guests, plus easier maintenance for owners and operators.
Ware says that as both a pet-friendly and family-friendly resort, Mission Point is cognizant of where pets are placed throughout the hotel.
“Taking noise into consideration around families traveling with small children can make or break someone’s ‘extraordinary Mackinac Island experience,’” Ware explains. “Being both pet and family-friendly always means some noise, but keeping noise under control is greatly appreciated by all parties.”
Pet-friendly rooms are centrally located around the west end of the Straits Lodge to keep any potential pet noise in one easily-maintained area, near the closest exits to accommodate pet needs, for the convenience of owners.
“One challenge has been noise disturbances to other guests if a guest leaves their dog unattended in the room for a long period of time,” Sigler says.
But that doesn’t stop Aloft and Element from welcoming furry guests.
As city-centered hotels, there aren’t onsite pet-friendly outdoor areas to offer, so Aloft and Element compensate with names and locations of two nearby dog parks at check-in, giving guests somewhere to take their dogs to relieve themselves and burn energy. Sigler says this simple workaround helps mediate noise complaints, keeping all guests happy.

Marketing your Establishment as a 4-Paw Stay
If you’re going to be a pet-friendly establishment, it’s important to market yourself as such. Guests on the hunt for a dog-friendly stay usually know what they’re looking for, so here’s how you can help them find your hotel — and choose it — as their next stop:
Beef up your advertising
If your hotel is pet-friendly, be sure your customers know this by displaying pet-related information and your policy prominently on your website. Make sure it’s also displayed throughout your business, on your social channels, and in printed marketing materials. Consider incorporating content right from your guests; there’s no better way to advertise your business as pet-friendly than through your guests and their first-hand experiences.
“In the name of practicing what we preach at Mission Point, we make sure pets are represented throughout all of our marketing materials,” Liz Ware says. “Not only throughout our website and its ‘Pets Page’ but also through all social media marketing and print materials, and we try as much as we can to feature guest-generated dog content.”
Encourage reviews and referrals
Most dog owners turn to travel websites such as PetsWelcome, BringFido, Expedia, and Tripadvisor when searching for pet-friendly hotels, and they rely heavily on the reviews and experiences of other guests. Encourage pet owners to tell the pet community about their stay and generate referrals through these sites.
Mission Point’s “Pooch at the Point” package is pushed out to all of their referrals and shared on pet-friendly website listings like BringFido and TripAdvisor.
“Check out reviews that mention bringing a dog and take any advice to heart,” Ware advises. “Your guests know what they want and will tell you.”
Bring out the “dog swag”
Ensure guests recognize your brand as dog-friendly by throwing in a free dog leash, water bowl, or bandana with your logo and name on it. This turns the dogs into walking ambassadors and keeps your name in their owner’s mind for their next getaway.
Element Detroit's dog package includes an Element branded flannel bandana, while Aloft’s includes a branded dog bowl.
Beyond the complimentary items pups get at check-in, Mission Point’s Marketplace features items such as branded dog bowls, “Dog on a Mission” bandanas, branded frisbees, plus Nick the Border Collie-branded patches, stickers, stuffed animals, and even kids’ sweaters.
“If we’ve learned anything, it’s that people love to spend money on their pets,” Liz Ware says, reflecting on Mission Point’s lessons learned and wisdom gained as a pet-friendly resort. “As travelers look to book accommodations, they’re increasingly seeking out pet-friendly hotels. Guests are bringing their dogs on the road with them to experience life together, and we’re just glad to be a part of creating that experience for them.”
Offering accommodation for your guests’ furry friends opens up your operation to a new and increasing market. Utilize this insight to implement at your own property!
If you’re going to be a pet-friendly establishment, it’s important to market yourself as such. Guests on the hunt for a dog-friendly stay usually know what they’re looking for, so here’s how you can help them find your hotel — and choose it — as their next stop:
Beef up your advertising
If your hotel is pet-friendly, be sure your customers know this by displaying pet-related information and your policy prominently on your website. Make sure it’s also displayed throughout your business, on your social channels, and in printed marketing materials. Consider incorporating content right from your guests; there’s no better way to advertise your business as pet-friendly than through your guests and their first-hand experiences.
“In the name of practicing what we preach at Mission Point, we make sure pets are represented throughout all of our marketing materials,” Liz Ware says. “Not only throughout our website and its ‘Pets Page’ but also through all social media marketing and print materials, and we try as much as we can to feature guest-generated dog content.”
Encourage reviews and referrals
Most dog owners turn to travel websites such as PetsWelcome, BringFido, Expedia, and Tripadvisor when searching for pet-friendly hotels, and they rely heavily on the reviews and experiences of other guests. Encourage pet owners to tell the pet community about their stay and generate referrals through these sites.
Mission Point’s “Pooch at the Point” package is pushed out to all of their referrals and shared on pet-friendly website listings like BringFido and TripAdvisor.
“Check out reviews that mention bringing a dog and take any advice to heart,” Ware advises. “Your guests know what they want and will tell you.”
Bring out the “dog swag”
Ensure guests recognize your brand as dog-friendly by throwing in a free dog leash, water bowl, or bandana with your logo and name on it. This turns the dogs into walking ambassadors and keeps your name in their owner’s mind for their next getaway.
Element Detroit's dog package includes an Element branded flannel bandana, while Aloft’s includes a branded dog bowl.
Beyond the complimentary items pups get at check-in, Mission Point’s Marketplace features items such as branded dog bowls, “Dog on a Mission” bandanas, branded frisbees, plus Nick the Border Collie-branded patches, stickers, stuffed animals, and even kids’ sweaters.
“If we’ve learned anything, it’s that people love to spend money on their pets,” Liz Ware says, reflecting on Mission Point’s lessons learned and wisdom gained as a pet-friendly resort. “As travelers look to book accommodations, they’re increasingly seeking out pet-friendly hotels. Guests are bringing their dogs on the road with them to experience life together, and we’re just glad to be a part of creating that experience for them.”
Offering accommodation for your guests’ furry friends opens up your operation to a new and increasing market. Utilize this insight to implement at your own property!