Pets Play Big Role In Determining Vacation Plans Of Owners

By Christine Kern, contributing writer

Study reveals that Fido and Fluffy can influence travelers’ holiday plans

According to new research released by TripIt from Concur, personal pets have a large influence over the travel plans of the owners. The survey demonstrated that 77 percent of those surveyed said that their pets influence their holiday travel plans, with 94 percent still planning to travel, although they need more reliable pet sitters and options to travel with their pets. And two-thirds said they would travel more frequently if they had reliable pet care options.

The survey showed that 56 percent of respondents said their pets will determine length of holiday travel, while 43 percent say pets influence their choice of accommodations. Meanwhile, 29 percent of respondents said their pets will impact travel destinations.

TripsWithPets.com Founder and President Kim Salerno said, "Pet parents are always mindful of the comfort and well-being of their furry kids, so it makes sense that they would factor them into their travel plans," she notes. "What they may not realize is just how many options there are when it comes to pet friendly hotels, amenities, travel methods and even restaurants."

While many travelers would love to travel with their animals, the survey found that most find the prospect challenging, with almost 90 percent stating that they wished it were easier to travel with their animals.

And two-thirds of pet owners would travel more frequently if they could find qualified pet care or other options. When asked who they trusted to care for their pets while they were away, 53 percent said family members; 21 percent said friends; and 19 percent said they trusted vets, dog walkers and other professional animal care services.

"Family is always the best option for pet care, but it's unfortunate that people don't put more trust in professional pet care providers," Salerno explained in the release. "Pets are treasured family members which can make it uneasy for some to leave them in a stranger's care, but there are really great options available to travelers—they just have to know what to look for."

The online survey of 400 travelers was conducted GutCheck on behalf of TripIt from September 8 to September 11, 2014. All participants are pet owners over the age of 18 and have, within the past 12 months, flown on a commercial airline and stayed overnight for at least one business trip and one leisure trip.