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Proctor & Gamble Benefits from Pet Travel

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Pet Friendly HotelProctor & Gamble, the giant manufacturer of cleaning products (among other products) has an interesting press release about the challenges hoteliers face trying to accomodate customers that bring pets.

With pet travel on the rise, hotels are are under competitive pressure to accomodate pets. The press release featured two hotels, Hampton Inn Eastgate in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado.

Among the challenges noted in the press release...
"We've had dogs that haven't been kenneled and have chewed through bedspreads, torn holes in the carpet, scratched the door and destroyed a box spring mattress."

"We've had to replace the duvet covers, sheets and terry products in our guest rooms. We've also had housekeeping go to clean a room, open the door and have a dog escape into the hotel."

"We had guests staying with us once who kept their parrot in their room. The cage wasn't properly latched, and when housekeeping entered the room to clean it, the bird got loose into the hotel. We ended up chasing the parrot around the hotel for about an hour before we finally caught it with a pillow case."

"Dog hair gets all over the place, so we often have to vacuum repeatedly. If a dog urinates in the room, the carpet usually has to be shampooed several times to get the smell out. We use an enzyme-based cleaner to get all the way down to the pad, but the smell stays for a while. We will usually keep a room out of order until we can completely remove the smell."
Companies that produce cleaning products and cleaning equipment stands to profit from the increase of pet friendly hotels, perhaps as evidenced by P&G's press release. The release goes on to add...
"As the number of travelers with pets continues to rise, it becomes even more essential for hoteliers to have quality, high-performing cleaning programs in place," said Craig Monsell of the P&G Pro Line Lodging Program, an on-premise laundry and in-room cleaning program that is designed to increase guest satisfaction.
Perhaps proving that an increase in pet ownership is good for business, and keeps people working.

1 Comments:

  • I feel that the job of people who own, operate or clean Hotels should make their jobs easier by a couple of things...Pets DO have accidents. Traveling pets may experience some stress and anxiety-most owners are aware of this sort of thing, and some may just not care, or have money to pay for pet damages...I feel in order to make the Hotel jobs easier--set aside a floor or two designated for pets--probably best put on ground level floors to easily access the outside for "potty time"--then remove ALL carpeting and replace with tile--it may be a MAJOR cost up front, but if you have to replace carpet 1-2X a year, plus constant shampooing due to pet messes the tile will certainly pay for itself over a short time--put brass skid plates on the bottoms of the doors. This would at least minimize damage by an unruly or anxious pet. It shouldn't need mentioning that cleaning tile is MUCH easier, time/cost efficient, and sanitary than re-shampooing a carpet each time for an accident, making a room unavailable for a few days due to wetness of carpet or funky odors, and having the hotel maids have to endure cleaning up the icky messes from carpet that usually doesn't want to let go of stains and odors very easily. I would also reccomend having multi size-collapsable pet crates available for the rooms, or have a clause that states pets MUST not be left alone in rooms--some places say this, others do not. It must also be realized that MOST people who travel with their pets do have pets with better manners than people who constantly board their pets- that at least speaking for myself, I have pets that are often better mannered than some people's kids, and I love to travel with my pets as much as possible. My first list of criteria when seeking a place to stay, when I do travel with my pets, are:
    1-How far away are the potty areas?
    2-What floor am I staying?
    3-Is there a size or breed restriction (I have Great Danes and German Shepherds)
    4-Does the hotel screen other people pets for disease, shot records, temperment? Do they have someone on staff primarily for checking these things?
    5-Are the people courteous around my pets, or do they roll their eyes and treat me like I am dumb for keeping my pets as part of the family?

    This list of personal criteria also determine whether or not I EVER stay somewhere, eat somewhere or EVEN park in their parking lot, or camp on their camp grounds...some places lose a LOT of business with poorly made decisions against pets--you may not just lose money for not renting out the room, it filters ALL the way down into the other things mentioned.

    Just a few things. I feel the same should apply for apartments, rental housing or condos, etc.--hey TILE could be a GREAT thing! If I were to move into a rental place that DID allow pets, but also made the place easy to sanitize...I would rather enjoy that...instead of being constantly anxious of an accident on the carpet--if I had tile and supplied my own rugs--that is MY deal/money etc--NOT left to the land lord, or my deposit money. Pets should be screened on an individual basis--not by breed, size, or total number--trust me I have seen gangs of little dogs that are WAY MORE unruelly than my chosen large breeds--number shouldn't matter any how, as long as they are ALL well fed/vetted/groomed/cared for/walked and played with.

    Just my nickel....

    By Anonymous paleWOLF, at 9:36 AM, December 23, 2007  

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