The Luxury Pet-Friendly Hotel Market: What the Growth Numbers Tell Operators

The luxury segment of pet-friendly hospitality is growing faster than the broader hotel market and attracting a guest profile that outspends the average traveler. Understanding the scale of this shift and what is driving it gives hotel operators a clearer picture of where the competitive advantage sits in 2026 and beyond.

The global luxury pet-friendly hotel market was valued at $1.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $2.4 billion by 2033, growing at a 9.2% CAGR, according to HTF Market Insights. That rate of growth significantly outpaces the overall hotel sector, and it is being driven by a structural shift in how travelers think about their pets, not a temporary trend in consumer spending.

What Is Driving Growth in This Specific Segment?

Three forces are working together to expand the luxury pet-friendly market simultaneously: rising pet ownership, increasing pet humanization among affluent travelers, and the failure of most luxury properties to serve this segment well.

56% of people worldwide now own a pet, according to the Mars Global Pet Parent Study cited in Amadeus’ Travel Trends 2026 report. Among that group, the fastest-growing cohort of pet travelers is first-timers. A Shape Insight survey of 2,896 UK and US travelers found that 27% of pet owners who traveled with their pet in 2025 were doing so for the first time. These travelers are actively searching for properties that can match their expectations.

At the luxury end, those expectations are high. Affluent pet-owning guests expect the same quality of service for their animal as for themselves. Properties that meet that expectation with genuine infrastructure, not a welcome treat and a food bowl, are capturing outsized loyalty and revenue.

Who Are the Key Players and What Are They Doing?

The leading operators in the luxury pet-friendly hotel segment share several characteristics: clearly communicated pet policies, breed and size-inclusive access, premium in-room pet amenities, and dedicated staff trained to extend hospitality to the animal as well as the guest.

Kimpton Hotels (IHG)

Kimpton has long operated one of the most inclusive pet policies in luxury hospitality. No size or breed restrictions. No pet fees. The brand has built pet-friendliness into its core identity rather than treating it as an add-on, which is a key reason it consistently leads industry rankings for pet-friendly stays.

Loews Hotels

Loews operates a dedicated “Loews Loves Pets” program with welcome amenities, pet room service menus, and partnerships with local pet services at each property. The program is consistent across the portfolio, which matters to repeat travelers who rely on predictability.

Fairmont Hotels

Fairmont’s canine ambassador program places resident dogs in properties to create a community feel. The brand has used this to generate significant press and direct booking attention, while also building emotional resonance with pet-owning guests who respond to properties that actively celebrate animals.

Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood

Both brands have moved into premium pet amenities, including gourmet pet menus, in-room pet wellness setups, and pet concierge services, reflecting demand from their ultra-high-net-worth guest base.

Luxury Pet-Friendly Hotel Market: Key Data Points

Multiple research sources confirm the size and trajectory of this market. The figures below draw from HTF Market Insights, Verified Market Research, The Business Research Company, and Tripadvisor’s 2026 Trendcast, giving a composite view of where the market sits and where it is heading.

Metric	Figure	Source
Luxury pet-friendly hotel market value (2024)	$1.3 billion	HTF Market Insights
Projected market value (2033)	$2.4 billion	HTF Market Insights
CAGR 2024–2033	9.2%	HTF Market Insights
Dogs as share of luxury pet hotel stays	~85%	Verified Market Reports
Cats as share of bookings	~12%, growing at 9.8% CAGR	Verified Market Reports
Dog-welcome experience bookings YoY growth	+260%	Tripadvisor Trendcast 2026
North America’s share of overall pet hotel market	42.56%	Mordor Intelligence
Luxury segment share of overall pet hotel market	45.7%	Future Market Insights

What Technology Is Reshaping the Segment?

Technology is becoming a meaningful differentiator within luxury pet hospitality, both for the guest experience and for operational efficiency.

AI-Powered Pet Monitoring

AI-enabled biometric tracking and remote health monitoring for pets during a hotel stay is an emerging feature at the premium end. Owners can check on their animal’s activity, stress levels, and environment in real time via an app. This directly addresses the primary anxiety that prevents many pet owners from traveling with their animals: concern about the animal’s well-being when out of sight.

Veterinary Telehealth

24/7 access to veterinary telehealth during a stay is beginning to appear as a standard offering in higher-tier pet-friendly hotels, particularly at properties catering to international travelers whose pets may be navigating different food, water, and environments. This is not an expensive addition relative to the ADR at luxury properties, but it signals a level of care that resonates strongly with the target guest.

Smart In-Room Pet Infrastructure

Automated feeding systems, climate-controlled pet areas, and app-based booking of pet services are moving from novelty to expectation in the luxury segment. Guests who have experienced them at one property will notice their absence at another.

What Does This Mean for Operators Who Are Not Yet in This Space?

The luxury pet-friendly segment is not yet crowded. Most luxury hotels technically allow pets. Very few have built a genuine product around the pet-owning guest. That gap is where the opportunity sits.

The barriers to entry are lower than most operators assume:

• Policy changes cost nothing. Removing breed and size restrictions, eliminating or restructuring pet fees, and updating website content to clearly communicate pet access do not require capital investment.
• Core amenities are not expensive. A high-quality pet bed, premium bowls, launderable in-room textiles, and a local dog-walking map add minimal cost per stay relative to the premium ADR a pet-friendly positioning supports.
• Staff training is the highest-leverage investment. A team that is confident, warm, and knowledgeable about the property’s pet offering is what converts a technically pet-friendly hotel into a genuinely pet-inclusive one that guests remember and return to.

AirDNA’s 2025 Growth Trends data shows pet-friendly properties earn $17.41 more in ADR than comparable non-pet listings. At the luxury end, where base ADR is already elevated, that premium compounds further.

Conclusion

The luxury pet-friendly hotel market is not a future opportunity. It is a current one, valued at $1.3 billion in 2024 and growing at nearly 10% annually. The demand is confirmed by Tripadvisor’s 260% surge in pet-welcome bookings, by the 27% of first-time pet travelers forming preferences right now, and by the structural fact that most luxury hotels are still delivering tolerance rather than genuine hospitality for the pet-owning guest. The properties that close that gap first will hold an advantage that is difficult to displace once it is established.

Frequently Asked Questions

How large is the luxury pet-friendly hotel market?

The market was valued at $1.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $2.4 billion by 2033, growing at a 9.2% CAGR, according to HTF Market Insights.

Which hotel brands lead the luxury pet-friendly segment?

IHG's Kimpton brand leads with a breed and fee-free policy. Loews Hotels, Fairmont, Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood, and Marriott International are also major players in the premium pet-friendly space.

What type of pets dominate luxury pet hotel stays?

Dogs account for approximately 85% of luxury pet hotel stays. Cats represent about 12% of bookings and are growing at a 9.8% CAGR, according to Verified Market Reports.

What is the fastest-growing region for luxury pet-friendly hotels?

North America leads the overall pet hotel market with 42.56% share. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, expanding at a 10.68% CAGR through 2030, driven by rising urban affluence and pet humanization trends.

What technology is emerging in luxury pet-friendly hospitality?

AI-powered pet biometric monitoring, 24/7 veterinary telehealth access, smart in-room pet infrastructure, and app-based pet service booking are the key technology trends reshaping the luxury pet hotel experience.