Custard caught up with dog-friendly influencer Emily Gill who has been showcasing the best in dog-friendly hotel stays and travel for the past few years on her Instagram and TikTok. It’s estimated that 23 million UK households (41% of the population) now have pets. With 56% of those pet owners stating they would take their dog away on holiday with them. it’s more important than ever to market dog-friendly hotels and accommodations effectively!
We caught up with Emily to find out what she thinks about current dog-friendly hotels, what she looks for, and what she thinks could be improved.
What do you think the hotel industry could do better in terms of marketing dog-friendly hotel stays and breaks?
So – you’re looking for a dog-friendly place to stay, find one that looks perfect and then you download the “dog policy”. It turns out that the hotel said they were dog-friendly – but the policy is far from it. The number one thing I think could be better for many dog-friendly hotels places to stay is updating their policies to make them a little friendlier. It has to protect you as a business owner, of course, but slightly amending words to be a little more friendly is a trick lots of places are missing.
Do you think people are travelling more with their dogs and will favour hotel stays with more dog-friendly activities in the area?
According to a recent study by Surrey University, the dog-friendly travel market could be worth $50 Billion which doesn’t surprise me. More and more people are not just going on holidays with their dogs, but planning their holidays around them too. I definitely think having and promoting dog-friendly activities in the area encourages more people to visit, and the quirkier these are, the better!
What makes your stay work in terms of content? What three things do you look for when curating content about your dog-friendly stay?
When I am doing a dog-friendly stay for my social media pages I try and look at what is around in the local area that I will be able to visit during my stay first and foremost. And closely after that I try and look for places that are genuinely dog-friendly. Places that treat dogs as guests are my favourite kind – I’m talking treats and dog bowls provided, and sometimes even dog beds, crates and toys.
What’s on your horizon for the next six months?
I have a few trips planned already for the next few months. My focus is on making these trips accessible by showing a range of different places, but predominantly the focus is just on spending time with and making memories with my dog Murphy!
Custard arranges review stays for influencers across our portfolio of over 50 hotels spanning the UK, including dog-friendly stays. Get in touch with us today to find out more.
