Selected rooms at 30 Quest locations across Australia have been reclassified as pet friendly in an effort to provide more accommodation options to travellers eager to take their four-legged friends with them.
Under the initiative, guests looking to bring their pets as part of their visit will be able to access pet beds, food and water bowls equipped in rooms upon their arrival, along with a variety of toys to keep their companion occupied. Pets will incur a surcharge from AUD$15 per pet per night, with bookings available by phoning each property directly.
The company said progress was being made at equipping more properties to come onboard as a pet-friendly hotel in the coming months.
In response to pet ownership rates which have exploded during various lockdowns across Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, Quest will now allow pets to stay with their owners at a variety of properties in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast and other city and regional locations. A recent survey from Animal Medicines Australia found that nearly 70% of households now own at least one domestic animal – up from 61% two years ago.
This same study uncovered evidence that pets helped to alleviate many of the emotional and psychological challenges experienced during lockdowns including isolation and provided significant boosts to mental health. More than 70% of respondents in the study said that pet ownership had improved their lives during the pandemic.
Quest Chief Marketing Officer, Jeff Baars, said the company was eager to welcome travellers back to its properties and had seen a significant rise in searches for pet-friendly accommodation.
“Our mission at Quest is to make the guest experience effortless, so we have taken these insights on board, listened to our customers and are rolling out the ‘Paw-fect Travellers’ offering at 30 locations nationally, with even more hotels set to jump on board over the coming months,” he said.
“The primary reason people own a pet is companionship, and what we also know from listening to customers is that travel can sometimes be a little lonely, particularly for corporates who spend a lot of time on the road, so we hope the offering will make our guests feel even more comfortable and connected when they’re with us.”