How to market your Airbnb to pet owners

Pet travel is big business. More and more travelers want to bring their furry friends along for their vacations and adventures. So many, in fact, that pet-friendliness is the second most sought-after amenity on Vacasa.com.

Plus, our partners at Airbnb reported that searches using their ‘Allow Pets’ filter leapt by 65% and that searches for backyards and gardens have grown immensely by 343%, compared to the previous year.

Should you allow pets in your vacation rental?

Yes, being pet-friendly comes with plenty of perks—both to your bottomline and your booking calendar. Not only will opening your vacation home to pets allow you to stand out more (only 25% of Vacasa vacation rentals allow dogs), pet-friendly vacation rentals on average enjoy:

• Increased earning potential with as much as 15% higher rental income.
• More bookings with almost 9% higher overall occupancy.
• Longer stays: Bookings that include pets are 14% longer than those that don’t.*

Here are some expert-backed strategies to boost bookings by guests traveling with pets.

Safeguard your vacation home

Accidents happen, even with the most well-behaved guests (two-legged or four). So, put some precautions in place to protect your vacation home and everything in it. Some to consider:

• Ensure your housekeeping or cleaning service has extra cleaning protocols for pet-friendly short-term rentals.
• Invest in an air purification system with a HEPA filter that will help eliminate pet odors and dander.
• Charge a pet fee to cover additional cleaning costs and damage. A typical pet fee for Vrbo and Airbnb can range from $10 to $50 a night.
• Replace carpets—which can hold onto stains and odor—with stain- and scratch-resistant flooring, like tile, stone, laminate, and vinyl. Then, use area rugs, which can be replaced if needed.
• Use sofa and armchair covers that can easily be removed and cleaned in the washing machine.
• Provide pet-friendly fabric cleaners so guests can easily clean up any messes on their own.
• Keep valuables out of reach.
• Let guests know if there are any areas off-limits to pets, including the hot tub, any bedrooms, home office, etc.
• Write out specific pet policies in your house rules (more on that soon).

Offer amenities dogs (and their owners) will love

Want to win over the hearts and wallets of traveling pet owners—and make it more likely to get 5-star Airbnb reviews? Treat their dog just like they do—like a VIP (Very Important Pet, that is). Provide the creature comforts their dogs would normally enjoy at home, yet may be too much of a hassle for their owners to pack. Such as:

• A water bowl
• A portable/collapsible water bowl (for outdoor adventures)
• A food bowl
• A big dog bed (with a removable and washable cover for easy cleaning)
• Waste bags
• Machine-washable chew toys
• A leash
• Designated pet towels to wipe off dirty paws
• Extra cleaning supplies, including fabric stain and odor removers
• Dog wipes for easy grooming
• Dog shampoo for baths

Suggest pet-friendly places to visit

People shouldn’t have all the fun. One of the appeals of traveling with your dog is exploring the destination together. Offer your guests recommendations on spots in town that welcome pets. These can include:

• Pet-friendly restaurants, cafes, and bars
• Dog parks
• Off-leash beaches
• Pet-friendly attractions
• Nearby trails that allow dogs

Offer a secured outdoor space

Have a front garden or back yard? These are big draws for guests traveling with their dogs (as well as children), as they provide a safe space to run and play off-leash. Make sure your fences and gates have locks and that there are no escape routes or holes underneath for dogs to squeeze through.

Share a directory of nearby pet services

Guests traveling with their pet will feel safer knowing there are nearby facilities to help them care for their dogs. Save your guests the time and research. Put together a list of local pet service providers, such as:

• Dog-walking services
• Dog day care centers
• Trusted pet sitters
• Dog groomers
• Dog self-wash centers
• Veterinarians
• Pet hospitals
• Nearest pet emergency room

Update your vacation rental listing

Make sure dog owners can tell immediately that your vacation home will welcome their pet. Here’s how to update your vacation rental listing to make it more enticing for pet-friendly bookings:

• Make sure to select the pet-friendly option for your vacation home on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.
• Change your headline to reflect that you allow pets. For example: “Dog-friendly home near the beach with private hot tub, wood fireplace, gas grill”
• Include images that show your pet supplies and amenities, like dog beds, chew toys, and bowls.
• Specify which animals you allow. For instance, mention if you only allow dogs and not cats.
• Specify how many animals you allow.
• Add specific pet policies to your house rules so pet owners know exactly what is allowed and expected of them.

Market specifically to pet owners

Don’t simply rely on listing sites to draw traffic to your vacation rental listing. You should be marketing regularly to keep your vacation home in front of potential guests. Some ways to do that:

• Network with travel and pet bloggers to showcase your short-term property.
• List your vacation home on niche pet owner sites, like BringFido.
• Use Facebook advertising, which allows you to narrow your target audience to people who love dogs, cats, and other animals.
• Ask previous guests to share images of their pet during their stay on social media, then repost.
• Repost any 5-star reviews by guests who had a positive experience vacationing with their pet at your vacation home.
• Highlight your pet-friendly amenities, including dog bed, dog bowls, and dog toys.
• Highlight nearby areas that are dog-friendly, including off-leash beaches and parks.

Marketing your vacation rental year round can be overwhelming. When you work with Vacasa, we’ll market your home regularly on several channels to keep your property top-of-mind, from frequent emails to social media advertising to fresh blog content.