Interest in Pet Friendly Stays growing in lead up to summer

Visits to Seekom’s Pet Friendly Stays booking site are on the rise as New Zealanders rush to secure summer holiday accommodation with space for their paw-some furry friends.

The website, created as a central hub for New Zealand’s pet friendly accommodation, was viewed more than 5,000 times across September and October. Bookings via the site are increasing and a growing number of accommodation providers are listing their pet friendly accommodation to capitalise on a relatively untapped segment of the accommodation market.

Seekom General Manager Nicole Irschick said holidaymakers often struggled to find pet friendly accommodation and Pet Friendly Stays was helping to save them hours trawling the internet.

“We’re reaching a time of year when people look to lock-in their summer holiday plans. With many kennels and catteries fully booked and a growing number of New Zealanders looking to take their pets away on holiday with them, we’ve noticed a real uptick in traffic.”

According to a survey run by Companion Animals New Zealand, nearly two thirds of New Zealanders own pets, with dogs being the most common and cats coming a close second.

Pet Friendly Stays received a positive media reception when it launched last year, with coverage on Newshub, Today FM and in hospitality and leisure publications including Hotel Magazine and Australasian Leisure Management.

The site allows Seekom users to showcase aspects of their properties that pet owners might find relevant, including information about local amenities such as dog parks, pet-friendly walking trails, or nearby vet clinics.