Pet-Focused Travel Advisors Navigate Challenges of Flying with Fido

Vacationing with pets has become standard practice for millions of travelers, a trend that has only gotten stronger with the proliferation of emotional support animals. Surveys show that traveling with pets is especially important to baby boomers and millennials.

While the travel industry, mainly hotels, has responded with pet-friendly amenities, huge challenges remain, including inconsistent policies among airlines and destinations. Not knowing the rules can quickly ruin a vacation — and even place a pet in harm’s way.

In response to growing demand, pet-focused travel advisors, often prompted by their own love of vacationing with pets, are providing much-needed expertise for clients and their four-legged companions.

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— Maria Lenhart, Travel Advisor Editor

Featured Story

Travel Advisors Address Growing Demand for Pet-Friendly Vacations: As more baby boomers and millennials take to the road with pets in tow, travel advisors will need to freshen up on their knowledge of rules and restrictions for travel. Hotels are beginning to cater more to pet owners, but the rules among airlines are in a state of flux.

Tour Operators

Thomas Cook Collapses, Ending 178-Year Reign in the Travel Business: The bankruptcy and liquidation of Thomas Cook is a monumental blow to the travel industry. The collapse of the company will continue to have ripple effects across the industry for a long time to come.

Cruise

Saga Plays Long Game in Search for Cruise Nirvana: Saga is making a big bet on cruising with its new ships and will be hoping that Brexit doesn’t scupper its plans.

Tourism

Is India the New China for Tourist Hungry Destinations? India is becoming the boat that lifts Asia-Pacific destinations that have become too dependent on China outbound travel, which is sputtering. Australia is a good example of this.

Travel Gear

Away Travel’s Prudent Rise to Become the World’s Hippest Luggage Brand: Away Travel may have created a suitcase that quickly attained cult status — but the customer insights and sensibility that drive the company are refreshingly cautious.

Rail

Amtrak CEO Sees Short-Haul Flight Hassles as Fuel for the Railway’s Turnaround: Amtrak’s modernization effort is underway. If it remains nimble, it can take advantage of shifts in consumer behavior as car ownership declines and travelers look to avoid the headache of heading to the airport for a short flight.

Hotels

Accor Launches New Economy Brand Greet: Greet’s nonstandardized approach will help it separate itself from other hotels in the economy segment, but individuality comes at a cost and may mean the rollout takes a little longer than equivalent cookie-cutter brands.

Marriott Continues to Bang the Bonvoy Drum Ahead of Planned Brand Expansion: Can a loyalty program outlast the ups and downs of economic uncertainty in key markets? That’s what Marriott is banking on by making sure Bonvoy offers everything customers want.

Greening of Travel

Travel’s Green Revolution Remains a Work in Progress: We’re at the beginning of a period of long-term change toward more sustainable business practices from members of the global travel industry. Executives who take a proactive approach will be rewarded for not just being ahead of the curve but doing the right thing.

Airlines

American Airlines Vows to Rebound After Brutal Summer Says CFO: American Airlines had a tough summer, with labor issues and the grounding of its 24 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. But Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr said at Skift Global Forum that these two areas are at the top of management’s agenda for next year.

Skift Travel Advisor Editor Maria Lenhart [[email protected]] curates the Skift Travel Advisor Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Tuesday. Have a story idea? Or a juicy news tip? Want to share a memo? Send her an email.

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