Extended Stay America, better known as the official hotel of Santa Claus, is rolling out the welcome mat for travelers and their furry friends this holiday season.
The hotel chain announced this week that guests traveling with their four-legged family members can do so without paying pet fees as long as they book through extendedstayamerica.com/holiday prior to December 31 for stays ending on or before January 31, 2018.
The special offer, which could save guests as much as $25 per pet, per night, comes on the heels of a survey conducted by Extended Stay America and Kelton Global earlier this month that reinforced the notion that Americans love their pets and often consider them part of the family.
The study found that more than one-third of Americans (90 million-plus) plan to leave home at some point for the holidays. What's more, more than one-quarter of Americans (27 percent) consider their pets to be their family members.
Finally, the research uncovered that four out of 10 traveling pet owners feel guilty about leaving their companion behind.
"To make traveling even easier this season, Extended Stay America will waive pet fees for those who book through our website before December 31. We understand guests want to enjoy all the comforts of home while away for the holidays, and that absolutely should include pets," said Extended Stay America's VP of Marketing Communications, Terry Atkins in a statement.
With the help of pet expert Andrea Arden, the extended-stay hotel chain has also revealed some helpful tips for those traveling with an animal during the holidays. Obviously, you should always bring any identification, health documents or medication your pet may need.
Pet owners are also encouraged to make a veterinarian appointment and give their dog or cat the proper travel training prior to hitting the road. From there, traveling animal lovers can ensure a smooth hotel stay by keeping their pet on a leash, wiping its feet when coming from outside and using the "Do Not Disturb" sign when leaving the pet alone in the room.
Dog owners especially should request a ground floor and consult the hotel manager on walking areas to make traveling with Fido even easier.
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