Homes & Villas by Marriott Teams Up With Petco To Offer New Program for Traveling Pets

If you have a pet, traveling isn’t always seamless.

First of all, you have to decide whether you’re going to take your pet on the trip at all. If you decide to take your furry friend with you, then you have to determine whether where you’re going is pet-friendly.

If you get lucky, you’ll find a hotel that accepts pets, but you may be saddled with a hefty fee.

On top of everything, if you’re traveling with a pet, you need to pack likely almost an entire suitcase worth of toys, food, bedding, and more to make sure they’re comfortable and not totally out of their element.

Long story short, it can be a hassle to travel with a pet, but Homes & Villas by Marriott and Petco have come together to make pet travel easier and more enjoyable through their new “Pet Friendly Picks by Petco” program.

Here’s what you need to know.

Homes & Villas by Marriott and Petco Launch ‘Pet Friendly Picks by Petco’

According to Petco’s “Pet Holiday Travel CMI Insights Report, 2022,” 80% of pet owners think of their pets as part of the family, and at least one-third of pet owners are expected to choose to travel with their pets instead of leaving them home.

With figures like this, it’s easy to see why Petco and Homes & Villas by Marriott have come up with a dedicated program to make traveling with pets less stressful.

“For many of our guests, family vacations mean including their four-legged family members, and since the pandemic, we’ve seen ‘Pets Allowed’ rise to become one of the top two most popular filters our guests choose when searching for homes,” said Jennifer Hsieh, Vice President, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International.

The “Pet Friendly Picks by Petco” program will highlight properties within the Homes & Villas platform that “meet Petco’s standards for pet safety, health, and wellness for both dogs and cats.” The website will also feature important information and even checklists to help pet parents make sure they’re ready to travel with their fur children.

From there, Petco can arrange a variety of items that pets will need while on the road — including bedding, food and water bowls, toys, and more — that can be shipped directly to the property.

Marriott’s Pet-friendly Future

The collaboration between Homes & Villas by Marriott and Petco is just the beginning of this relationship, according to a press release from Marriott.

The chain says that it plans to work with Petco in the future on a similar program for pet-friendly hotels in its portfolio.

And, Marriott Bonvoy Moments is getting in on the fun, too. Marriott Bonvoy’s experiences platform will offer “bespoke pet-friendly experiences,” the first of which is a photoshoot for you and your pet(s) at a “spectacular” Homes & Villas property with lauded photographer Shayan Asgharnia, who has photographed everyone from Hollywood stars to leading men and women in business.

Hot Tip: Read our full guide to traveling with pets to learn how to make the process easier for you and your furry companions.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t seem like the momentum is slowing down for pet travel. As work schedules and locations remain flexible, more and more people will choose to travel with their beloved pets. Recognizing that trend in the industry, Homes & Villas by Marriott has partnered with Petco to simplify pet travel and make it more convenient for all parties involved.