On 11MAY, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' Luxury & Lifestyle Collection, announced a partnership with Wag!, a mobile platform that connects guests and their furry pals with professional pet caregivers for pet boarding, sitting and walking services.
Guests staying at Kimpton's 65 plus U.S. properties can now enjoy walks and drop-ins for their pets, in addition to the brand's current pet-friendly amenities. Drop-in services means that a Wag! Pet Caregiver will check on the guests pet to replenish food or water, provide bathroom breaks, and more. Sweet relief.
To kick off the partnership, "KimptonXWag!" (yes, that's the name of the collaboration) will gift 1,000 free 20-minute services, either walks or drop-ins, for guests staying at one of Kimpton's participating properties. In addition, guests will be given access to a complimentary month of Wag! Premium with every stay.
Wag! Premium guests receive 10 per cent off every pet service booked, waived booking fees and 24/7 access to advice from credentialed veterinary professionals for when they are bringing their pet with them on the road or scheduling pet services while they are away. In addition, all Kimpton employees will be provided a Wag! Premium subscription and access to redeem one of the 1,000 free walks, as long as supplies last.
As noted by Kimpton, pet travel has increased steadily over the last two decades, with 45 per cent of dog owners taking their pup with them when they travel for at least two nights, according to the American Pet Products Association’s 2019–2020 National Pet Owners Survey. Kimpton suggests that the pandemic added to the number of people travelling with pets, as nearly 1 in 5 American households report they adopted a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"With the emergence of remote work, guests are used to spending more time with their pets, and so it's not surprising that as travel picks up, our guests are opting to bring their pets with them," said Kathleen Reidenbach, Chief Commercial Officer at Kimpton. "We understand how hard it is to leave pets behind, so we are thrilled that this partnership with Wag! will take some of the stress off our guests, allowing them to make the most of their travels while ensuring their furry family members are well taken care of on the road or at home."
"We're thrilled to partner with Kimpton Hotels to make it easier than ever for guests to take care of their pets when they travel," said Garrett Smallwood, CEO of Wag!. "Both the Wag! and Kimpton teams live by the adage that 'pets are family,' and we know that Kimpton pet parents feel the same."
In celebration of this partnership, KimptonXWag! have also released a limited-edition dog bathrobe with a custom patch. These dog robes are inspired by Kimpton's signature robe collection, available for purchase here. How cute!
Kimpton Pet Policy + Amenities
According to Kimpton, it has been a been a pet-friendly boutique hotel brand since its founding in 1981 — even its founder, Bill Kimpton, would bring his dog, Chianti, to work. At all Kimptons, guests are welcome to bring their furry, feathery or scaly family member — no matter their size, weight, or breed, all at no extra charge.
"If a guest's pet fits through the door, Kimpton welcomes them in," the brand said. Unfortunately, that means no elephants in the room.
In addition to this Wag! partnership, Kimpton offers a variety of ongoing pet-friendly amenities including pet-bed loaners in guest rooms, treats, water bowls and mats; a concierge list of nearby pet-friendly restaurants, parks, groomers and pet boutiques; door hangers to alert other hotel guests and staff that a cat, dog, or other beloved pet is in the room; courtesy bags; and more.
In addition, at certain properties Directors of Pet Relations are on hand to give guests and their buddies a tail-wagging welcome.
Kimpton guests can redeem one of the 1,000 free walks, available while supplies last, by reaching out to @Kimpton on Twitter or Instagram for a one-time-use custom discount code. Front desk staff will also share information with guests on how to access Wag! Premium to set up a Wag! service on property or at home.
For more information, visit Kimpton's Pet page.
