Hotels, villas cash in as pet parents spend more on ‘paw-cations’

‘Travelling with pets in India or ‘paw-cation’ is moving from being a niche preference to one of the mainstream revenue drivers for the Indian hospitality sector, as Indians increasingly opt for pet-friendly bookings and accommodations.

- ROSHNI SHEKHAR

Travel operators have begun offering separate travel packages to cater to this growing segment, while hotels and alternative accommodations are adding specific inventory and services to enhance their stays. Data backs the hospitality sector's pivot to cater to their furry guests, as people spend 15-30 percent more when travelling with pets.

Gurugram-based online travel aggregator EaseMyTrip has seen bookings linked to pets growing by 25-45 per cent each year. Pet-friendly accommodation bookings have also risen by 40-45 per cent in 2025 versus 2024. Not just domestic, but internationally too, the share of Indians flying overseas with pets has grown by 5-12 per cent in 2025 over last year, according to EaseMyTrip data. Rival player Booking.com has observed that 11 per cent of Indians are likely to take a leisure trip with pets, up from 4 percent in 2024, as per its 2025, Travel Trends data.

“There is a clear and consistent rise in pet-inclusive travel across the country. Travellers today are far more inclined to plan holidays where their pets can be a part of the experience, a sentiment that has only strengthened post-pandemic,” said Karan Agarwal, director, Cox & Kings. “Industry trends reflect this shift as pet-related bookings for flights and hotels have recorded strong year-on-year growth, with increases ranging from 15 to 18 per cent on our end to over 40 per cent across the wider ecosystem. It is a rapidly expanding segment driven by young travellers, nuclear families, and pet parents who increasingly consider their pets integral to their travel plans.”