Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle Collection, has revealed an exclusive partnership with Wag!, a mobile-first platform that connects pet parents with professional pet caregivers for pet boarding, sitting and walking. Kimpton is the first major hotel brand to offer on-property and at-home walks and drop-ins through a pet service provider like Wag! for guests staying at any of its 65-plus properties in the U.S.
To kick off the program, KimptonXWag! will gift 1,000 free 20-minute services (either walks or drop-ins) for guests staying at one of the brand’s participating properties. In addition, Kimpton guests will have access to a complimentary month of Wag! Premium with every stay. With Wag! Premium, guests receive 10% off every pet service booked, waived booking fees and 24/7 access to advice from credentialed veterinary professionals. 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.
Pet travel has increased steadily over the last two decades, with 45% of dog owners taking their pup with them when they travel for at least two nights, according to a 2020 survey. The pandemic has only added to the number of people traveling with pets as nearly one in five households report they adopted a pet during COVID.
“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, 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.”
Garrett Smallwood, CEO, Wag!, said, “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. Both the Wag! and Kimpton teams live by the adage that ‘pets are family,’ and we know that Kimpton pet parents feel the same. With access to 24/7 veterinary advice during your stay and support from local Pet Caregivers through this partnership Kimpton guests can have a stress-free vacation knowing Kimpton and Wag! have all their pet needs covered.”
KimptonXWag! has also released a limited-edition dog bathrobe with a custom patch. These dog robes are inspired by Kimpton’s signature robe collection. The limited-edition dog robes are available for purchase at www.kimptonstyle.com.
Kimpton has been a pet-friendly boutique hotel brand since its founding in 1981; its founder, Bill Kimpton, would bring his dog, Chianti, to work knowing that dogs have the ability to lift spirits. At all Kimptons, guests are welcome to bring their pets no matter their size, weight or breed, at no extra charge.
In addition to this Wag! partnership, Kimpton offers a variety of ongoing pet-friendly amenities including pet-bed loaners in guestrooms, 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 pet is in the room; courtesy bags; and more. Plus, at certain properties, directors of pet relations are on hand.
