DOGS IN HOLIDAY PARKS - YAY OR NAY?

It’s the question that most parks have asked themselves at some point… Should we, or shouldn’t we?

This topic is more commonly being framed as: “If you’re not dog-friendly, you’re behind and you’re losing decent revenue”.

But the reality is more strategic than that.

✔️Yes — the pet travel market is growing.

✔️Yes — it can unlock new revenue, off-peak bookings and strong loyalty.

✔️Yes — pet fees and longer stays can add measurable income.

But here’s what rarely gets discussed… Allowing dogs doesn’t just add a market. It reshapes your brand.

It can affect:

• Families with allergies

• People with a fear of dogs

• Guests seeking quiet relaxation

• Cleanliness expectations

• Complaints about volume and dog mess

• Staff workload and damages to property

• Online testimonials can suffer

This isn’t just an operational decision. It’s a positioning decision.

The real question isn’t: “should we allow dogs?” It’s: “does this align with who we are ~ AND who we want to attract?”

For some parks, becoming truly dog-friendly (with fenced areas, wash bays, clear policies and curated experiences) becomes a competitive advantage. For others, staying pet-free protects a different, and equally valuable market.

Neither is right or wrong. But copying what the park down the road is doing without analysing your own target market, infrastructure and long-term strategy?

That’s where mistakes and bad decisions happen.

Dog-friendly isn’t a trend decision. It’s a brand decision. And the strongest parks make decisions based on positioning ~ not pressure.

What’s your park’s stance… do you allow pets or not? And more importantly, how did you decide this was right for your holiday park? 🤷‍♀️

www.holidayparkmarketingsolutions.com.au