Will the war in Israel lead to the introduction of pet-friendly hotels?
Animal lovers treat their dogs and cats like children, siblings or grandchildren. There is no doubt that most dog and cat owners consider their pets to be family members. It is also not surprising to learn that by 2024, two out of three households in America will own a pet, while in Israel it is estimated to be one in three.
If furry friends are part of the family, they certainly deserve to accompany their family members on vacation in hotels. However, this family wish is difficult and certainly challenging. While some hotels warmly welcome pets, others have strict rules against bringing dogs and cats as companions for guests.
The main reasons for introducing pet bans in international hotels are to maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards. Pets shed hair, leave behind odors or even cause damage to furniture or carpets. They can create an unpleasant environment for other guests.
By enforcing this unfriendly policy, hotels can ensure that their rooms remain clean and odor-free for all visitors. Additionally, some guests may have allergies or sensitivities to pet hair or dander. Allowing pets in hotel rooms could potentially trigger allergic reactions in these individuals. Hotel managers want to make guests with allergies feel comfortable by ensuring their rooms are free of allergens.
Another reason is to minimize noise disturbances to guests. There is always the possibility of barking or other noises that could disturb neighboring rooms. Hotels have a responsibility to ensure the safety and comfort of all their guests. This includes being considerate of those who may have fears or phobias related to animals. Even if a pet is normally well behaved, an unfamiliar environment and the presence of other guests could potentially trigger fear or aggression.
But sometimes, usually in times of crisis, rules are made to be broken. When war broke out in Gaza on October 7, hotels in Israel faced an unexpected challenge. Over a quarter of a million people were evacuated from their homes on the southern and northern fronts. They found shelter in hotels in safer areas across the country.
Do not leave pets alone in times of crisis
Many left everything behind, but did not agree to leave their pets unattended. They wanted to take them with them during this time of crisis. Not everyone was allowed to take their dogs or cats to hotels that offered shelter. In response, the Lawyers’ Forum for Animal Welfare in Israel appealed to numerous ministers. They called for an urgent solution to this problem, for help to the evacuees with their pets, and for urgent attention to be given to the issue.
“It turns out that some of the hotels that the government has provided to the evacuees do not allow them to bring their pets with them. The pets are separated from their owners. They need them. This causes real harm to the pets and the refusal is a violation of the Animal Cruelty Act. They should be recognized as animals that provide mental support to the evacuees and therefore the law enacted for guide dogs applies to them,” the appeal states.
Dani Shahar, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, supported the request and called on hoteliers in a letter to allow pets to live with the evacuated families.
“Past experience around the world shows that evacuating animals is the best way forward for national resilience, human and animal health and well-being,” he urged, and the majority of hoteliers actually ignored their own policies and allowed pets in their properties.
When asked what was the strangest thing he had to deal with during the Gaza war, Lior Raviv, CEO of Isrotel, replied in a recent podcast: “There are countless cases, but the special thing is that for the first time in the company’s history, we hosted hundreds of dogs. Suddenly we have a new type of guests that we did not know. We even opened a kind of dog-sitting department,” he said.
Is the war leading to an increase in the number of pet-friendly hotels?
“When the war started and we were hosting evacuees, we accepted their pets without hesitation, as we believe they are part of the biological family,” reveals David Tucker, General Manager of the Ramada by Wyndham Jerusalem Hotel and Honorary Chairman of the Jerusalem Hotel Association. “It was not easy at all to tolerate pets in the hotel premises, but we understood that this is part of a major crisis. We made sure that dogs must always be on a leash, barking dogs are never left alone, and entry to restaurants is prohibited. But once the war is over and hotels in Jerusalem resume their daily routine, they will also return to their core policies. Most of them are not pet-friendly, with the exception of service dogs.”
Itamar Elitzur, chairman of the Eilat Hotel Association, explains that the acceptance of pets in hotels during the war was due to the emergency situation, but that it created challenges. “In some cases, dogs were left alone in guest rooms for hours, causing unrest. Other guests’ fear of pets became apparent. Since most hotels in Eilat are in large, enclosed buildings, this was a problem. I cannot imagine any change in hotels’ pet-friendly policies once we return to normality. I am not aware of a single hotel so far that has changed its official pet policies.”
Raviv points out that Isrotel, with its 23 hotels, will certainly return to its pet-free accommodations.
“Is it because of the operational challenges you faced during the war?” I ask.
“The main reason is that hotel guests here are less likely to vacation with dogs. In the US, people are more open to animals because of the distances, as guests stay for relatively long periods of time. The hotel business model in Florida, for example, is suited to such a reality. In Israel, vacations are short and pet owners are interested in finding suitable short-term solutions for pets at home,” he explains.
There are also optimistic views. Atlas Hotels is an Israeli brand with 16 urban hotels and a family business co-founded by Danny Lipman, whose torch is carried today by his sons Yaron and Lior. This brand is exceptionally pet-friendly.
“It all started with our other co-founder, Leslie Adler, who came to work daily with his Labrador named Trixie,” says Vice President Yaron Lipman. “Most hoteliers have a conservative attitude towards pets, however, we see no obstacles. I can say with confidence that in most cases, dogs are better than humans. We have no problem hosting guests with pets, and we even provide the animals with beds and snacks. We have hosted thousands of pets over the years and the problems have been negligible. I am optimistic. During the war, hotels hosted evacuees with pets and found that the problems were minor. Although we are traditionally against it, this experience will be positive and more hotels will take up the challenge.”
In the US, pet-friendly hotels also made headlines during the COVID-19 crisis. Booking.com reported at the time of the pandemic that “the pet-friendly filter was the third most used filter in hotel amenities, after swimming pools and parking.”
“While the trend of pet-friendly hotels continues to grow in the US, the supply of such hotels in Israel remains limited,” says Eran Ketter, head of the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management at Kinneret College. “Showcasing a pet-friendly offering is an effective way for accommodations to differentiate themselves in the market, increase customer loyalty and boost revenue. However, what works well in the US does not necessarily work in Israel. Most hotel rooms here are in large buildings that do not have the necessary facilities to accommodate pets, unlike cabins and lodges in the US.”
“The Israeli clientele is not known for being compliant, and allowing pets into local hotels could add to the already high levels of chaos. Israelis are much more willing than Americans to leave their pets with family/friends or have a dog sitter come to their home, leading to lower demand.
“And finally, many hotels in Israel, especially in holiday destinations such as Eilat, are already at full capacity and do not have to worry about accommodating pets.”
When I ask Ketter to imagine the future of pet-friendly hotels here, he says, “Perhaps this is a trend that is just emerging, and if there are enough hotels in the Israeli market, demand will follow.”
The author is the editor of Travel Flash Tips.
Snoqualmie Fire Department appoints deputy chief
Kendrick Lamar’s music video “Not Like Us” could be Drake’s funeral
Florida plastic surgeon charged with death of wife during surgery
About The Author
