DEREK PICOT A HOTELIER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND AUTHOR OF THE HOTEL DETECTIVE AND HIS LOVER
Guests at Giraffe Manor, a 1930s luxury boutique hotel near Nairobi in Kenya, have long appreciated its famous resident herd of Rothschild's giraffes. While diners browse the breakfast menu, giraffes pop their heads into the restaurant through large windows to see what delights are on the buffet.
Welcoming animals inside properties has historically not been quite so popular. But pampered pooches, fussed-over felines and one or two other unusual travelling companions are increasingly appearing in some of the most upmarket hotels.
Pet passports and revised policies by airlines and train providers have made it easier than ever for people to travel with their four-legged friends. And after the years of lockdown and working from home, the number of business travellers with pets they can't leave behind has also increased.
As a result, the hospitality industry is looking afresh at animal opportunities, with specialised travel agencies including them in their programmes and hoteliers scrambling to accommodate their new guests with dog baskets, dog menus, Dogalize Maps for nearby strolls and even doggy daycare centres.
CREATURE COMFORTS
Bu hikaye Business Traveller UK dergisinin March 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Business Traveller UK dergisinin March 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
The rail thing - Why airlines and train companies are partnering to increase options for travellers on short journeys
An intercity flight connection operated by train would have been almost unthinkable in the early 1990s, but in 2024 it will increasingly be the default experience at many European hub airports. European nations have been among the world's leaders in adopting high-speed rail for short-distance trips, along with Asian countries such as Japan and China.
Adventures in Albania - From paranoid dictatorship to dream travel destination, why the Balkan nation is ready for its moment in the sun
Over the past few years, tourism has shot up stratospherically; recent figures from the European Travel Commission show it's grown 86 per cent since 2019. Its GDP per capita has also been increasing, and last year stood at US$8,800, while the average monthly salary is now around 84,000 lek (£704). Foreign direct investment is also on the rise, with countries including Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands targeting sectors such as energy, mining, information and real estate to a value of around US$1.5 billion in 2022, according to UNCTAD's World Investment Report. Not bad for a country which used to depend on foreign food aid.
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