Kimpton adds more perks for pet guests with new partnership – claim your free dog walk

Before the pandemic, there were millions of pet owners who wouldn't hit the road without their pets. In the most recent National Pet Owners Survey from the American Pet Products Association, 25 million dog owners reported stays at pet-friendly hotels.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports 23 million American households added a pet to the family during the pandemic. As a result, now even more people will want to take their pets with them when they travel for work or play.

With numbers like that, it's no surprise that the number of hotels offering a pet-friendly stay has increased as well. However, the definition of pet-friendly often means pets are welcome, but only if their owners cough up a nonrefundable fee that can sometimes top $100 a night.

Not so with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants (under the IHG Rewards program). It remains one of the most pet-friendly brands. According to the company's website, its 65-plus U.S. properties welcome "your furry, feathery or scaly family member – no matter their size, weight or breed, at no extra charge."

Visiting pets receive treats, as well as complimentary loaner beds, water bowls, mats and other goodies. Their owners get a list of nearby pet-friendly restaurants, parks, groomers and pet boutiques. Additionally, pet guests are welcome to attend the brand's nightly wine receptions with their owners.

Kimpton is now expanding its pet-friendly program by adding a partnership with Wag!, a mobile platform that connects pet owners with professional pet caregivers in communities throughout the country. Through the KimptonXWag! program, hotel guests can book walks or drop-ins (check-in visits) for their pets.

Related: Your pet travel primer: Answering questions about vaccination records, EU pet passports and how to find dog-friendly restaurants

To kick off the new program, Kimpton will gift 1,000 free 20-minute services (either walks or drop-ins) to guests staying at one of the brand's participating properties. To receive one of the free walks (available while supplies last), ask for a discount code via social media at @Kimpton on Twitter or Instagram.

In addition to the free walks or drop-ins, Kimpton is giving all guests access to one free month of Wag! Premium with every stay. Through that program, guests are eligible for 10% off every pet service booked, waived booking fees and round-the-clock access to advice from credentialed veterinary professionals.

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To celebrate the new partnership, KimptonXWag! also released a limited-edition hooded dog bathrobe, inspired by Kimpton's signature robe collection. The robes come in three sizes and are embroidered with a custom KimptonXWag! patch. You can buy your good dog a robe for $35.

Kimpton has been creative this year with its promotional perks – extending two key ones to employees as well as guests. In February, the brand offered 1,000 complimentary live video therapy sessions to guests to announce a partnership with Talkspace, an online behavioral health care company. The promotion, which offers $100 off the first month of any Talkspace plan for guests, runs through December. It also includes a free one-year subscription to Talkspace for all eligible company workers, from front-line employees to managers.

Related: What you need to know about traveling with dogs on a plane, including where they can sit and how much it costs

"For these two brand partnerships, Talkspace and Wag, we took a look at important topics that emerged out of the pandemic and were well within our wheelhouse to impact our guests' experiences for the better," Kathleen Reidenbach, chief commercial officer at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, told TPG via email.

Reidenbach shared that so far, 500 of the 1,000 complimentary Talkspace therapy sessions have been distributed and more than 100 employees have signed up for the benefit.

As for the Wag! partnership, "[It] allows us to provide additional benefits to our employees and take some of the stress off our guests, allowing them to enjoy their stay while ensuring their pets get all the attention they need on the road," she said.