Everything is included: by 2030, the number of pet-friendly establishments in Russia will double

The number of pet-friendly establishments in Russia may grow several times in the coming years, Izvestia has learned. This is due to an increase in demand from customers with pets and the expansion of companies' expertise in serving this audience, experts say. However, at the beginning of 2026, the penetration rate of the pet-friendly concept into the hospitality industry (HoReCa) remains low — less than 2% among hotels and about 3% among restaurants, according to the branding company Depot. Why Russians are increasingly taking pets to restaurants and travel, as well as how this trend is changing the service — in the Izvestia article.

Why restaurants and hotels are not ready for guests with pets yet

By 2030, the share of hotels loyal to pet-friendly guests may reach 8%, and restaurants — 6%, predicts the consulting company Guestmate. At the beginning of 2026, the penetration rate of the concept among Russian hotels is less than 2%, cafes and restaurants - less than 3% (in Moscow and St. Petersburg — about 5%), the Depot branding agency calculated for Izvestia. The assessment took into account data from cartographic services, collections and profile platforms — Four Paws and Dog Friendly Map (25 thousand establishments throughout Russia), at least 80-120 objects were analyzed in each category. Thus, in four years, the number of pet—friendly hotels will grow fourfold, and cafes and restaurants will double.

Photo: Global Look Press/Sebastien Courdji

So far, not all representatives of the hospitality industry are ready to receive guests with pets, admits the representative of Azimut Hotels. This is due to the operational specifics of the business, explains Natalia Isaeva, PR Director of the Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) in Russia. The pet-friendly concept requires adaptation of service standards, infrastructure, and cleaning processes. For example, it is necessary to pay more attention to cleaning furniture and carpets, and use hypoallergenic products, the representative of Azimut Hotels notes. According to him, not every hotel will allocate additional budgets for this.

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The willingness of hotels and restaurants to receive guests with pets is influenced by regulatory restrictions and management uncertainty, says Guestmate co-founder Elena Ismagilova. According to her, not all establishments are well-versed in the sanitary requirements and legal aspects of animal accommodation. Historically, restaurant and hotel owners have focused more on the "safe" family segment without pets, the expert stated.

Photo: Global Look Press/Kristin Schmidt

The situation is aggravated by the lack of managerial expertise in this area, Elena Ismagilova added. There are still few ready‑made standards and practices on the domestic market that make it possible to integrate the pet-friendly concept into the overall product strategy without turning it into a point-based "on-demand option". In some cases, it is the inability to travel with a pet that causes the cancellation of the trip, she noted. At the same time, in practice, the development of this area is justified: efforts pay off by increasing the loyalty of guests, the representative of Azimut Hotels emphasized.

Why are there more customers with animals

The growing interest in the pet‑friendly concept is related to the coronavirus pandemic, Elena Ismagilova believes. According to her, during this period, many Russians got pets: for some it became an emotional support, for others it was an opportunity to go out for walks more often during restrictions. According to a November VTsIOM survey, 70% of Russians have one or more pets.

More and more people perceive animals as part of the family and want to spend time with them outside the home — in cafes, restaurants and hotels, explains Natalia Isaeva. The largest increase in demand is recorded in the segment of domestic tourism and short trips, adds Alexander Biba, President of Cosmos Hotel Group. A representative of Azimut Hotels confirms that the share of guests with pets in his network already accounts for 3-5% of total traffic, whereas five years ago there were less than 1% of such guests.

Photo: Global Look Press/Sven Hoppe

According to RHG's internal research, more than 50% of guests prefer to travel with pets instead of friends or relatives, and 78% of guests with pets travel annually.

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Among the reasons are concerns about property and possible allergies.

The most widespread pet‑friendly service is observed in large cities, especially in Moscow, Natalie Dmitrenko, co-owner of the Honest Fish restaurant chain, told Izvestia. According to her, this practice is becoming the new norm: many guests enter the establishments after walking their dog to drink coffee or meet friends. Usually clients come with small breeds, but there are also larger ones — shiba Inu, Akita Inu, Husky, Great Dane. In restaurants, animals are allowed, provided that they are well-mannered and behave calmly in the hall.

How does a business respond to consumer demand

The growing number of pet customers is forcing businesses to rethink their development strategies based on this audience. Azimut Hotels, according to a company representative, provides special rooms with enhanced cleaning and a welcome kit for pets. When designing new country hotels, the company also lays sites for walking animals.

Photo: TASS/Ilya Moskovets

In Cosmos Hotel Group, the possibility of staying with pets is provided in 21 of the 44 hotels, notes Alexander Biba. When launching this program, the interest of both guests with animals and those who rest without them was taken into account. The Radisson Hotel Group operates the Rad Pets system, says Natalia Isaeva. In 2025, the program was updated jointly with Valta Pet Products, which allowed for a 20% increase in pet bookings compared to 2024.

The global pet‑friendly market in the hotel business amounted to $4.6 billion last year, the analytical company Future Market Report estimates. According to the forecast, by 2029, its volume will grow 1.6 times to $7.29 billion. In the restaurant segment, the market will increase 1.7 times and reach $15.1 billion by 2032, Market Research Consulting estimates.