Paw-some adventures: The rise of pet travel influencers redefining wanderlust

Memorabilia holds a significant importance in every trip, but Shannon Dye’s weekend visit to Delray Beach, Florida more than ten years ago resulted in an unexpected addition to her family. While exploring the area with her sister, they stumbled upon a charming French Bulldog puppy that quickly captured their hearts. Dye’s sister decided to gift her the lovable pup, christened Lola the Terrible, which marked the beginning of their joint adventures, writes the website  „Thrillist“.

From the very start, Dye and Lola have become integral members of a growing community of pet travel influencers who are gaining popularity on social media with their escapades. With a fan base of over 20,000 on Instagram, Lola collaborates with destination marketing organizations and hotel brands, showcasing her delightful personality and fashionable outfits to attract followers. What initially began with short trips to meet other French Bulldogs has now transformed into road trips across Florida to connect with friends they made on Instagram. ‘Lola adores road trips, often snoozing while I take the wheel,’ Dye shares.

Lola’s adventures have also included some romantic encounters, like the time she met Gomi, a pet influencer based in Miami, at his first birthday bash. ‘It was love at first sight for both of them,’ reminisces Dye. ‘They became an Instagram couple and are still in a ‘long distance paw-lationship’—it’s a real thing.’

Influencer marketing, a rapidly expanding industry projected to surpass $24 million by the end of the year, has leveraged the appeal of pet travel influencers such as Lola. With 40% of Americans following influencers, particularly influencing younger users in their purchasing decisions and travel choices, pet travel influencers are leading the way. This trend mirrors Americans’ profound affection for their pets, contributing to a $140 billion industry annually.

Erin Geldermans has a similar tale with her cat, Liebchen, whom she adopted in 2020. Recognizing his innate love for travel and natural attraction to online audiences, Geldermans began sharing his adventures on Instagram without anticipating the subsequent fame. ‘It all started as a fun pastime and has now become my livelihood,’ she mentions. Managing Liebchen’s account and partnerships with multiple brands has proven to be unexpectedly rewarding.

Traveling internationally with pets demands thorough planning and documentation, as Liebchen gets ready for his inaugural journey to Switzerland. Reflecting on their journeys, Jenny Hart and her cat Rajah encounter similar obstacles, narrating their adventures on Instagram. Jennifer Dombrowski educates followers about pet-friendly travel through her Samoyed, Coco, who frequently embarks on trips across the European Union.

Finding pet-friendly accommodations can be challenging, with Dye and Lola endorsing genuinely pet-welcoming hotels like Tradewinds Island Resorts and Lowe’s Sapphire Falls Resort. Yet, identifying cat-friendly accommodations presents additional hurdles. Influencers like Mavi, a renowned SurferCat from Netflix, have popularized tips for discovering cat-friendly hotels, advocating for spaces that allow pets to freely explore.

With the rise of these emerging influencers, their refreshing takes on merging travel with pet companionship is striking a chord with those looking for fresh vacation spots. Geldermans finds that sharing Liebchen’s journeys not only inspires others but also fosters a sense of belonging within her online community. She notes, “The idea of traveling with your pet is incredibly appealing. We cherish them deeply and dislike being apart from them.”