Mars Inc. Partners with Tripadvisor to Enhance Pet-Friendly Travel Experience

Mars Inc. and Tripadvisor Partner to Create Pet-Friendly Travel Experience

In an exciting collaboration, Mars Inc. has announced a partnership with Tripadvisor to launch a new initiative in the U.S. market, with plans for global expansion in the future. The partnership aims to create a pet-friendly travel experience for consumers and businesses alike.

Through a co-branded digital hub, consumers will be inspired by and connected to pet-friendly communities across Tripadvisor’s platform. Businesses will also be encouraged to realize the cultural, well-being, and financial benefits of becoming pet-friendly. Despite the fact that 73% of U.S. Tripadvisor users own pets, less than 1% of U.S. restaurants listed on Tripadvisor are currently pet-friendly, highlighting the need for more pet-friendly businesses.

This collaboration aligns with Mars Petcare’s broader purpose of creating a better world for pets and the CESAR brand’s commitment to making the world a more dog-friendly place. The partnership represents a significant investment from Mars to accelerate the digital transformation of its pet nutrition business to meet the needs of the increasingly “always-connected” pet parent.

Natalia Ball, global chief growth officer of Mars Pet Nutrition, expressed the company’s dedication to becoming the most digitally enabled, pet parent-centric organization. She emphasized the importance of collaborating with innovators like Tripadvisor to transform the pet parent experience and support pet parent communities.

The partnership aims to address the challenges faced by pet owners when traveling with their pets. Research shows that pet travel is a highly searched topic, with pet parents altering travel plans due to the difficulty of traveling with pets. The partnership will use digital technology to connect consumers with pet-friendly options, ensuring a better travel experience for pets, their parents, and businesses that support them.

Key features of the partnership include a new consumer hub offering pet-friendly travel resources, city guides developed in partnership with CESAR, and a hub for businesses to discover the benefits of welcoming pets. Additionally, a new Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award category for Pet-Friendly Hotels has been introduced.

Christine Maguire, global vice president of Sales & Partnerships at Tripadvisor, highlighted the importance of supporting pet-friendly businesses and streamlining the travel experience for pet owners. The partnership aims to help travelers create lifelong memories with their pets while encouraging the growth of pet-friendly businesses.

Mars Petcare is recognized as the world’s leading pet food company, with nearly 50 pet food brands under its umbrella. The company also owns emergency and specialty veterinary care clinics, animal hospitals, and other pet-related businesses.