Imagine the mental message you will send when instead of a property being listed as “No Pets,” that restriction is lifted and shifted to “Pet-Friendly.”

Vacation packages are very commonly sold at benefits. They vary from exotic trips overseas to a week in Napa, a week on Cape Cod, a week at a private lake home, or to a quick weekend at a local resort town or B&B. These are great ways to make money as most Americans plan some sort of vacation/getaway each year—and many of them have family pets. 

Most travel packages and properties will have some sort of restrictions or qualifications attached to them. These include dates the package is available, number of people, what amenities are available, smoking or not smoking, etc. Your buyers expect these and will review them before purchase. As the event organizer you must understand them and make sure your potential buyers do, too. If you don’t see restrictions listed, circle back with the donor and ask if there are any. It’s all about transparency and making your donor’s experience as good as it can possibly be. 

So, what about the pets?

One package option that can help you make money is assuring that it is pet-friendly. And when I say pet I mean dog friendly. Dog lovers really love their dogs! (I know this because I include myself in this category!) For many folks, their dog is a full-fledged member of the family. Previously, we dog lovers were left to kenneling our beloved hounds, or finding a family member or friend to take them in while we were away. Imagine the mental message you will send when instead of a property being listed as “No Pets,” that restriction is lifted and shifted to “Pet-Friendly.”

Here’s an example. At a recent auction I was selling a week at a private lake home. The bidding was going well but stalled out. I then mentioned that the winning bidder was welcome to bring his/her dog. The bidding rebooted with new bidders and then shot up, doubling the original stalling point. 

This is a win-win-win. Your pet owners will feel taken care, you’ll have the capability of making more money for your cause, and Fido? His tail is already wagging!