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Corporate Keys Expands Pet-Friendly Accommodation Options Nationwide as Pet Travel Surges

Melbourne, Australia – October 2026

Corporate Keys has expanded its pet-friendly accommodation options across its Corporate Keys and Boutique Apartments brands, as well as its Residences network, responding to significant growth in pet ownership and the increasing number of Australians travelling and relocating with their pets.

The Corporate Keys website now allows clients to search specifically for pet-friendly accommodation across Australia and New Zealand, making it easier for corporate travellers, relocating families and extended-stay guests to find accommodation that welcomes dogs and, at selected properties, cats.

Australia’s pet population has continued to grow well beyond the pandemic-era surge. According to Animal Medicines Australia’s Pets in Australia 2025 report, Australia is now home to an estimated 31.6 million pets across 7.7 million households, with 73% of Australian households owning at least one pet. This compares with 69% in 2022 and just 61% in 2019.

Dogs remain Australia’s most popular pet, with approximately 7.4 million dogs nationwide and almost half (49%) of Australian households owning at least one dog. Cats are found in around 34% of households, representing approximately 5.8 million cats nationally.

The way Australians travel with their pets is also changing rapidly. Virgin Australia launched Australia’s first Pets in Cabin service in October 2025, initially between Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Strong demand has since seen the network expand, with more than 2,000 small dogs and cats having travelled in the cabin with their owners since the service commenced. Virgin Australia has subsequently added Adelaide services and announced Cairns–Melbourne flights commencing in October 2026.

The increased ability for Australians to fly interstate with their pets is expected to further increase demand for pet-friendly accommodation, particularly among people relocating interstate, travelling for extended work assignments or taking longer holidays.

Bruno Torres, Director of Sales at Corporate Keys, said:

“Pets are an essential part of the family for millions of Australians, and increasingly people simply don’t want to leave them behind when they travel or relocate interstate.

“We are seeing the barriers to travelling with pets gradually disappear. Virgin Australia allowing small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin is a significant change for the Australian travel market. More than 2,000 pets have already flown with their owners since the service launched, demonstrating there is genuine demand for people to travel with their pets.

“For Corporate Keys, this is particularly relevant because many of our guests are relocating interstate or staying for weeks or months at a time. If someone is relocating from Melbourne to the Gold Coast, Adelaide or another city for several months, being able to bring their pet with them makes pet-friendly accommodation a much more important part of their decision.

“We also recognise that traditional hotel pet fees can become extremely expensive during an extended stay. While some accommodation providers charge daily pet fees, we have introduced a flat $49 per week pet fee for stays of four weeks or longer at our The Hamptons Apartments and Manhattan Apartments hotel-branded properties. This makes travelling or relocating with a pet significantly more affordable for longer-stay guests.

“With 73% of Australian households now owning a pet, pet-friendly accommodation is no longer a niche requirement. It is becoming an important consideration for a very large proportion of the travelling Australian population, and we expect demand to continue increasing as travelling with pets becomes easier.”

Corporate Keys expects pet-friendly accommodation to become increasingly important across the corporate travel and relocation sectors as employers, relocation companies and accommodation providers adapt to the changing needs of Australian households.

For more information or to book pet-friendly accommodation, visit:

https://www.corporatekeysaustralia.com.au/melbourne-pet-friendly-accommodation/

About Corporate Keys Group

Corporate Keys Group is a leading provider of fully furnished apartments and serviced accommodation, specialising in corporate travel, executive accommodation, relocation and extended stays. With a diverse portfolio across Australia and New Zealand, Corporate Keys Group provides flexible, fully furnished accommodation solutions for corporate and leisure travellers.