Travelling with a pet—whether it’s a dog, cat, or even a parrot—is often a complicated endeavour. But thanks to Bauking, the startup launched by Italian Senator Michaela Biancofiore, this dream is about to become a reality for millions of pet parents. Inspired by her unconditional love for her 12-year-old pug, Puggy, who has accompanied her on adventures across the globe, Bauking is an innovative digital platform poised to revolutionise pet tourism. It aims to make travelling with animals not only possible but also comfortable, dignified, and stress-free.

Headquartered at Noitechpark in Bolzano, the startup is set to launch in May 2025—just in time to turn summer into a truly pet-friendly season. Bauking aspires to become a global point of reference for those who consider their pets full-fledged family members, as reported by Il Giornale, Alto Adige, and Corriere del Trentino.

The idea for Bauking was born from Senator Biancofiore’s deeply personal experience, having faced countless challenges traveling with Puggy to destinations like South Beach in Miami, Cuba, Marrakech, Saint Marteen, Malta, and New York. “Puggy is my baby, a balm for the heart—I could never leave her alone,” she told Il Giornale with emotion. Yet airline policies, which often only allow pets under 8 kg in the cabin and require carriers to be placed under the seat like regular luggage, made these trips a true ordeal, as highlighted by Alto Adige.

On top of that, finding accommodations, restaurants, beaches, museums, or parks that welcome animals without discrimination remains difficult—a problem noted by Corriere del Trentino. “It’s absurd that an animal with a passport, regularly vaccinated and certified, can’t have a seat next to their owner,” Biancofiore told Il Giornale. From this frustration, combined with entrepreneurial vision, came the idea to create a platform that breaks down barriers and turns the world into a pet-friendly place.

Bauking is not a traditional travel agency or tour operator, but rather an innovative e-commerce platform that allows users to plan and book every aspect of their trip with just a click, as reported by Alto Adige. The platform lets users organize their entire journey—from transportation (plane, train, cruise ship) to selecting hotels, restaurants, beach clubs, museums, theaters, and amusement parks that accept pets.

“It’s not just about finding a pet-friendly hotel,” Biancofiore told Corriere del Trentino, “but about ensuring that every step of the journey, from departure to arrival, is designed with the well-being of both the animal and its owner in mind.” Users will have access to detailed information on airlines with pet-friendly policies, such as the option to purchase a dedicated seat for their animal, and discover accommodations with specific services like equipped beaches or restaurants with designated pet areas.

Bauking will also offer added services such as downloadable forms for international travel, access to local veterinarians, and even bookings for grooming services—ensuring a worry-free vacation, as noted by Il Giornale. “We’re starting with transportation, which is the biggest hurdle, but our goal is to guarantee a perfect vacation, with every detail accounted for,” Biancofiore emphasized in Alto Adige.

Advertisement

The name Bauking—a playful nod to a well-known booking platform—is paired with catchy slogans like “Your trips with your pets, no stress” and “No pets, no parti,” the latter being a pun that emphasizes how there’s no real celebration without our pets, as Alto Adige pointed out.

Bauking’s mission is clear: to promote a culture where pets are recognized as sentient beings, with the right to travel with the same dignity as their owners. The platform distinguishes itself with an ethical approach that goes beyond a simple commercial service. “We want to abolish pet bans in public spaces and create a world where no one has to be separated from their four-legged companion,” Biancofiore stated in Il Giornale, envisioning a future where today’s restrictions are a thing of the past.

With operations based in Bolzano’s Noitechpark, Bauking pays tribute to the Senator’s homeland, Alto Adige—a region chosen for its strategic position as a gateway to Northern Europe, where the pet-friendly culture is more advanced, as Corriere del Trentino reports. The startup, officially recognized as innovative, has already attracted top-tier investors, closing an initial funding round of about €1 million, according to Il Giornale.

Among its shareholders are prominent names like Antonio Angelucci, Francesco Zaccariello, Cristian Trio, Guido Damiani, and the Podini brothers—Stefano, Giovanni, and Alex—of Bolzano Holding, all united by their love for animals, as described by Alto Adige. The platform’s digital development is led by Daniel Russo, founder of DNAFactory in Bacoli, while CEO Alberto De Simone, a telecommunications engineer, and CFO Cristiano Tarulli head a team of 30 developers, according to Corriere del Trentino. “I’ll pay taxes in Alto Adige to give back to the land that gave me everything,” Biancofiore proudly declared to Alto Adige, highlighting her deep connection to the region.

Pet tourism is a booming sector, with global investments expected to reach $370 billion by 2032, as noted by Alto Adige. In Italy alone, around four million families consider their pets integral family members. Yet logistical hurdles—such as transport restrictions and the lack of pet-friendly facilities—remain significant obstacles, Corriere del Trentino reports. Bauking aims to bridge this gap by not only facilitating travel but also driving a cultural shift that recognizes animals as full companions in life. “The platform will be a bible for those who never want to be separated from their pets,” Biancofiore told Il Giornale, imagining a world where pet bans in public spaces are a thing of the past.

Puggy, the muse behind Bauking, is a true globe-trotter. From South Beach stardom in Miami to adventures in Cuba, Marrakech, and New York, she has braved the challenges of a system still unwelcoming to animals, as recounted by Alto Adige. Biancofiore recalls the most memorable trip to Cuba in 2014, where finding a hotel that would accept Puggy was nearly impossible. Their next destination: Dubai—a country now opening its doors to pet tourism, according to Corriere del Trentino.

With Bauking, summer 2025 is shaping up to be the first season in which Italian pet parents can travel worry-free, knowing they have a platform that meets all their needs, as announced in Il Giornale.

Bauking is more than a startup—it’s a cultural and entrepreneurial revolution that will change the way we travel with our animals. It’s a project born from the heart, as Biancofiore emphasized in Corriere del Trentino, inspired by her beloved Puggy to create a more inclusive world. As the slogan says: “No pets, no parti.” Because without our four-legged companions—what kind of celebration is it, really? With Bauking, travel becomes a shared joy—a right for all, humans and animals alike, ready to explore the world together.

Share this article:

Adblock test (Why?)