I cannot begin to explain how amazing my experience was at the Texas Pet Sitters 2025 Conference Cruise. I loved every second of it, starting with my digital marketing retreat in Galveston, a birthday celebration for a few of our members the night before sailing, and a fabulous weekend on the water with 90 friends and colleagues. We celebrated the 10th Annual Texas Pet Sitters Conference through the Gulf right into Cozumel and back. And, we had so much fun in the process!
Our Speakers
Isabel Alvarez Arata, Covered in Pet Hair
I had the honor and privilege of emceeing this spectacular event once again. It was my third year as emcee and my first time at a conference on a cruise ship. I’m not gonna lie, I could get used to cruising professionally. If anybody is looking for a speaker or emcee on a cruise ship conference, sign me up!
I also had the pleasure of presenting two conference sessions this year. First, I discussed blogging for SEO. I then covered how engaging with media can help businesses be seen. I selected these topics because I believe they are crucial for local business presence and growth. One is digital marketing, and the other is local marketing, which together create a great opportunity for business owners who serve a specific location.
Janie Budnick, PetBizMBA
In addition to my presentations, Janie Budnick, Founder of 4-Legged Kids Inc., the PetBizHIVE podcast and the PetBizMBA membership and courses, presented three sessions. She discussed creating a seamless customer experience using her pet business technology, PetBizCRM, best practices when caring for pets in kidney failure, and a hands-on guide to caring for diabetic cats. Both of these sessions were thought-provoking and garnered lots of discussion from attendees. Members learned how technology can help streamline the pet business owner’s and clients’ user experience and we got to practice using insulin needles and other supplies that are common when caring for special needs pets.
Michelle Kline, DogCo Launch
Finally, Michelle Kline of DogCo Launch presented a fantastic discussion on the importance of building a company culture at all levels of a business. Michelle did a great job targeting her discussion to our diverse membership, from long-term solopreneurs to seven-figure business owners and everything in between. Her simple yet thoughtful presentation on the implications of culture and it’s benefits for growing pet care businesses got all of our wheels turning.
Our Attendees
As always the best part of the Texas Pet Sitters Conference is the attendees. As is usual, we had members from around the country, not just Texas. We had almost 10 members who have attended every single one of the Texas Pet Sitters Conferences – ten in total! We also had attendees that had never attended a Texas Pet Sitters Conference before. And, we had experienced cruisers and first-time cruisers too.
When all was said and done, attendees agreed that this conference was epic. From dining together with friends, the ease of a cruise ship experience, to sipping cocktails together in the jacuzzi, we all got to know each other better than ever before. Many of us ended up at the same beach retreat in Cozumel, and some of us even rode a banana boat together – a memory we shall not soon forget!
Our Cruise
I was so impressed with Galveston as a port city! I fell in love with its coastal cajun feel, excellent restaurants, and history. From mansion tours to seafood and dolphin sightings, Galveston is fun for the whole family. And that was just the port city!
The ship, Mariner of the Seas, was really wonderful. It has lots of dining options, slides, and activities for the adventurous among us, shopping, shows, live music, and more. We all enjoyed the cruise amenities and the meeting space, too. Many of us even attended the 80s night on the final night of the cruise. Then, we danced the night away at the lounge while the DJ played the latest tunes.
I am thankful to the Texas Pet Sitters Board of Directors for coming up with the idea of a cruise and to Stormy for putting it all together. They really knocked everything out of the park – from the conference room to the welcome gifts, t-shirts, and 10-year celebration cake, we couldn’t have asked for more!
The Texas Pet Sitters 2026 Conference
As you may have heard, the 2026 Texas Pet Sitters Conference will occur in Austin, Texas, from February 20 to 22, 2026. Registration is open, and hotels are available to book. Will you join us ‘deep in the heart of Texas?’ If so, you can check out registration here. If you attended in 2025, take advantage of your special rate through June 15th!
