Experts say the domesticated dog has been around for about 12,000 years. The domesticated cat? About 10,000 years. (Why did it take dogs longer? Insert your own joke here.) For as long as guest lodging has been around there have been cats and dogs accompanying travelers.
In recent history, dogs and cats have not always been welcome in hotels and resorts and for good reasons—of course the extra cleaning and maintenance being high on the list. In fact, according to the 2018 Lodging Survey, only 56 percent of participants said they allow pets. A good portion of those that do wisely charge an extra fee.
I thought about canines and felines this past week for a couple of reasons. First, the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, a luxury resort located in Santa Ana, N.M., announced its new “Compassionate Pet Leave” benefit for employees. Second, Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile, a pet-centric, 40-room lodging option in Kanab, Utah, announced that it will open its doors to travelers—and their pets—on August 15, 2019. The new hotel is owned and operated by Best Friends Animal Society. The animal welfare organization does outreach nationwide with shelters, rescue groups and members to promote pet adoption, no-kill animal rescue, and spay-and-neuter practices.
‘Compassionate Pet Leave’
At the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, the new “Compassionate Pet Leave” benefit provides employees with paid leave in the event of a loss of a beloved pet. The benefit will be available to both full and part-time members of the team and will support one day of paid compassionate leave for the loss of a pet.
Last year, the resort rolled out a “Pawternity Leave” benefit for employees. Through the program, Tamaya team members who adopt a rescue dog or cat are eligible to receive two paid days off in order to spend the time acclimating their pet to its new home.
“As a pet friendly property, we know that losing a pet can be an extremely difficult time, and our new compassionate pet leave benefit will provide our team members with extra support during the grieving process,” says Jolene Mauer, Marketing Manager at Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa.
For guests traveling with their dogs, the resort features several pet-friendly amenities. Guests receive a goody bag upon check-in that includes a dog bed, chef created treats, Hyatt-branded dog toys, and more. First floor rooms are also available that open to grassy areas designed for dogs to enjoy, as well as several nearby hiking trails.
Easy Access to Nearby Pet Sanctuary
At the Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile, complimentary shuttle transportation will be provided to and from the organization’s nearby Sanctuary. There will be organized Best Friends member activities, including volunteer opportunities and pet sleepovers. Revenue from the Roadhouse will support Best Friends’ efforts to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats).
The Roadhouse features 30 regular rooms, eight suites, and two two-level suites, while the Mercantile houses reception, a common area space for guests, a complimentary vegan continental breakfast bar, and retail that includes Best Friends and Roadhouse branded merchandise as well as vegan grab-and-go items, beer, and wine.
Pet-friendly features include guestrooms outfitted with special fabrics and materials, pet introduction doors—a two-door entry that ensures the pet will not slip out, room furnishings built 18 inches or higher to avoid pet entrapment or accidents, nooks for sleeping featuring pet mattress, as well as communal complimentary pet washing stations and fenced-in park with a water feature, and pet walking services and sitting, upon arrangement.
“Every year more than 30,000 travelers visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary,” said Brooks Bradbury, Director of Hospitality, Best Friends Animal Society. “These visitors need a lodging complex that will cater not only to them but pets, too, including those who travel with their own furry companions and others who might be considering adopting from our Sanctuary.”
Congratulations to the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa and Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile for being both pet and human friendly.
Got a hotel/pet story to tell? Write to editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
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