1. FRONT DESK››››››››››
14 LODGINGMAG A ZINE.COM SEPTEMBER 2015
FOR AN INCREASING NUMBER of
Americans, leaving behind their furry
friends when traveling is no longer an
option. The American Pet Products
Association estimates that Americans
will spend more than $60.5 billion on
their pets in 2015. In addition, the 2015-
2016 National Pet Owners Survey found
that 37 percent of owners are taking
their dogs along on vacation. It is not a
surprise that an increasing amount of
that revenue is pouring into pet-friend-
ly lodging and accommodations; after
all, these critters are part of the family,
and they deserve a getaway, too.
Pet Smart
FURRY FRIENDS OFFER HOTEL PROPERTIES A
SOLID SOURCE OF REVENUE BY SARAH BERGEN
Q U I C K TA K E
SLATE Hotel is a 3D immersive virtual simulation that
takes players through the many responsibilities of a
hotel GM. (The name stands for Strategic Learning
and Training Experience.) Players make strategic
decisions in the areas of front desk operations,
sales and marketing, F&B, accounting, human
resources, and risk management. The American
Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute offers free
access to the first two levels of the simulation,
as well as discounted pricing for the complete,
eight-level program.
FRESH INC
Many hotel properties have tuned
into this trend and are getting a leg up
on the competition by opening their
doors to both guests and their pets. “Pet
owners in the United States are now
regularly bringing their pets along on
family vacations, weekend getaways,
and even business trips,” explains
pet travel expert and founder of a
pet-friendly travel company, BringFido,
Melissa Halliburton. “Pet fees can be
particularly profitable for hotels, gener-
ally boosting room night revenue by 20
to 30 percent. And add-on services, like
pet items in mini-bars and snack shops,
can add even more to the bottom line.”
Since founding BringFido 10 years
ago, Halliburton has seen firsthand the
capital benefits of a hospitality environ-
ment that welcomes pets. She has also found a
way to capitalize on this trend by offering ser-
vices such as the Dog Treat Delivery Program,
which provides hotels with fresh, quality treats.
Transitioning into a pet-friendly hotel comes
with logistical challenges, but many locations
are minimizing renovations by designating one
floor for guests with pets. Pet-friendly guestroom
updates include hard surface flooring and play
areas. “Hoteliers will always need to balance
the needs of dog lovers and non-pet owners,”
Halliburton says. “Not every guest will be happy
to see a pet strolling through the lobby, but most
brands have found a way to accommodate every-
one—and those are the brands seeing the profits.”
NOT
TO MISS
Top five overlooked
tasks when cleaning an
on-change room
BY WILLIAM D. FRYE, PH.D., CHE
When room attendants are centrally
focused on cleaning the more visible
living areas of the guestrooms, some
items may go overlooked:
Lighting. Turn on every light to
ascertain if any bulbs need to be
replaced or if a lamp has been
unplugged by a previous guest.
Television and remote control.
Clean the TV screen with a dry dust
rag, and sanitize the remote control
with disinfectant. Test the remote to
ensure the TV turns on and off.
Alarm clock. Ensure the clock is
plugged in and operational with the
correct time. Deactivate the alarm so
it won’t go off in an unoccupied room.
Seat cushions, mattress, and bed
frame. Inspect removable sofa or
armchair seat cushions for stains
or damage, and clean or replace as
needed. Cautiously inspect between
cushions, between the mattress and
box spring, and under the bed frame
for misplaced or dangerous objects.
Drawers, closets, refrigerators,
and microwaves. Open drawers
to look for trash or misplaced guest
items and wipe them clean. Inspect
the closet and remove any non-
hotel hangers. Check refrigerators,
mini-bars, and microwaves for
abandoned items or trash and clean
as appropriate.
n Dr. William D. Frye is an associate
professor in the College of Hospitality
and Tourism Management at Niagara
University and coauthor of AHLEI’s
housekeeping textbook Managing
Housekeeping Operations.
GOOD
HOUSEKEEPING