Humans aren't the only ones that enjoy the luxuries of a hotel stay. Dogs love them too! Petco is set to open four Pooch Hotels in 2012 after opening two others earlier this year.
"We have continued to open locations based on the fact that projected annual sales growth in pet boarding is expected to be 6 percent a year, with luxury boarding being a large and growing percentage of that," said Jason Michal, vice president of pet services and hospitality for Petco and Pooch Hotel, as quoted by Pet Product News.
According to The American Pet Products Association, pet owners will spend more than $4.1 billion on pet grooming and boarding this year. Due to this high demand to pamper pets, more pet hotels are opening around the country.
So far, Petco has five Pooch Hotels. There are two in Chicago, one in Sunnyvale, California, and brand new ones in Richardson, Texas and Los Angeles. Robin Tomb started The Pooch Hotel chain in 2004 in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago. The chain was then sold to Petco in 2011.
The hotels include amenities like dog-oriented TV channels, grassy play areas, an exercise pool, glass-door suites, web cameras, and 24-hour staffing.
"The boarding industry is very fragmented, with many operators having only one or two facilities, or operating in converted facilities that were not originally designed for boarding and day care," Michel said. "While you may find a hotel that offers Web cams to allow pet parents to watch their dogs while they're at work or on vacation, or televisions that allow the dogs to feel at home, or swimming pools, or treadmills to provide exercise, we typically offer all of those things under one roof."
The prices for a visit to one of the Pooch Hotels vary. At the Richardson location, day care rates start at $15 for half a day, $25 for one day and $374 for a 20-day pass. Boarding prices range from $45 to $85 depending on the type of doggy suite your furry friend stays in.
Even though the hotels are for dogs, they offer human amenities that are made to pamper your pooch.
"Pooch Hotels are staying abreast of the many humanization trends we are seeing in the pet spa industry," he noted. "This includes a focus in natural products, sustainable and environmentally conscious practices and materials, and even indulgent treatments such as blueberry facials, aromatic and purposeful offerings such as lavender and chamomile, and doggy pedicures."
There are plans to open even more Pooch Hotels next year, particularly in the East Coast.
"We believe that our target market exists within dense, upscale urban centers where we are either currently operating or plan to operate in the near future," Michel said.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
