The dog and cat ambassadors at luxury hotels and resorts make a career of being cute
- Animal ambassadors are boosting the brands, and social media engagement, of hotels and resorts around the world. How can guests resist their charms?
- Mia is a jungle cat who’s perfect for Jaiyen Eco Resort, in Thailand, while Archie the English bulldog is a fixture at The Lowell, in New York
Haru was one of the Hyatt Regency Hakone hotel’s most loved members of staff. The black Labrador was the first “resident dog” at any Hyatt property, and greeted guests in the lobby of the Japanese hotel. He wore a staff name badge pinned to a scarf in the hotel’s colours – and has proven irreplaceable.
“Haru was retired from his role in 2018 and passed away peacefully last year,” says Angelina Hue, Hyatt’s director of brand marketing and communications, Asia Pacific. “He was very popular and loved by our colleagues and our guests, so the decision was made to not replace his role.”
Since Haru first wagged his tail in welcome, the Hyatt group has recruited resident dogs at more of its properties, including in Melbourne and Chicago, and many other hoteliers around the world have found themselves with canine as well as feline members of staff – by design or accident.
Some are the pets of owners and managers, while some have been recruited specifically for front-of-house duties. Others are strays that have been given a comfy home.
On the Gili Islands, off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia, several hotels have taken in animals, some working with the Cats of Gili welfare charity. The Persona Beach resort, in Gili Trawangan, has six island cats in residence, for instance.
“They have chosen us and we keep them healthy,” says manager Alissa Klem. “Our guests love them; we even have pictures of the cats at our receptions so guests can learn their names.”
