FIVE-STAR TAUPŌ HOTEL OFFERING LUXURY GETAWAY FOR PAMPERED POOCHES

Covid has seen one of New Zealand’s oldest and grandest five-star luxury hotels let its rooms go to the dogs.

Hilton Lake Taupō, built in 1889, has become the global luxury hotel and resort brand’s first New Zealand site to welcome human guests and their furry friends for a ‘puppy playcation’.

The heritage hotel, located on Napier Road, has introduced a bespoke package for pooches who will be given pampered five-star treatment when they come to stay with their owners. Boutique hotel chain QT Hotels & Resorts made the same move with its hotels across New Zealand and Australia in 2020.

Selected dog friendly rooms have been decked out with a bed, food, water bowls, doggie treats, and a guide to dog friendly cafés, activities, walks and local pet services. Attention has also been given to bathroom facilities with a private area for dogs to utilise when nature calls.

The idea was the brainchild of hotel manager Tracey Poole, who took on her role after relocating from Shanghai in 2019 after more than a decade of working in the hospitality industry abroad.

“Globally, due to the pandemic a lot more people have been getting animals which have been very therapeutic for them, so I thought right now is the time,” she said.

“We started on November 1 and the packages have sold so well. We literally had dogs from day one which was very cool.

“So far we’ve had about 12 stay and the staff just love it when they come in.”

Poole said she was delighted to gain support from Hilton globally.

“Internationally luxury hotels are doing more to offer the same five-star experience to guests’ pets,” she said.

“Taupo is a very dog friendly destination with beautiful walks and cafés open to cater for them, however, there are only just a handful of accommodation providers which offer pet friendly options and we wanted to offer them the same experience that we do their owners.

“Although we are not yet in a position of offering these additional facilities, we have heard that internationally doggy staycations offer services such as doggy day spas, dog stylists or menus which can include handmade cakes and beef, salmon or chicken steaks personally made by the hotel chef for pets.

“One premium hotel even has dogs on staff who are referred to as canine ambassadors who greet both human and pet guests on arrival, maybe we can look at offering something like this in the future.”

She said feedback from guests had been nothing but positive.

“There has been nothing negative at all which is amazing, they have all been happy, so this is here to stay,” she said.

“We have a size limit, but it hasn’t been an issue so far so if someone has a big dog and approaches us we will assess it on a case by case basis.

“It is amazing how Hilton as a brand is acknowledging how animals and dogs in particular are helping support mental wellbeing [since the onset of the] pandemic. Staying in a hotel is joyful so it all becomes part of the wow factor people can experience with their dogs.”

Prices for dedicated dog friendly rooms, which are deep cleaned after each stay to ensure they are allergy free, start from $360. A $200 refundable service fee is also held upon check in to cover any damage or additional cleaning required.