Kimpton Hotels: A Pet-friendly Profile

(This is the first in a continuing series of articles that will highlight particularly pet-friendly hotels and lodgings, offering an in-depth look at their accommodations, amenities and corporate philosophy with regard to accepting animals.)

When you think “pet-friendly hotels,” do middle-of-the-road lodgings come to mind—accommodations
that are decent and comfortable but never luxurious? Are you resigned to the fact that you have to
forgo high-end ambiance if you’re going to travel with your pet? Well, if so, think again. San Francisco-based
Kimpton Hotels is a collection of boutique properties that will truly welcome you and your favorite animal
without the restrictive policies or additional fees you might expect from such an exclusive brand.

Offering a unique combination of innovative programs and pet-friendly amenities, Kimpton gives new meaning to the phrase “creature comforts.” As soon as you step into one of their beautiful hotels, you’ll realize that they didn’t just jump on the pet-friendly bandwagon—reluctantly accepting cats and dogs to increase their market share. On the contrary, Kimpton takes their pets very seriously (as well as with a creative sense of humor) and they play an important role in their progressive and humanitarian approach to guest care.

“We have always respected the emotional connection between pets and their human companions and know that taking your pet with you on the road can create a more memorable travel experience,” said Steve Pinetti, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. “Our creative packages and complimentary amenities add value to each guest’s hotel stay and ultimately set the stage for stress-free pet travel.”

Since the company’s inception in 1981, Kimpton has been host to many unique pet guests from a pet Iguana named “Slim,” at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, to contestants for the Westminster Kennel Club competition at 70 park avenue hotel in New York. Other unusual pet guests have included an aardvark, an albino kangaroo, an anteater, an armadillo, a bear, a condor, a baby cougar, a flamingo, an ibises, a lemur, penguins, a sloth, and a warthog.

All of Kimpton’s 50 unique hotels offer a host of various pet packages and freebies. Their knowledgeable staff
can also provide guests with the inside scoop about nearby parks, dog sitting, walking and grooming, as well as other pet-friendly services and venues. Some of the hotels even employ four-legged “Directors of Pet Relations” who welcome guests with an enthusiastic wag, leaving no doubt about Kimpton’s respect for and dedication to animals.

Over this holiday season, many of the hotels will be offering a Santa Paws Furry Photo Op where your pet can be snapped up-close and personal with the jolly fat man himself. Some of the other inspired pet packages at Kimpton Hotels include:

• Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge offers a package including a doggie bed or scratching post for cats. Both cats and dogs receive a basket of gourmet treats and cozy fleece blanket. Animals celebrating a birthday will also receive a cake from Polka Dog Bakery.
• Four-legged guests at Hotel Allegro in Chicago receive star treatment with a bed, food and water bowls, plus a “sWAG bag” including water, snacks, and a keepsake leash. Human companions receive a copy of Dog Massage: A Whiskers-to-Tail Guide to Your Dog’s Ultimate Petting Experience. $5 per reservation is also donated to the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago.
• New York bound dogs can take Manhattan in style at 70 park avenue hotel by booking the pet package including a stylish doggie bed, basket with treats and toys, dog umbrella, logo dog bone, and for ultimate pampering – a doggie manicure and pedicure.
• At the EPIC Hotel in Miami, beyond the necessities like a pet bed, bowls and chew toys, dogs and their human companions also receive a stuffed toy welcome gift, plus a choice of two of the following services: “Pawdicure & Shampoo” treatment, one hour of daily play time, one hour of dog walking at Flamingo Bark Park, or massage for two humans. Companions also receive continental breakfast for two in the restaurant daily.

And if you ever have to travel without your pet, Kimpton still has you covered with its Guppy Love program.
Guests staying at any one of the 22 participating hotels can request a live goldfish to stay overnight in their
room. While it might not replace the companionship of your own animal, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Kimpton has done their research and found that watching colorful fish swim gracefully to-and-fro actually calms nerves, reduces anxiety and lowers blood pressure, making our fine-finned friends ideal in-room companions. And you never have to worry about caring for your goldfish because the hotel staff is on-hand for daily feedings and care, allowing travelers the opportunity to enjoy stress-free bonding throughout their stay.

With luxurious accommodations, unparalleled openness and fun and unique animal amenities, Kimpton is an inspired choice for a fantastic, upscale lodging experience for your extended human—and non-human–family. Be sure to check our dedicated database of Kimpton Hotels to find one at your next destination.