Pulse May 2016 | Page 54

Dog Butlers at The Spa at Las Ventanas offer pet owners on vacation valuable customer service, taking care of daily walks with pets, giving special dog massages and creating tailor-made menus for the hotel's furry guests. “The ‘Dog Butler’ amenity was launched when we reopened last summer, and we've found that it makes the vacation experience more relaxing and luxurious for pet owners.” — FREDERIC VIDAL select shelters, rescues and nonprofit organizations. “In our first month of launch, we have raised enough funds to fulfill wish lists from four shelters in Texas, Georgia, Florida and Nevada. We are carrying our donation book, just as we would any other FarmHouse Fresh product, and making a long-term commitment to keeping donations flowing in, with the goal to keep selecting shelters in need to be recipients of beds,” says McLinden. To help spread the word, a social media strategy was put in place wherein online followers are encouraged to take part of an online challenge to become “FarmHouse Fresh Dog Bed Fairies.” With each purchase, the reader will receive a welcome email with instructions on how to upload a selfie or photo of a friend or family member they are gifting. Within two business days, the company sends back a customized Dog Bed Fairy photo which the reader can post on social 52 PULSE ■ May 2016 media using #DogBedFairy, and tag the company on its social media channels. Each month, the company picks random fairies who posted a photo using the correct hashtag, and send the winning fairies a free, limited-edition poster print of pages from the book. Policies and Challenges Spas wanting to welcome pets into their properties need to look at all important details before rolling out any pet-friendly services and amenities, including putting policies in place. “Every animal is different, so it can be challenging to adapt to their unique personalities and desires. However, our Dog Butlers appreciate all their differences and are skilled at adapting to each pet’s needs,” says Vidal. In order to ensure that guests’ privacy is not disturbed and property is not damaged, the spa made it a policy to conduct pet massages