This Just In ...

Grand Traverse Resort -- More than Dog Friendly

They do more than tolerate pets, this deluxe resort near Traverse City, Michigan offers their canine guests a "dog retreat." And, please, don't use the "kennel" word.

Grant Channing loves his dogs. But he also has to do a lot of traveling - and he quickly discovered that his canine pals didn't enjoy being kenneled while he was on the road.

There had to be an alternative, he reasoned. For instance, why couldn't resort hotels create fun places where dogs could relax and socialize just like their owners? After a little research, he discovered that several exclusive resorts had done exactly that - and as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City, he decided to create such a facility for his own guests.

Thus was born "The Dog House - The Ultimate Dog Retreat," a boutique-style, cage-free care facility whose four-legged guests are provided with 24-hour supervision and companionship in a homey atmosphere with three separate play/slumber rooms, plenty of toys, and fenced-in grassy play areas. Located in a renovated house overlooking two of the Resort's signature golf courses, the new facility gives guests the freedom to travel with their dogs and have access to them at any time during their stay.

Pet-friendly travel is a growing trend in the tourism industry. Over 36 million families travel with their pets, spending an estimated $91 million per year. According to DogFriendly.com, a national clearinghouse for pet-owning travelers, about 35 percent of hotels in the U.S. and Canada now allow pets to stay in rooms with their owners.

In Traverse City, as elsewhere in the U.S., pet-friendly hoteliers have traditionally been found among the more budget-conscious properties, but in recent years a few high-end resorts have also made cautious overtures to dogs and their owners. Most charge an additional free for pets (usually $10 per night) and require guests to take their pooches with them whenever they leave their rooms.

They include the Quality Inn by the Bay, the Best Western Four Seasons, the Knollwood Motel, the Days Inn & Suites, the Motel 6, the Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn West Bay (which also keeps a free outdoor kennel for guests who don't choose to bring their dogs inside). Even the venerable Park Place Hotel now bills itself as a dog-friendly property -- it charges a $20 per night fee and has some restrictions about how large a dog can be.

On the other hand, many otherwise sympathetic hoteliers insist that bringing animals into guestrooms can create more problems than it solves. The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa maintains a firm prohibition against dogs in any of its guestrooms, condos and public areas. Instead, it decided to make a quantum leap beyond.

For $35 per night, guests at The Dog House - The Ultimate Dog Retreat can enjoy a cage-free environment, 24-hour care and supervision, daily walks, toys, cozy beds, frequent outdoor potty breaks, supervised outdoor recess, filtered water and treats - and lots of TLC from the Resort's trained dog care providers.

To ensure the health and safety of their canine guests, the Resort staff conducts a careful pre-screening process on all incoming dogs. (The basics: all dogs must be spayed or neutered, be at least six months old, have all current vaccinations including Bortadella, and must have a topical flea preventative. It's also important that they socialize well with other dogs.)

Owners are required to bring their own food from home as well as any medications their dog might require. On the other hand, no personal toys or beds from home are allowed, said Harrison, since they tend to create possessiveness problems.

For complete information about reserving a place for your dog at The Dog House-The Ultimate Dog Retreat, call 231-534-6765, or send an e-mail message to dogcare@gtresort.com .

The 900-acre Grand Traverse Resort and Spa features over 600 guest accommodations, 85,000 square feet of meeting space, 54 holes of championship golf (including The Bear, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and The Wolverine, a Gary Player signature course) a full-service spa, shopping gallery, a variety of restaurants and lounges and seasonal recreation.

For help with lodging and dining options, and to learn about other adventures, activities and attractions in the greater Traverse City area, contact the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-TRAVERSE or on line at www.VisitTraverseCity.com.

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