According to the latest National Pet Owners Survey taken by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 63% of U.S. households, or 71.1 million homes, own a pet. The survey also found that that 19% of dog owners and 3% of cat owners take their four-legged friends with them when they plan to be away from home for at least two nights.
What’s more, AAA lists more than 13,000 lodgings throughout North America, which offer pet accommodations. And we’re not just talking about beds for Fido to flop on. Dozens of hotels across the nation are catering to cats and dogs with specialty menus. For example, all Loews Hotels throughout the United States and Canada offer a menu that includes Bow Wow Tenderloin of Beef, made with filet mignon, eggs, brown rice and bread, Whisker Licking Liver and Kitty’s Salmon Supreme.
Not only that, but Loews has a written promise posted in restaurants that reads: “The Loews brand promise is to offer healthy meals for all of our guests, whether they arrive on two legs or four.”
In Chicago, The James hotel offers $12 bones from David Burke’s Primehouse, on the hotel’s lobby level, while feline guests can dine on towers of salmon and tuna tartare with crème fraiche (for a mere $15) and grilled chicken paillard with liver “snaps” (which is also priced at 15 bucks).
So why are so many hotels going to the dogs (and cats)?
According to property managers, an increasing amount of guests say their pets are real, valued members of their family and they want them to be treated the same way a two-legged family member would be. In turn hotels and resorts around the world are catering to these beloved pets by offering menu items that are, according to the folks at Loews, “sophisticated enough to be considered a treat, yet made of high-quality ingredients that pets will actually enjoy eating.”
Would you spend $15 for your cat to dine on fresh tuna tartare?
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