You may have seen the famous Peabody Ducks on “The Tonight Show,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” or even “Sesame Street.” But when this flock of famous waterfowl isn’t gaining national publicity, they’re marching around the historic Peabody Memphis. And while they’re among the most well-known hotel mascots, they’re certainly not alone. Here are 10 properties across the country who have animals in residence on hand to meet, greet and, in the case of Sunshine and Chance, talk to guests.
[See: 7 Pop-Up Hotels Worth Traveling For.]
Aspen, Colorado “Have you met Rocky yet?” That’s the first question Aspen locals ask when they hear you’re a guest at the town’s oldest hotel (and the oldest hotel in Colorado). Rocky is the Hotel Jerome‘s puppy concierge. Due to his size — he’s a Bernese mountain dog — and his location in a dog bed next to the concierge desks in the lobby, he’s hard to miss. His adventures, from massages to pool time to receiving blessings from Tibetan monks and even hiking with guests, are often shared on his Instagram page. Best of all, the property is pet-friendly and even has a pet amenity program, so your pooch is sure to be as pampered as Rocky throughout your stay. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Milton, New York Only an inn in the countryside, such as New York’s Hudson Valley, can get away with having a llama as a mascot. Pickles, a 10-year-old llama, is popular with guests who help feed him and his rescued furry friends, including abandoned llamas and alpacas, at Millstone Farm. The on-site farm belongs to the 75-acre Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa. The inn even features Pickles’ profile on its menu (as a symbol of a dish grown on-site in the inn’s organic garden), its apparel and in a plush toy that’s available for purchase.
New York City The Algonquin has housed eleven cats since the 1920s. Legend has it a stray cat wandered into the hotel and never left. The property’s beloved Matilda — famous for hosting fashion show fundraisers that have generated thousands of dollars for charity — retired this summer after seven years of service. Her replacement, Hamlet VIII, is the first Hamlet in nearly four decades. He can be found napping in the lobby. The legendary cat also receives fan mail from all over the world.
Miami Beach, Florida Perhaps the oldest hotel mascot still in service is Chance. The 34-year-old red and blue macaw parrot has been poolside at The Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach since the property opened as a hotel in 1992. His blue and yellow female friend, Sunshine, is only 8 years old, but she’s been around long enough to know how to say hello (in English and Spanish) to greet guests. But the two colorful birds’ vocabulary doesn’t stop there. They even call some of the hotel staff members by name. [See: 12 Hotels With Superlative Room Service.]
Colorado Springs, Colorado Perched at nearly 10,000 feet, The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp offers a remote escape. Zoe, a 6-year-old black lab keeps guests company on hikes, by the fireplace and at flag ceremonies. She’s the personal bird-hunting dog for The Broadmoor‘s owner. She’s also a member of the mountaintop meet-and-greet team and also helps out by keeping deer away from Cloud Camp’s flower beds. Zoe is also in high demand with guests, sometimes even crashing in a family’s cabin if their kids request a sleepover.
Pittsboro, North Carolina The Fearrington House Inn, located on dairy farm, boasts an entire herd of cows. And the more than 30 Belted Galloway cows guests can spot grazing the property’s pastures have an interesting backstory. Fearrington’s owner, R.B. Fitch, saw the Scottish breed featured in National Geographic in the late 1970s and decided he had to have them. Today, the “Oreos” as they’re called, due to their black and white stripes, compete in the North Carolina State Fair when they’re not being photographed by guests.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina Sally is another North Carolina hotel mascot with unique origins. When the cat mysteriously showed up at the Historic Brookstown Inn, hotel employees took her to the vet who read her microchip. The cat’s owner, and her former home, was in Seattle. The owner was relieved to know Sally was alive, but in lieu of taking a cross-country trip to retrieve her, she let the hotel keep her. Today, Sally doesn’t roam far beyond the inn’s lobby and courtyard.
Scottsdale, Arizona Canine Ambassadors are a common perk at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Bixby and Gibbs, both trained service dogs, are among the most beloved dogs in the brand’s portfolio. The yellow Lab and Red Golden Retriever even star in their own children’s book, “The Golden Friends of Fairmont: The Adventures of Bixby and Gibbs.” What’s more, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is incredibly pet-friendly and even offers a Posh Paws program for guests’ four-legged friends.
San Francisco Hotel Nikko San Francisco‘s COO (“Canine Operating Officer”) is known as Buster. The Morkie (a cross between a Yorkshire terrier and a Maltese) was destined for a career in hospitality. Buster can be found at the hotel’s grassy rooftop dog run, where he often hosts puppy playdates. After their stay, guests can follow his adventures on Twitter and Instagram. [See: 10 Beautiful Hotel Lobbies Across America.]
Portland, Oregon Sometimes guests at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Portland do a double take upon entering the lobby when they spot a Golden Retriever’s portrait — complete with an official title — hanging on the wall. Dakota is the property’s director of pet relations. Job duties include overseeing the V.I.P. (Very Important Pets) board on which Dakota notes the day’s arriving pets and greets guests in the lobby where she’s stationed. Koda, as she’s affectionately called, came all the way from Australia for this unique hospitality opportunity.
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10 Top Hotel Pet Mascots Across the U.S. originally appeared on usnews.com
