flying_geek

So today I was in the really nice (one of the best I ever experienced) club lounge of the Grand Sheraton in Salzburg and it just started raining outside and in came this big wet dog - it wasn't poorly behaved but smelled - well, like wet dog.
This made we wonder what SPGs policy on dogs or pets in lounges is - while I would expect (true) service animals to be allowed for sure, I had not been exposed to many dogs in lounges before. A quick internet search found a bunch of Sheraton's specifically stating that they don't allow dogs in club lounges and most don't state anything.

I found the dog smell in the lounge bad enough to spoil the experience and given a choice, I would pick a hotel that does not allow dogs in the lounge over ones that do... And I am sure there is at least an equal number of people with the opposite preference.

So what do we know about dog policies in club lounges? Are there any guides/overviews I might have missed?

chipmaster

If allowed in hotel I think it should be allowed in lounge but like customers ( people or their dogs ) how do you decide what is well behaved/smelling and good manners for person or animal.

I for one would take a well behaved bad smelling or good smelling/bad behaving dog over a human, LOL

I find that most lounge and other hotel employees are mostly trained to accept/allow all but the most egregious behavior or situation as the fear of a negative review trumps almost anything else, except another more negative review.

MSPeconomist

In most USA jurisdictions, dogs (except service dogs) are forbidden in places that serve food as a health code regulation. Outside of the USA (and this seems to be especially true in Germany, Austria, and France), it's common for dogs to be brought into even the very best restaurants.Genuine service animals of course are an exception and ESAs might be too.

Did you ask hotel staff whether dogs are allowed in the lounge, especially during the hours when breakfast and evening food is being served?

flying_geek

I asked the front desk what the policy was and they said dogs are allowed - she seemed rather proud and expected me to be happy about that answer

Saint4805

My biggest pet hate (pardon the pun) is when someone with lounge access brings like ten friends or colleagues in, many of whom aren't even staying at the hotel. Nothing worse than a packed and rowdy lounge full of people who shouldn't even be in there.

chipmaster

Amazed then at the animals allowed on planes in such close proximity to food and drink.....

Collierkr

MSPeconomist

controller1

Apparently ESAs are allowed. I witnessed a situation in Baltimore where the owner with a "claimed" ESA was attempting to be seated in a hotel restaurant for lunch. The owner could not present any papers showing the ESA credentials. As a compromise, the owner and dog were seated in the closed bar and served lunch.

MSPeconomist

miloworld

Being a pet owner and living in a non dog-friendly city, I absolutely envy countries where dogs could join their hoomans everywhere, like bars and supermarkets.

I get that not everyone's a dog lover but if the lounge has room, I would treat it like witnessing a noisy kid and relocate myself.

controller1

Then you would love The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley. We were there last week and it appeared that 15%-20% of the guests were checking in with dogs. It was the most I'd ever seen at a hotel.

AlanInDC

All I can say is ick. How disgusting.

C17PSGR

I'm neither a dog lover nor a dog hater but it seems to me that someone who brings their dog to a lounge or the public spaces of a hotel has made a decision, conscious or otherwise, that their personal interests outweigh the needs of others. Many people have fear of dogs because of past experiences, others worry whether the can they set their food down, still others have allergies, and even the best behaved dogs are ... well dogs. It's like smoking .... I don't care if you smoke in your single family home but when you start smoking in public space, you've made the decision your personal interests are more important than other. I hope lounges and hotels will prohibit animals except as required by law. Plus, the dog will be much happier in a pet hotel or being taken care of by friends and family.

pvn

Restaurants in the US are generally not required to accommodate ESAs. There might be some sort of local regulation in Baltimore but I kinda doubt it. The management was probably confused here.

FWIW, it's generally illegal in the US for a venue to demand documentation for a service animal and the owner is generally not required to carry it.

On another note, the language being used here ("fake ESAs" and "claimed ESAs") implies a serious misunderstanding. ESAs aren't certified, it's literally impossible for an animal to be a "fake ESA". People who need an ESA get evaluated by a professional, and then it's up to them to pick an animal. Professionals don't get involved in evaluating the animal. There's literally no credentials that a "real" ESA would ever have. There is no required training for ESAs (for that matter, service animals also don't have any legally required training).