Furry, feathered and fishy travelers welcome at Makati hotel

Think of your favorite hotel or vacation spot. Think of all the peace and relaxation you deserve. Wouldn’t you want to enjoy that with your closest family or friends? And for a growing number of Filipinos, these include their dearest pets.

Unfortunately, most hotels aren’t really pet-friendly. Many pet owners—or pet parents, as some like to be called—are reduced to leaving their four-legged loved ones at another person’s home, or at the few pet hotels in Metro Manila. This can be very stressful, as many pets and their owners are not used to being apart. Cats and dogs can get distressed among new surroundings and strangers.

But what if your hotel said, “Pets welcome!”? That’s what the Somerset Olympia Makati says.

Under new management

When The Ascott Limited began managing the 30-year-old Somerset Olympia Makati, the new management set about renovating the four towers with a view to making the entire hotel pet-friendly. Other Ascott properties are not yet pet-friendly.

Construction is ongoing, but Tower A is ready to receive guests, human and four-footed alike. At a recent media tour, guests, including Philippine Animal Welfare Society’s Anna Cabrera, some volunteers and a four-month-old puppy named John were able to view the hotel's studio and one-bedroom executive rooms.

Pet parents who wish to check in to Somerset with their furry friends need only inform hotel management of their intention to bring an animal with them. “We’ve actually had a Great Dane. It was heavier than some of the staff!” said residence manager Philip Barnes cheerfully.

The hotel will provide guests with a form requesting some basic information, like the type of animal they are bringing, its name and gender, size and weight, and any special conditions or requirements they have.  Upon arrival, both human and pet guests will receive welcome baskets with their own treats.

Once they received an inquiry from overseas: the guest wanted to bring a monitor lizard. For such unusual creatures, hotel management may require the guest to keep the pet caged for everyone’s safety.

“We do have a few restrictions, but we’re quite flexible,” said Barnes. “We just want guests to remember that there are other guests as well, and we want everyone to have a comfortable stay, whether they bring pets or not.” Both long-staying and short-staying guests will be required to pay a maintenance fee of approximately P5,000. “Let’s just say it’s for cleanup fees!” Barnes joked when asked about dog or cat hair, scratches on the furniture and unpleasant odors left behind.

Security and keycard-locked doors will also keep pets from escaping from their rooms and dashing out into the busy streets of Makati. There is no veterinarian on standby in the hotel, but the hotel management can provide you with a list of nearby pet clinics.

Somerset, which currently has 143 serviced residences, is also only five minutes away from the Philippine Stock Exchange's Ayala Triangle Gardens, where you can take your pets for a walk.”

Animal rescue

At the event, Cabrera spoke about PAWS and the value of adopting rescued animals. The puppy John was in fact part of a litter of four rescued from neglect and named after the Beatles. Two have already been adopted.

If you’re checking into the Somerset, then some form of travel is probably involved. A PAWS senior volunteer also provided advice about traveling with your pets: whether your four-legged friend is a cat or a dog, it’s vital that you shower them with attention before and during the trip, to keep them calm.

And when you’ve checked in, cheer them up with treats from their welcome basket, and look forward to a stay that’s comfortable for you and your beloved pet. — BM, GMA News