As annual host to the stars of the Westminster Dog Show in Madison Square Garden, New York’s Hotel Penn is getting ready to welcome the VIPs (Very Important Pooches).

Hotel Penn NYC

This is the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and it takes place February 14-15, 2011 at Madison Square Garden, directly across from the hotel.

It’s hard to say if staying in the hotel makes competitors the ‘Best in Show’ or maybe its just that the best prefer to stay here.

Either way, New York’s most pet friendly hotel has a stellar record of hosting dogs that do well at the Westminster dog show, including former Best in Show winner Uno the Beagle.

Apparently, people have been calling the hotel asking for Uno’s room, hoping that maybe some of the magic will rub off on their wannabe champion.

There will be a ‘Pre-Westminster’ fashion show at the hotel on Feb 11, and there will be a temporary doggie spa created inside the hotel – the Green Room Salon & S’paw, where the VIPs can expect to be pampered. Top that off with a Paw Mall and a Doggie Concierge who will on hand with a solution for every need.

Jim Flynn, the hotel’s General Manager, says that “No one does it like New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania. We look forward to once again having these VIP’s staying with us for the Westminster Dog Show given our perfect location and unique services/amenities.”

The hotel has a pet friendly special (not available during the Westminster Dog Show) which includes a welcome pet treat upon check-in and a copy of Fido-Friendly Magazine. Book the package online and you also get exclusive coupons for the city’s most popukar stores and attractions, including Macy’s, Madame Tussauds, Top of the Rock and many more.

Photo credits (from left): Sergio Calleja; Hotel Penn 

More info: 401 Seventh Avenue (at 33rd St.) New York NY 10001; (212) 736-5000; www.hotelpenn.com/

Related posts:-
City Walks With Dogs – New York, by Nadia Zonis
Top 10 Pet-Friendly Hotels for 2010

Unlike humans, when a hotel gets old, it gets demolished. Can you imagine how Eloise would feel watching a wrecking ball crashing through the walls of her beloved Plaza?

We don’t have Eloise to save the day, but we still do need to save endangered hotels from the evil clutches of real-estate developers who want to put up a condo complex or an office tower. Listed here are some of America’s most endangered hotels that could very well be blown up in the near future.

Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City

Hotel Pennsylvania, New York – Popularly known as the Hotel Penn, this iconic 100 year old New York hotel built by the Pennsylvania Railroad islocated across the street from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. In Jan 2007, the owners – Vornado Realty Trust - announced plans to raze the building and put an office tower in its place.

The hotel’s fate is still undecided, and if enough people care about it, the owners could still decide to keep the Hotel Penn alive and open for business. On the web – www.hotelpenn.com/

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles

Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles – 19-story crescent shaped hotel opened in 1966 and now operating as the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. 

This hotel is at the heart of a raging battle between the Los Angeles Conservancy and the building’s owners – Next Century Associates, who want to raze the hotel and replace it with two towers housing a luxury hotel, condos and other modern monstrosities.

The battle to save Century Plaza went into overdrive earlier this year when the building was named as one of America’s 11 most endangered places for 2009 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and actress Diane Keaton became the public and very vocal face of the effort to save Century Plaza.

On the web – centuryplaza.hyatt.com/

The Watergate Hotel, Washington D.C. – Scene of President Nixon’s Waterloo, the Watergate Hotel has been shuttered since 2007. The previous owners, Monument Realty, wanted to turn it into a luxury apartment complex. A planned renovation which was supposed to be complete by now never really got going, and the hotel remains closed.

The Watergate Hotel, Washington D.C.

The Watergate hotel has now been reportedly purchased by Holland Development Group, and depending on what their plans are, it could either end up as a luxury condo complex, or re-open after a renovation as one of the world’s most famous hotels and a DC landmark and tourist attraction to boot. On the web – www.thewatergatehotel.com/

Dallas Grand Hotel, Dallas – Formerly known as the Dallas Statler Hilton which opened in 1956, this building has also been named to the NTHP’s list of endangered places in 2008, and was also on the Preservation Dallas’ list in both 2007 and 2008.

Dallas Grand Hotel, Dallas, TX

It was supposed to be demolished in 2003, but got a reprieve. Other properties around it are being developed at a feverish pace. Sooner or later, the costs of keeping an eyesore in the middle of a well-developed neighbourhood is going to be too much to bear for Dallas and the building will be torn down.

Photo credits:- Hotel Penn by sfllaw; Dallas Grand Hotel by Steve Clique; Watergate Hotel by tvol; Century Plaza courtesy Hyatt Hotels Corp.