Dorothy Parker and the Round Table are not the only legends at the Algonquin Hotel in New York. One of the other traditions they have is that there’s always been a cat-in-residence for almost 80 years now.

The Algonquin Hotel in New York and Matilda, Cat in Residence

With the retirement of Matilda II after a 13 year reign, the hotel has now chosen a new “Algonqueen” for the throne – Matilda III, a blue-eyed ragdoll.

The hotel’s new 4-year old mascot divides her time between rubbing up against the plush chairs in the lobby and taking naps on the bellman’s luggage cart. Matilda III has also taken a liking to the hotel’s 13th floor.

The new cat is the hotel’s tenth cat-in-residence in 79 years, starting with a stray named Rusty who sneaked into the hotel in 1932. Rusty started sharing a room with then owner Frank Case, and got so snooty he would only drink milk from a champagne glass.

Rusty was renamed Hamlet by actor John Barrymore. Rusty/Hamlet was followed by a string of Hamlets (II to VII) until 1987. In fact, Hamlet VI vanished during the hotel’s renovation and legend has it that he was accidentally trapped inside the walls.

Matilda I took over the throne in 1987 and the retired Matilda II is now living in a cushy pad in Brooklyn. Matilda III has taken over extensive duties at the hotel, including greeting felines who come to stay at the pet-friendly hotel under the “Algonquin ♥’s Pets” Program.

Guests with paws are greeted with a “purrrsonalized” welcome kit with a welcome letter from Matilda and a list of available services as well as some of Matilda’s favorite hot spots. The pet’s guest room is arranged prior to arrival with amenities such as food and water bowls, a floor mat, a litter box if needed and essentials for owners such as latex gloves and waste bags.

Matilda also has an active online social life managing the hotel’s facebook and twitter (@Algonqueen) pages, and she stays in contact with her many friends and fans via email. In fact, the hotel has even designed a special package for ‘Friends of Matilda.’

The package includes two night accommodation in a queen room, welcome amenity letter from Matilda and  a replica plush of Matilda, a novel about the Algonquin cat, two cocktails in the lobby, and a 10% discount off the hotel’s best available retail rate. Don’t forget to use the promo code MAJ when booking online.

Photos – Algonquin Hotel

Info: 59 West 44th Street (between fifth and sixth ave) New York NY 10036; (212) 840-6800

Related posts:-
The historic Algonquin Hotel, NYC
City Walks With Dogs – New York, by Nadia Zonis

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

Rm 1016 Grand Hyatt Denver

My second visit to Denver was for a conference held at the Grand Hyatt Denver, not to be confused with the Hyatt Regency Denver – which my SuperShuttle driver did. Not to worry though if this detour happens to you, the hotels are only two blocks from each other. And to make things even more interesting, the Grand Hyatt Denver is formerly the Hyatt Regency Denver.

Within about a three to four block radius, you will find every major hotel represented. Why? You are that close to the Colorado State Capitol building, the Colorado Convention Center and the University of Colorado at Denver.

The Grand Hyatt is two blocks from the Denver Pavilions entertainment complex and 16th Street Mall.  These both have lots of shops, restaurants and movie theaters.  Since I was in town strictly for the conference, I got to know the insides of the Grand Hyatt quite well. Here are my highlights:

• Two Double Beds were nice. I used one as a workstation and the room still felt large. They were Grand Beds™ featuring ultra-plush pillows.
• Wi-Fi access for my Mac didn’t work. I had to use their wired dataport at my desk.
• Walk-in closest fit my clothes & suitcase easily. I loved the full length mirrors on both the inside of the door and outside on the wall.
• Room service offers a decadent molten chocolate cake with strawberries.
• My room had a decent city view and the church bells on Sunday were a nice touch for my departure.

I didn’t make it to their gym but I heard good things about it from other conference goers. The hotel’s elevators operate using your room key.  The staff was nice especially the maid service. Next to the concierge desk is a kiosk for airline check-in and printing your boarding pass.  SuperShuttle stops by the hotel every 15 minutes for Denver International Airport.

Pet friendly Grand Hyatt Denver - cute!

Grand Hyatt Denver
1750 Welton Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 295-1234

Photos by Sharon Castellanos

The Jupiter Hotel, a renovated motor inn turned boutique hotel in Portland, looks on first glance to be a hipster hotel which also happens to be pet-friendly. On second glance though, it looks like they’re going well above and beyond their call of duty as a pet-friendly hotel.

Jupiter Hotel Yappy Hour, Portland

The Jupiter is now offering special guest rooms for pet owners with pet beds and water and food bowls, outfitted by Portland’s LexiDog Boutique & Social Club.

The hotel also brought in the Oregon Humane Society, and together with Lexidog, the three of them are hosting a monthly Yappy Hour in  the hotel’s courtyard, where there will be pets, people, wine and food. 

The Jupiter’s Yappy Hour is set to be unleashed on the last Wednesday of every month (next one is on Jan 27, between 6-8 p.m.). There is no charge to attend Yappy Hour, and a portion of sale proceeds benefits animals at OHS.

Also, the hotel will be donating a part of the proceeds from each of the redesigned pet-friendly rooms to the Oregon Humane Society throughout this year. They plan to double the donation during February, on account of it being National Pet Month.

The Jupiter Hotel is located in East Burnside with easy access to the Pearl District and other hotspots in Portland. The hotel offers 80 artsy retro-themed guest rooms, a dreamSuite with wet bar, Wack Hair Salon, dreamBOX studio and Think Tank. There’s also the famed Doug Fir Restaurant and Lounge, which is open daily until 2 a.m. and offers live musical acts every night in its nightclub.

Jupier photo by SanFranAnnie

Info: 800 East Burnside Portland OR 97214; (503) 230-9200; www.jupiterhotel.com/

Related posts:-
Top Ten Pet-Friendly Beaches
Wag Hotels – The Lap of Luxury for Dogs and Cats in the Bay Area