Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Portland Welcomes
New Director of Pet Relations
Yellow Lab Timmy Makes “Career Change” with A Celebrity Welcome And Red Carpet Debut
Portland, OR (October 2, 2009) - Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Portland is pleased to announce its new Director of Pet Relations, Timmy, a Yellow Lab who recently retired from the non-profit Guide Dogs for the Blind program and is now enjoying a “career change” to guide the hotel’s pet program. To properly welcome and introduce Timmy to the community, the hotel is holding a Red Carpet Debut on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., where local celebrities and their pets will walk the red carpet to raise funds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind program.
“As a hotel known nationally for our progressive pet-friendly policies, we were looking for a dog who would be a true steward for pets visiting Portland,” says Craig Thompson, Hotel Monaco Portland general manager. “Timmy comes with rigorous guide dog training and an outgoing and friendly disposition, so of course he was the perfect dog for the job.”
The community is invited to meet Timmy, and his celebrity companions, at the Red Carpet Debut celebration on Thursday, October 22nd from 6 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The event includes food, drinks and gifts for both humans and canines, with a $5 donation to Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Timmy is the second dog to hold the Director of Pet Relations position at Hotel Monaco Portland. The hotel’s first Director of Pet Relations, Art – also a Yellow Lab – recently retired after years of service.
Timmy spent his first two years in training with Guide Dogs for the Blind, a non-profit specializing in training and pairing guide dogs with those who are visually impaired. He served as a full time guide dog with a visually impaired partner until recently retiring and seeking a new career through Guide Dogs’ Career Change dog placement program.
Many dogs that are trained to be Guide Dogs for the Blind go on to other exciting careers such as search and rescue, hearing or service dog training, cancer detection or pet therapy. After spending time at Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Oregon campus, located just east of Portland in Boring, it was clear to all that Timmy’s true calling was in the hospitality industry, with his non-stop wagging tail and his dedication to serving others.
Hotel Monaco Portland is committed to providing its guests – both two and four legged – with the best possible experience. As the Director of Pet Relations, Timmy’s responsibilities include welcoming guests and pets in the lobby, acting as the ambassador for all four-legged friends and offering tips for exploring the city. Timmy will also oversee the monthly pet psychic and pet masseuse programs, and ensure that pets receive a complimentary doggie care package upon check-in. Each package includes biscuits made in-house daily, food and water bowls, a placemat for the bowls and biodegradable doggie waste bags. “Kimpton Loves You” dog beds are available for purchase.
In addition to his responsibilities at the hotel, Timmy will reach out to the community at large through appearances at local shelters, hospitals and various pet events. In his free time, Timmy enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, and exploring Portland’s fantastic dog-friendly city parks.
Timmy’s working hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Timmy’s owner and caretaker is the hotel’s concierge, Decoteau Wilkerson.
The Hotel Monaco Portland is located at 506 SW Washington St., Portland OR 97204. For further information call 503-222-0001, or visit www.monaco-portland.com.
ABOUT HOTEL MONACO PORTLAND
A member of the award-winning San Francisco based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Monaco Portland originally opened in 1996 as the Fifth Avenue Suites and was completely refurbished by award-winning designer Cheryl Rowley, reopening as the Hotel Monaco Portland in 2007. Dedicated to supporting the arts and the environment, Hotel Monaco Portland achieved the Silver Green Seal Certification in 2009, and has also earned the prestigious RecycleWorks Award from The City of Portland. The hotel has consistently been voted one of the ‘Top 500 Best Hotels in the World’ by Travel + Leisure, and was selected by National Geographic Traveler for the 2009 ‘Stay List.’
* This property meets the Green Seal™ Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties for waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, hazardous substances handling, and environmentally responsible purchasing.
ABOUT GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND
Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind provides enhanced mobility and quality of life to people who are blind through lifetime partnerships with Guide Dogs. This non-profit organization, located in Boring, Ore. and San Rafael, Calif. is the largest school of its kind and has produced more than 11,000 partnerships across the United States and Canada. Services are offered entirely free of charge. Please visit www.guidedogs.com for additional information.
ABOUT KIMPTON
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America. Founded in 1981 by Bill Kimpton, the company is well-known for making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through intuitive and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and having a certain playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities. Each hotel provides a range of exciting culinary experiences through locally-loved, top-rated, destination, chef-driven restaurants. Kimpton leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Privately held Kimpton has consistently earned high customer satisfaction scores by the Market Metrix Hospitality Index, exceeding other hotel companies including those in luxury and upscale segments. Among the company’s newest properties are the Hotel Monaco Baltimore and restaurant B&O American Brasserie by Chef E. Michael Reidt in Baltimore, MD, which opened in July 2009. Currently, projects are underway in New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago. For more information, please visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.
Media Contacts:
Watershed Communications
Lota LaMontagne / 503.827.6564 / lota@watershedcom.com
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Jamie Law / 415-955-5495 / jamie.law@kimptongroup.com
