Allergic reaction

Hotel & Motel Management, Jan 12, 2004 by Gus Sader

Anthony Marshall's suggestion to add allergies in a hotel handbook ["The hospitality industry finally is being thrown to the dogs," Nov. 3, page 10] is a good idea. Which handbook is he suggesting?

Gus Sader

Chairman/c.e.o.

Royal Regency Hotels & Resorts

San Diego

Via e-mail

Mr. Marshall's response: In a nutshell, place a person who is allergic to dog hair in a room that is doggy friendly, and serious complication can arise--even death. How does a hotel avoid such liabilities?

* Don't take dogs.

* Place a readable sign at the reception desk indicating the hotel is dog friendly and that guests should alert the desk clerk at check-in that they are allergic to dog hair.

* Place a similar sign in each dog friendly room indicating it's a doggy room. Liability becomes a big issue in situations in which a guest didn't know something and hotel personnel did.

I'd train all reception desk personnel, reservation clerks, etc. about the importance of not placing allergy prone individuals into a doggy room. I'm always asked, "smoking or nonsmoking room, sir?" For dog friendly hotels, a similar question comes to mind.