By Guy Page

Here’s a question for the Green Mountain State’s many dog lovers: Is Vermont ready for a luxury hotel… for dogs?

It may sound like a punchline, but it’s a serious business proposition that will be discussed today on Chronicle Conversations at 12:20 PM on WVMT AM 620 and streaming at wvmtradio.com. Host Guy Page will be joined by Scott Schubiger, Chief Growth Officer for K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel, a company looking at expansion opportunities here in Vermont.

About seven out of every ten Vermont households own a pet. That’s one of the highest rates in the country. And as more people treat their dogs as members of the family, they’re looking for more than a traditional kennel when they travel. They want climate-controlled suites, professionally trained staff, rigorous sanitation standards, even televisions in private rooms. In other words, a hotel experience for Fido.

Now, some people may be wondering whether Vermonters would actually pay for that. It’s a fair question, especially at a time when families are watching every dollar. It’s also fair to note that many Vermonters are struggling to find any place to sleep at all. But nationally, the pet care industry continues to grow even as other discretionary spending has softened. The pet daycare and boarding market is expected to more than double over the next decade.

So what makes Vermont attractive? Is it the high rate of pet ownership? Our tourism economy? Or are entrepreneurs simply seeing an underserved market?

Chronicle Conversations will ask Scott Schubiger why K9 Resorts believes Vermont is ready for this concept, what it takes to open one of these facilities, and whether luxury pet care is a niche business or the next big retail trend.

Whether you think a dog deserves a luxury suite or just a good backyard and a tennis ball, it should make for an interesting conversation.