Langham Gold Coast hotel in Surfers Paradise turns pet friendly

It’s best known for its A-list guests, but the Gold Coast’s most exclusive five-star hotel is set to welcome a new breed of VIP.

The Gold Coast’s most luxurious hotel is set to welcome a new breed of VIP.

Following in the pawprints of other The Langhams, the upmarket Gold Coast property will allow Very Important Pets from Thursday.

While the five-star beachfront tower is best known for its A-list guests, including Mark Wahlberg, Chris Rock, Pink, Duff McKagan and Rod Stewart, The Langham director of sales and marketing Nick Clarke was confident they were barking up the right tree.

“(Becoming pet-friendly) is more about the local market – we think the Gold Coast and Brisbane crowd will tap into this,” he said.

“There are a lot of avid dog owners walking past us on the Oceanway and stopping into 26 & Sunny for a coffee and it feels right to lean into that.

“Hopefully it will get those very local Langham Sydney guests who take their pets starting to think about the Gold Coast too.”

Bailey checks out the plush new dog beds being rolled out at The Langham Gold Coast.

Dogs can stay in any of the rooms, except the chairman suite, presidential suites and penthouses, for a pet fee of $220 per night, which includes a daily $80 food and beverage credit, valet parking, an “elegant in-room bed setup and bowls”, and a gift to take home.

A private dining dog menu will launch down the track.

“There’s a huge market for pet-friendly five stars,” Mr Clarke said.

“A major travel agent said to me five-star hotel experiences with pets is the most searched request online and we felt that was the impetus we needed to launch.

“It caught us by surprise ranking so highly, but that might be a lifestyle choice, particularly with so many people buying pets as Covid companions.”

Christie Haworth and Isla the pomeranian check into The Langham Gold Coast.

The hotel’s move comes amid a social media campaign and $3 million funding injection to kickstart tourism on the Gold Coast after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred ravaged its beaches.

Mr Clarke said occupancy at the Surfers Paradise hotel was promising leading into the Easter school holidays.

“We thought March was going to be in trouble, but it’s bounced back and April is solid, which tells us the Australian market is robust,” he said.

“We have the traditional Sydney market rotation to the Gold Coast and we are seeing that in droves.

“There’s really good numbers and the beach restoration is underway and looks quite encouraging – we just need the great weather.”

Originally published as Langham Gold Coast hotel in Surfers Paradise turns pet friendly