- K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel, an upscale dog-care facility with franchises throughout America, held its grand opening on Saturday
- Franchise owners are Costas Hrousis and wife, Deb, a Bethlehem native
- The facility opens for business on Monday morning
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — Just how extraordinarily lavish is the new K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel in the Lehigh Valley?
One visitor jokingly remarked after touring the facility at its grand opening on Saturday, “I’d almost be tempted to stay here and have my dog drive himself home.”
Yes, that lavish.
“And what we offer is so much better for dogs. They will be cared for and treated as well as you can.”Gianni Hrousis, assistant manager, K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel
If the nearly 1,000 visitors to the grand opening is any indication, K9 Resorts franchise owners Costas and Deb Hrousis will be extremely busy when they officially open for business at 3986 Township Line Road on Monday morning.
“I'm very excited about Monday,” said Costas Hrousis, as staff members escorted visitors on tours of the facility. “So, I need to sleep soundly Sunday; I’ll need my energy.”
Upon entering the lobby of the 10,000-square-foot, completely remodeled facility that is the former Chesterbrook Academy Preschool, one feels as if they’ve arrived at a five-star hotel.
A chandelier that reflects the daylight beaming through the windows overlooks a long registration desk that has the appearance of old-world white marble. In fact, the K9 Resorts franchise founders, Steven and Jason Parker of New Jersey, modeled the look after the opulent Four Seasons Hotel chain.
K9 Resorts is a national franchise numbering 50 establishments. The vast homelike amenities and recreational activities at the facility will have one’s dog feeling as though they’ve been dropped off at a, well, resort.
“I don’t know if this is the national trend in dog kennels, but I know that people want more and more for their dogs,” said Gianni Hrousis, assistant manager and the 21-year-old son of the franchise owners.
“And what we offer is so much better for dogs. They will be cared for and treated as well as you can.”
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by Bethlehem Township Commissioner Deann Lawrence, a tour of K9 Resorts reflected that assurance.
The facility can accommodate up to 150 dogs overnight. It includes day and overnight boarding, cage-free luxury boarding options, designer pet suites, an outdoor pet-safe courtyard, a PetAirapy UV air purification and ventilation system, hospital-grade sanitation procedures, state-of-the-art flooring systems, with built-in Microban antimicrobial protection, and premium Kuranda dog beds.
The six luxury suites are essentially a cage-free, 8-by-8-foot room with a dog bed, and television, enclosed by sound-proof walls and glass privacy doors.
Executive rooms are similar to the luxury suites, minus the TV.
Traditional compartment boarding is available in a single compartment to accommodate dogs up to 35 pounds and a double compartment for dogs up to 100 pounds.
Additional offerings at K9 Resorts include a group-play environment called Doggie Daycare that is conducted in a large playground-type area for dogs that are social with other dogs.
All areas of the K9 Resorts are cleaned throughout the day. Dogs are bathed before they go home; larger dogs receive a shower. A large, trained, knowledgeable staff is committed to attending to every dog’s needs.
As the old saying goes, this is not your father’s dog kennel.
Costas is in commercial real estate. Deb is a Bethlehem native and former teacher in the school district.
So, what was it that caused them to enter the dog care business?
Not surprisingly, it was a dog.
“Four years ago, my wife brought a black lab home — Apollo,” Costas said. “The breeder was having a hard time finding homes for the litter, so she adopted him.
“And Deb said to me, ‘This dog is going to change our lives,’ I thought, ‘Well, I know how it’s going to change my life. I’m going to be walking it and picking up after it.’
“After COVID, Deb was looking for something different to do. Little did I know Apollo was going to be directing us to build a dog hotel.”
After touring the facility with her husband and two sons, Jenny Riffman was impressed. But why would a family with no dogs show up at the grand opening?
“Well, we’re getting a dog soon,” the Bethlehem resident said. “We do a lot of traveling. So I’m looking for the best place to board it.”
When asked if she has indeed found that place, Riffman said only, “I’ll tell you this — I’m done looking.”
