Case Study: Upscale Boarding Keeps Pets and Owners Happy

"I didn't like boarding my dog in a little cage," says Dr. Henry Inglesby, owner of Suwanee Pet Suites and Animal Care Center in Suwanee, Ga. Assuming other vacationing dog owners also hated the thought of leaving their precious canines in tight quarters, he decided to replace the cramped cages.

His new pet hotel offers large, comfortable suites and a separate commons and kitchen area in which pets can lounge. Each 12-foot-by-12-foot suite features a twin bed or sofa, chair, ceiling fan, and color TV--which plays "Animal Planet," of course. Web cams in each room let pet owners check in on boarders 24 hours a day.

In July 2004, Dr. Inglesby began remodeling the 2,600-square-foot barn to accommodate eight suites. He also included a full-size kitchen; installed brass chandeliers along the hallway; and built in a living room furnished with a color TV, where dogs can congregate for playtime.

Dr. Inglesby's wife decorated each room using a different theme. "The Georgia Bulldog suite is the most popular, because we're only 60 miles from the University of Georgia," he says. "Now, clients want me to put in a Georgia Tech suite." Pet owners can also choose safari, savannah, beach, princess, golf, Harley Davidson, or cowboy themes.

Construction for the boarding suites took about a year, says Dr. Inglesby. "Before we built the suites, it was just an empty equine facility that served as a catch-all for the junk I collected."

The boarding facility cost $100,000 to build, and Suwanee Pet Suites has generated more than $10,000 in revenue since opening in April 2005. "We're going to recoup our money quickly," says Dr. Inglesby. "Plus, the suites help bring new clients to the hospital. Our client base has definitely grown."

Clients book the rooms for $60 per night for the first dog, and $30 for each additional dog. And pet owners are already hurrying to reserve the suites for the holiday season; Dr. Inglesby says they're almost completely booked.

"I think we're doing so well because it's a new idea," he says. "Boarding kennels in bigger cities have started offering upscale options, but no one locally has taken the idea as far as we have."

In response to clients' enthusiasm, Dr. Inglesby built five suites into his Atlanta hospital, too. "This is the neatest thing we've ever done," he says. "And we've had fun doing it."

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LINK OF THE WEEK

Most practices struggle to charge adequate fees, allocate expenses appropriately, pay staff members fairly, and still make a profit. Yet perhaps the biggest challenge is performing strategic planning to align all these areas with the practice vision. The 2005 Well-Managed Practice Study can help! This comprehensive study offers benchmarks for fees, revenue, and expenses, as well as an in-depth look at facilities, equipment, and technology. Plus, this year's study provides more tools than ever to improve the profitability of your practice. For more information, go to www.industrymatter.com.