Bo Stegall plans The Noble Dog Hotel for fall opening at Hampton Station
For pet owners like salon owner Bo Stegall who don’t like leaving their furry family members at a regular kennel or doggy day care, having a trusted individual go to their house and take care of them can get pricey.
When Jen Hanna visited Bo Stegall | The Salon for a regular hair appointment, a conversation about her therapy dog turned into a business plan for a project that would bring the community together to create an affordable and convenient option for pets to stay.
Stegall said the idea came up about two years ago with Hanna, a former professional golfer and women’s golf team coach at Furman. She created a 74-page business model and started looking for investors. “It didn’t cross my mind to invest in another business,” Stegall said.
However, he felt they had the same vision and passion, so Stegall told her he wanted to be her business partner. And after a few years of doing market research in the area, the duo set out to create an affordable, five-star experience for dogs, The Noble Dog Hotel, and a nonprofit, The Canine Healing Project.
A five-star experience
Pets will have the chance to experience a number of amenities including different suite options, a fitness center and lounge, spa treatments and more. “Our guests are kings and queens,” Stegall said. “We want to make sure they feel comfortable and [their owners] feel comfortable.”
Parents of overnight guests will have three different suite options to choose from: a standard 24-square-foot, a medium 35-square-foot or a 60-square-foot penthouse suite with a luxury twin-size bed. Upon arrival, guests will have a guest coordinator assigned to them and an itinerary created for their stay. Coordinators will be available 24/7 and will be the main point of contact for pet parents.
All private suites include private webcams, an unlimited pass to the fitness center, the option for evening story time or snuggle time and optional homemade USDA organic meals prepared by a private chef. Owners may bring their own pet’s food from home instead. Stegall said the price difference for the different suites is “not a lot at all.”
The spa element of the hotel will offer a full list of grooming services where pets will have their own pet stylist. A quick wash area will also allow owners to bring in their pets for a bath in between grooming appointments. Stegall said he is developing a luxury hair care line of natural and organic hair care products for dogs.
The fitness center will have k9 rubber flooring, material specifically designed to be therapeutic for dogs, and webcams for owners to check in on their pets, Stegall said.
Guests will be divided daily into groups based on their sizes and energy levels. For those who would rather spend a relaxing afternoon resting than playing, there will be a private lounge area. Passes for the fitness center include hourly, half-day or full-day options.
A full-time trainer will be on staff at The Noble Dog Hotel, offering private and group training classes. The trainer specializes in senior and socially challenged dog care.
Other services offered are the option to Skype with your pet and guest coordinator, extended hours for convenient pickup and drop off throughout the week, and a rewards program where individuals can earn points for future purchases. The hotel’s hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Noble Dog Hotel will also feature a café for pet parents and dog lovers. Plans for the café are still in the making, but Stegall said a brunch menu would definitely be served. The café will have tall ceilings with glass walls where guests can watch rambunctious dogs at play. Individuals will be able to walk to the café by way of the Swamp Rabbit Trail that is planned to extend directly behind Hampton Station. “It’s a part of the brand, but a different and separate space,” Stegall said.
The perfect location
Stegall said they had been looking at a building for the hotel for six months, but hit some bumps along the way. The idea of placing The Noble Dog’s home at Hampton Station in Greenville’s “Water Tower District” came up through another conversation with Rob Howell, another client of his. The hotel will join several other tenants such as Birds Fly South at the new Hampton Station.
“It just worked out exactly how it was supposed to be,” Stegall said.
Moving forward, he hopes the concept will grow and eventually open a location in Asheville.
A sense of community
A vital element of Stegall’s and Hanna’s plan includes The Canine Healing Project. The nonprofit project will allow dogs from kill shelters around the Upstate to be rescued and brought to The Noble Dog Hotel. The rescues will live at the hotel to be trained as therapy dogs. “All people have to do [to adopt] is commit to being a therapy dog parent,” Stegall said. He hopes the project will inspire a generation of people and create a sense of community.
“The biggest thing we want everybody to know is that this is really about more than just humans and fur babies; this is about bringing our community together and inspiring people to get involved with nonprofits.”
The Noble Dog Hotel is slated to open this fall.
