We’ve got a two-parter episode for you this week. In our first segment we’re talking about one of the more heartwarming hospitality trends we’ve seen recently: Dogs in residence at hotels.

Hotels editor Christina Jelski brings on Joel Morales of Castlerock Asset Management, which manages the Bobby Hotel in Nashville, and Rauni Kew of the Inn by the Sea in Maine to talk about some of the logistics of training and managing a lobby dog; how it benefits the guests and the hotel; and the rescue, shelter, training and adoption partnerships that all feed into this pretty awesome trend.

In our second segment: In a previous episode we had antitrust lawyer Scott Wagner and aviation editor Robert Silk on to talk about the Spirit-JetBlue merger, and within three days of recording both airlines announced the agreement was ending. So we brought them back for a talk about what may have happened – and how executives or boards might feel when a deal goes kaput.

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. The Spirit-JetBlue segment was recorded March 5, and the dogs-in-hotels segment was recorded March 8. Both were edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com

Related links:

Lobby dogs:

Resident dogs bring friendly, furry faces to hotel lobbies https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotels-with-pet-dogs-in-residence

Podcast episode from 2020: Have pet, will travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Travel-goes-to-the-dogs

A warm welcome at Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa (featuring lobby dog Scout) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Warm-welcome-at-renovated-Teton-Mountain-Lodge-Spa

Spirit-JetBlue:

Regulatory hurdles were too much for Spirit and JetBlue to overcome https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Regulatory-hurdles-too-high-for-Spirit-JetBlue

Previous podcast episode: Spirit, JetBlue and antitrust law https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Spirit-JetBlue-merger-antitrust-law