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 Hannah gets around. Like most of us, perhaps not as quickly as she used to but make no mistake, she gets around. Whether greeting you in the lobby, visiting you in your room or just stopping by the hot tub, Hannah is a working girl, albeit not in the traditional sense. Judging by the number of naps she takes – in front of anyone, at any time – her job as the official greeter and Host Dog of the Hotel Frisco Colorado in historic, downtown Frisco, Colorado, just ten miles northwest of Breckenridge, seems wonderfully fulfilling yet obviously exhausting.
Located at 308 Main Street in Frisco, Hannah, a ten year-old Yellow Lab, her “brother” Buddha, an 18 month-old Chihuahua, and their owners Mary and Mark Waldman (ages irrelevant) have been welcoming guests and their pets at the Hotel Frisco since 2002. The hospitality and warmth of the Hotel Frisco and its staff spills out onto the quaint, historic main street: a welcome respite for those accompanied by their four legged friends. As if the multitudes of watering bowls adorning the entry of nearly every business on Main Street weren’t an indication of just how dog-welcoming this community is, one step inside the Hotel Frisco will envelope you with a certainty that you and Yancy have found your home-away-from-home. The comfy chairs in front of the beautiful fireplace beckon you to nestle in and let Libby discover the area just under the steps where dog toys and Hannah’s comfy chair (which she is more than willing to share) reside.
“After taking a year to travel with Hannah, from Cabo, San Lucas to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, we decided to settle in Frisco, our favorite place to visit as skiers.” Mary said of their adventure in 2001 and 2002. Even before the ink was dry on the official closing documents the Waldman’s knew the Hotel Frisco would be a pet-welcoming establishment. “After seeking hotels which would take us (with Hannah),” she said, “we discovered what was genuinely pet-welcoming and what was pet-tolerating. We were fortunate to experience what ‘should’ be going on with a pet-welcoming establishment.” All 13 rooms are available to those with pets although it didn’t begin as such. “Initially we opened four of the rooms to those traveling with pets.” Mark said. “Within two years or so we realized we were turning away more guests by reserving rooms for those without pets, so we made a change we’ve never regretted.” Most frequented by dogs, the Waldman’s said that they have welcomed a “handful of cat and surprisingly, bird travelers as well.” Asking for a cell number upon checking in, the Waldman’s have rarely needed to contact a guest should a four-legged friend need a bit of attention while they are away from their room. “We’ve found that having the immediate contact information allows the guests to leave their pets in the room while still ensuring the other guests are not inconvenienced by a lonely pet who might want his or her voice to be heard.” he says with a grin.
Strolling through the Hotel Frisco immediately wraps you in all that is comfort and elegance. All unoccupied rooms with their doors propped open invite you to relax in the individuality of each room. Exquisite down-comforters and linens embellish the beds which grace the rooms that spoil you with beautiful mountain views, large private decks (great for the dogs to nap upon and sun themselves), patios or private access to the hot tub area. Not limited to the typical complimentary soap and shampoo, a beautiful little bag containing sun block, facial pumpkin peels, blueberry antioxidant masks, cranberry cleansers, bare foot treatments, facial and hand cream incites you to indulge yourself after a stimulating day of skiing at Breckenridge, Copper, A-Basin or Keystone, shopping or walking with Winston (leash free with voice command) at the nearby White River National Forest, just three blocks away.
After a superb dinner at The Boat Yard (located directly next door), we enjoyed the company of Hannah who accurately presumed the propped-open door of our room was an open invitation to visit. A brief stroll through the room, Hannah had other guests with whom to visit and socialize should the need be present. “One of our frequent guests who are unable to travel with his pet will request Hannah’s company when he visits.” Waldman said. “And while we ‘request’ that guests not have their dogs jump on the bed unless they have a blanket or sheet to cover the comforters,” she said, “we have been told that Hannah ‘will kick you off the bed’.”
Whether staying with the Waldman’s at the Hotel Frisco or at one of the 80 private condos or homes in the Frisco and Breckenridge area which they professionally manage through their business of Summit Mountain Rentals, guests are certain to understand why the Waldman’s have been a multi-year recipient of the Summit Daily News’, Best of Summit County, “Best Lodging” award in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Don’t be discouraged however if for some reason Hannah’s not on-duty to greet you. On occasion, Hannah has been spotted leaving Frisco Liquor’s located just doors away. At 70 in dog years, she is definitely legal but all is not as it appears. The simple truth is that while most establishments on Main Street offer dog biscuits, Hannah knows where to find the largest biscuits on the block. You can’t blame a girl for trying. After all, even a working girl has her indulgences.
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Everyone enjoys a little pet behind the shoulders, neck and back. AND guess what! It's good for your dog too. A gentle pet massage is a great way to connect with your pet but they will enjoy all the benefits of massage that we receive when we get them. According to Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals benefits of massage may: 
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves -Edna Buchanan
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