Hilton’s ‘concierge’ can fetch — and bark
Goldendoodle an ambassador to hotel
The upper lobby of the Hilton Milwaukee City Center buzzes as a petite blond holds court, posing as admirers call out her name and shutters click.
Who is this fetching creature? A pop star? A film actress?
No, it’s Millie, a 7-month-old mini goldendoodle that doubles as the “canine concierge” at the downtown hotel, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave.
“People have said it’s a great idea to have a dog in a hotel. She’s really changed the atmosphere,” said Rusty Dahler, the Hilton’s human concierge and Millie’s owner.
Tuesday through Saturday, the pup greets guests who stop to pet the 17-pound ball of energy. Smiles abound as people coo over Millie’s antics, which include snagging a ride on a hotel luggage cart.
She even has her own business cards.
Millie’s a perfect ambassador not only for the Hilton, but the city. Dahler, a North Carolina transplant, called her Millie “because it represents the first and last syllables of Milwaukee.”
When choosing a dog, Dahler was careful to find a puppy with the temperament to be with people all day long. “I’ve always had golden retrievers, but I knew a smaller dog would be better,” he said.
Millie has a naturally mellow mood, but to ensure a welcoming atmosphere, she undergoes special sessions with a trainer at the hotel twice a month.
“We’re learning as we go, because we don’t have a lot of role models,” Dahler said. “There are hotels that have dogs in them, but they’re usually not large hotels like ours. I’m lucky I have a supportive general manager.”
It’s not just the guests who get a kick out of the canine. Millie is a great stress-buster for employees who stop by at break time. Danya Oakey, the Hilton’s audiovisual technician, is one of Millie’s biggest fans.
“She’s my little ray of sunshine,” Oakey said. “Every time you see people walk by, they get a big smile on their face when she wags her tail.”
At least one employee doubted the idea of having a dog in the hotel would be approved. When Millie arrived, he predicted she would last only two weeks, but finally he succumbed to her charms. “Since then, I’ve found him kissing the top of her head,” Dahler said.
Quiet for a 7-month-old dog, Millie spends her workday sitting on the concierge counter or lounging in her monogrammed bed on the floor next to a pile of toys. “I’ve never had to buy a toy, and people send collars, scarves and sweaters,” Dahler said.
After work, Millie and her owner hop on the bus to go home.
“I never did social media before, but I started an Instagram for her (@millieatthehilton) and it just went over 1,000 followers,” Dahler said. “I’ll walk down the street in my neighborhood and people will ask, ‘Is that Millie? I follow her!’ ”
Like any celebrity, Millie is beginning to book personal appearances. She marched in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, and on Derby Day she will host the Hilton’s party — dressed as a jockey.
It’s been fun, Dahler said, but finding and training a canine concierge hasn’t been easy.
“It helped me realize good ideas are hard work,” he said. “But when I see the joy she brings to people in the lobby and you see them smiling, it’s worth it. The most frequent comment we get is, ‘Every hotel should have a dog.’ ”