They come for the view, but visitors to Lake Louise may just stay for the pooch.
A four-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, Marcus, has become the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise's most famous staff member, charming tourists to the hotel with doggy kisses and daily walks.
According to the hotel, Marcus is part of Fairmont's Canine Ambassadors program, which allows "travelers missing their own furry friend or looking for a companion while taking a walk (to) bring along the resident Fairmont dog for extra security and the comfort of home."
Marcus has lived at the hotel for more than two years, attracting attention after he failed to graduate from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
"Unfortunately, Marcus didn't pass the final test," hotel spokesperson Lori Cote told CBC Calgary.
"He's just a little too friendly. He likes to give kisses and play fetch and all those kinds of things — not really what you look for in a Seeing Eye dog."
Affectionately titled the "Director of Pet Relations," Marcus loves taking naps in the hotel's lobby, where tourists lavish him with attention, reports the Calgary Sun.
Guest of the hotel can request to walk Marcus around the picturesque lake - a real benefit for families with kids, General manager Gregor Resch told the Calgary Sun.
“For children in particular, I have a couple myself, the ability to play with the dog and take the dog for a walk without actually having to buy one and bring it home makes a big difference,” said Resch.
“At the end of the day, it puts a little bit of personal touch in a very busy hotel.”
Marcus isn't the only dog keeping guests company at a Fairmont hotel in Alberta.
Travelers checking in at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald are greeted by a tail-wagging Golden Labrador named Smudge, who also flunked out of seeing eye dog training.
As a Canine Ambassador Smudge's job also involves greeting guests, as well as going out for walks with them.
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