Hilton Team Member Meets Her Four-Legged Friend at Work

At Hilton, our Team Members make long-lasting friendships and connections at work – but it is not every day that you leave the office with a puppy BFF! Meet Josie, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, and Murphy, Aussie Doodle – two best friends that met here at Hilton. How would a Hilton Team Member adopt a dog at our McLean corporate office? Keep reading to learn about Josie and Murphy’s story.

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Where it All Began: Team Member Appreciation Week (TMAW) June ’22 at McLean Corporate Office

During TMAW last year, to show our Team Members how much we appreciate their hard work we had a puppies and popsicles event! A litter of seven Aussie Doodle puppies came to the McLean office, and Josie was super excited to take a break from her workday to cuddle with the pups. 
Did you know you were in the market for a puppy before TMAW?
“I was very much lobbying my husband to adopt a puppy, and it wasn’t until I sent him photos of the adorable puppies at TMAW that he finally came around. It was great to connect with Wolf Trap Animal Rescue (WTAR) because I knew they’d be great partners in helping us find our new best friend. After the event, I immediately applied to adopt a puppy and kept my eyes peeled on the WTAR site for the right furry friend.”
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 The Adoption
Two weeks after TMAW, Josie saw Murphy on Wolf Trap Animal Rescue’s site and applied immediately. Murphy loves playing with other dogs, meeting new people, and playing tug with Josie. 
How did you know Murphy was the puppy for you?
“My husband and I are very active. We normally like to run, hike, go on trips and explore new places so we were looking for a dog that could keep up and be comfortable tagging along in our adventures. Murphy was the first one born out of his litter; he has “first one out” energy – he always needs to lead the pack!”
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Hilton’s Pet-Friendly Culture
In September of 2022, Hilton McLean hosted a bring your dog to work day event where our Team Members brought their furry friends to the office. Josie and Murphy’s story came full circle when she brought Murphy back to the place they met. They had such a fun day playing with the other dogs, running around the turf, and snacking on puppachinos. 
How has Hilton’s culture played a role in this whole experience? 
“Hilton’s culture has played a huge, positive role in this experience! I’m surrounded by Team Members who are also full-time dog parents and understand when Murphy wants to chime in on a Teams call. Hilton’s commitment to a flexible work environment and its inclusive culture has really helped me bring my full self to work, including my dog mom self! Not to mention the ability to bring Murphy along on our travel adventures – he’s a big Canopy fan and would at least have gold Hilton Honors status by now.”