Italian Fiumcino (AP) – dog Owners often face a dilemma before travel: leave your beloved pet with a sitter or in a kennel? Both require a lot of planning and logistics. This can be stressful and time-consuming for fur parents.
Fiumicino International Airport in Rome Following a similar initiative in Frankfurt, they attempted to streamline the process by opening one of the first on-site hotels at major European airports. Dog Relais workers can even retrieve puppies from the terminal so that travelers can proceed directly to the plane.
“The project fits a strategy that provides a highly immersive experience for passengers,” said Marilena Blasi, chief commercial officer of Aeroporti Di Roma, which manages two airports in the Italian capital. “In this case, we are serving the dog and dog owner.”
Dog Hotel’s basic rooms cost around 40 euros ($47) and feature temperature controlled floors and private gardens. You can place more tempered or lonely dogs in the kennel at the edge of the facility. There you can interact with staff rather than other dogs with a typical grass pen. At night, ambient music with frequencies with low soft tone frequencies designed for relaxation is piped through the speakers in the room.
There are optional extras, ranging from regular grooming, bathing and cleaning tooth services to aromatherapy with lavender and peppermint scents, to more luxurious things like a mild scent or arnica cream rubbed against painful muscles and joints.
The owner, who is unhappy with the standard problem webcam for dogs to check in from afar, will spring in a 60 euro (approximately $70) premium room with a screen for a 24th hour video call. You can even pamper your pet by throwing snacks through an application connected to the dispenser.
The facility serves not only travelers but also dog owners who need day care.
Alessandra Morelli, who worked in the HR for Aeroporti de Roma, regularly leaves behind a two-year-old chocolate-colored Labrador retriever.
“I was able to take Nina to this dog hotel, which changed the balance between my life, my life and professional life, because I can enjoy my work day and my personal trip completely in peace and tranquility,” Morelli said.
Dario Chiasarini, 32, said she brought Rottweiler puppy Athena to her dog for training. And he said he was going to check out his beloved puppy at the hotel whenever he and his girlfriend needed to travel.
“We definitely rely on them without hesitation because we have come to know the people who work here. It’s essential to us, for love for animals and for peace of mind knowing who we entrust Athena to.” “It’s certainly the service we use if we need it.”
Dog hotels have proven popular so far. All 40 rooms were occupied in August as Italians took a customary summer break and millions of passengers passed through Fiumicino. Occupancy has been almost two-thirds since the door opened in May, Blasi said.
The same month when the dog hotel opened, the Italian Commercial Aviation Authority changed its rules to allow large dogs to fly inside the airplane cabin for domestic flights if they are in safe wooden frames. According to Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, the first such flight will take off on September 23rd.
Salvini admits that while many people are happy to put puppies on planes, others may be irritated. However, at the pet meeting on September 16th, he said: “We have to always use judgment, but… for me it is a source of pride and takes a step forward from a civilization perspective.”
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Rome Associated Press Writer David Biller contributed to the report.
