By Rachel Chan

FOR the first time at the Natas travel fair this weekend, there is something for everyone, including their pets.

A pet hotel is out to woo travellers who need a boarding place for their furry companions while they are away on vacation.

Petopia, a pet-wellness centre in Seletar Hills Estate that made news recently for offering luxury pet spa services, is pitching tailor-made holiday itineraries, beach outings and scented air-conditioned rooms with piped music for the four-legged.

Owners can even check on Fifi on a mobile webcam service.

“We see a potential market for people who want their pets to check-in at a premium place when they go on holiday,” said Mr Marcus Khoo, 37, executive director of Petopia.

“Some of our patrons have confided that their dogs have come back traumatised, with bad skin conditions, after staying at other boarding places. They don’t mind paying a bit more if their pets are well taken care of,” he added.

Petopia, which already has a mind-boggling array of spa treatments, such as microbubble baths, clay packs and reiki sessions, wants to add a creative activity to its daycare services: A four-hour beach outing for poochie.

“We’re trying to be creative, but we need critical mass to cover costs,” said Mr Khoo.

Not surprisingly, occupancy at the pet hotel peaks during popular travel periods.

Between May and July, occupancy can reach 70 per cent at Petopia’s hotel premises, which can accommodate up to 28 dogs.

The next peak will be from October to February next year, said Mr Khoo. Some patrons have even made bookings for the Chinese New Year period.

“We’ve observed that people don’t just travel during school holidays and long weekends nowadays. They can take the entire week off if a public holiday falls in that week,” noted Mr Khoo.

A night at Petopia ranges from $35 for a 75cm by 75cm tiled enclosure, to $75 for a premium room about the ] size of a bathroom in a Housing Board flat.

Petopia is not the only exhibitor offering something unusual at the fair. Remy Cointreau International will be selling 18 products – including whisky, cognac and tequila – at near-duty- free prices to visitors who have purchased travel packages.

“Many travellers want to buy more alcohol products at duty- free prices but are faced with limitations. We want to reward these customers by extending the offer during the fair,” said Mr Thomas Goh, 31, Remy Cointreau International’s key account manager for Singapore.

Petopia and Remy Cointreau International are two of 1,091 booths – the highest number so far at this biannual travel fair – at the Singapore Expo this weekend.

The organiser, National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas), is expecting 67,000 visitors and hopes to achieve at least $70 million in sales.

There were already a record 1,056 booths at its February show.

If Natas achieves its sales target, takings will be 11 per cent more than the $63 million it reaped in February.

rachchan@sph.com.sg

The Natas travel fair is on at the Singapore Expo, Halls 3B, 4 and 5 from today until Sunday, 10am to 9.30pm. Entry tickets are valid only on the day of purchase and cost $4 each. Those below 12 years old enter for free.

Step in and be welcomed by a soothing scent of essential oils permeating through the entire centre to put furry (and human) guests at ease. Boasting a spa concept inspired from human spas and modern pet spas from Taiwan and Japan, Petopia is redefining luxury pet spa services in Singapore with its holistic approach and state of the art equipment.

Since opening its doors in mid April 2010, Petopia has introduced a series of ”firsts” to the Singapore pet spa scene. The one-stop pet wellness centre divides its services into three main categories – styling, spa and healing and hotel and daycare, but it offers more than the standard fare.

Included in their pet styling menu are add-on options like hair extensions, hair deco, fashion-dyeing and pedicure nail caps. Their spa and healing services include Ultrasonic Ozone Spa, microbubble baths, Far Infrared (FIR) therapy, healing clays, and healing sessions by Petopia’s physiological health consultant who makes use of traditional Japanese and Chinese healing techniques such as reiki and moxibustion.

Pet parents can rest easy knowing their pets are in good hands, executive director Marcus Khoo, who is also Petopia’s resident physiological health consultant, is a naturopathic (alternative medicine) practitioner. He is trained in aromatherapy, herbology, homeopathy, massage, reiki (Karuna) and moxibustion.

Another one of Petopia’s specialities is their microbubble bath. Already popular in Taiwan, Japan and in Western countries, micro-bubble machines shoot out tiny bubbles, small enough to penetrate deep into the pores of the skin, giving the skin an extremely thorough wash. Microbubble baths have been proven to remove dirt effectively without the use of soaps and shampoos, perfect for pets with sensitive skin.

Pet parents can even choose to pamper their pets with Petopia’s 20-minute Far Infrared (FIR) therapy session. The animals are coated with one of Petopia’s special healing clays, wrapped with a towel and put under the infrared machine, which gives off radiant heat without the harmful ultraviolet rays. It helps to strengthen the immune system and improve blood circulation.

This premium pet spa uses a centralised computer system that was specially designed for managing the different services the centre offers; detailed and updated information of their furry guests can be pulled out with just one click from computer terminals strategically placed in the reception, grooming, healing and boarding facilities.

Petopia’s transparent concept of floor to ceiling glass panels allows pet parents to see their pets during styling, spa services and daycare. Pet parents can even watch their fur kids at Petopia’s boarding facility via live webcam feeds while they are away.

PETOPIA  - 26 Jalan Kelutut, Singapore 809043 (off Yio Chu Kang Road) Tel: 6886 9056 www.petopia.sg