Different accommodation options, ranging from Standard to Deluxe to Balcony Suites, with television sets in each room, a swimming pool, a separate TV lounge, a saloon, a spa with Spanish perfumes, and a cafeteria for wedding and birthday parties.
No, this isn’t a luxury hotel coming up in your neighbourhood -- it is India’s first ever five-star hotel for pets. Christened ‘Critterati’, it recently opened for business in Gurugram’s DLF Phase IV. And not surprisingly, those visiting the luxurious, six-floor, 12,000 sq ft property can’t help but feel jealous.
“After a tour of the hotel, people tell us that they would like to be born a dog in their next birth,” said Deepak Chawla, the chief executive officer of Critterati.
Mr. Chawla conceded that it might not be a “wise business idea” to invest crores of rupees on a project of this kind. But his aim is to “redefine the pet culture” in India. “The United States has such hotels, but there are none in Asia or Europe.”
Currently focussed on dogs, the hotel caters to all pet-related needs under one roof — including day-care, night boarding, a clinic, and a shop that sells everything from pet food to toys and accessories. The rooms for boarding come with a live camera so that owners can check on their pets at any time. Boarding for cats is in the pipeline.
The hotel has a play area with trained staff, toys, and games to help the animals socialise. Regular swimming sessions, a bathing area, and care chambers for pets with special needs are also provided. The spa offers ‘pawdicure’, massage, hair-colouring and complete makeover services.
Mr. Chawla's wife Jaanvi, Chief Operating Officer, Critterati, said they offered four different packages for annual memberships, depending on the size of the pets. While the annual membership for a ‘small buddy’ costs ₹23,999, the cost for a medium buddy is ₹28,999.
Similarly, for the large and extra-large buddies, the price is ₹33,999 and ₹38,999. The night boarding charges are ₹1,499 per night, but available at a discounted price of ₹999 for a package of seven nights. “We had 10-12 dogs for a week during the Diwali break for night boarding,” she said.
The pet owners visiting for the first time are required to fill in a form giving the personality and vaccination details of their pet and are offered an “access card” valid for three months. “We also provide pick-and-drop facilities and various payment options including e-wallet,” Mr Chawla said.
