Rome's airport launches Europe's first on-site luxury dog hotel: calm pups, seamless travel, and a $47 room with 432 Hz lullaby
Rome's Fiumicino International Airport has opened one of Europe’s first on-site dog hotels, turning pet care into part of the travel experience. Basic rooms start at about $47 and feature temperature-controlled floors and private gardens; at night, the rooms play ambient music tuned to 432 Hz to calm anxious dogs. In August, all 40 rooms were occupied, and occupancy has hovered around two-thirds since May—proof that fur parents want a seamless journey that begins long before boarding.
In This Article:
- Inside Dog Relais: how the airport's dog hotel works — from rooms to video calls
- Real stories: staff and owners celebrate peace of mind and trust
- Beyond boarding: daycare, care, and the dog-first culture at Fiumicino
- Policy ripple: Italy allows large dogs in cabin on domestic flights; what it means for travel
Inside Dog Relais: how the airport's dog hotel works — from rooms to video calls
The hotel is operated by Dog Relais, and staff even retrieve pups from the terminal so travelers can head straight to their flights. More timid dogs can be placed in kennels at the edge of the facility, where they interact with staff rather than other dogs in the common grass pens. The hotel offers grooming, bathing, and dental cleaning, plus aromatherapy with lavender or peppermint to ease nerves and arnica cream for tired joints. A premium room for $70 includes a built-in screen for round-the-clock video calls and a smartphone-connected treat dispenser. The site also offers daycare for dog owners who need daytime care.
Real stories: staff and owners celebrate peace of mind and trust
Marilena Blasi, chief commercial officer at Aeroporti di Roma, says the project fits into a strategy to provide a very immersive experience to passengers. “In this case, we provide services to dogs and the owners of the dogs.” Alessandra Morelli, 47, an HR professional at the airport, leaves her 2-year-old Labrador Nina there and says the hotel has changed her life. “Since I’ve been able to bring Nina to this dog hotel, my life, and the balance between my personal and professional life have changed because it allows me to enjoy my working day and my personal travels in total peace and tranquility.” Dario Chiassarini, 32, who works in car sales, began bringing his Rottweiler Athena for training and now plans to book stays whenever he travels with his girlfriend. “We will rely on them without hesitation and without doubt — both because we got to know the people who work here, which for us is essential, and because of the love they have for animals and the peace of mind of knowing who we are entrusting Athena to. It is certainly a service that, if we should need it, we will make use of.” The dog hotel has proved popular: all 40 rooms were occupied in August, and occupancy has averaged nearly two-thirds since opening in May.
Beyond boarding: daycare, care, and the dog-first culture at Fiumicino
Beyond boarding, the facility provides daycare services, expanding what the airport offers to travelers and their dogs. Alessandra Morelli says the arrangement has helped her maintain balance between work and travel, while Dario Chiassarini says the staff’s care gives him peace of mind about Athena. The site’s clean, well-organized environment and the staff’s evident love of animals have built trust among owners who rely on this service when they travel.
Policy ripple: Italy allows large dogs in cabin on domestic flights; what it means for travel
That same month, Italy’s commercial aviation authority changed rules to allow large dogs to fly inside plane cabins for domestic flights if they are inside secured crates. The first such flight is set to take off on Sept. 23, according to Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. He acknowledged that while many people are happy to have their pups on board, others may feel annoyed. “We always have to use judgment, but … for me it’s a source of pride, as well as a step forward from the point of view of civilization.” The move marks a dramatic shift in how Italians travel with pets and signals that the airport’s new dog hotel is part of a broader modernization of pet-friendly travel.
