A LOW-PROFILE industry will be under the spotlight this weekend, when high-flyers from around the world jet in to catch the world's first Formula One night race in Singapore.

High-end social escort agencies are reporting a 20 per cent rise in business, with one agent maintaining that he had a booking for a local starlet. Her fee: $40,000 for six hours of work.

Prince Wong, owner of Singapore Escort Services, declined to reveal the identity of both client and escort. He stands to collect about $9,000 from the escort's fee.

His company has closed five bookings, up from the usual two or three per weekend, he said. His clients are foreign bosses in the gas and banking industries.

'This is the best weekend this year,' said Wong, who will pocket more than $50,000 - nearly as much as what he would earn in a regular month.

Demand for high-end escort services usually surge during high-profile international events, when high-rollers want to be entertained by and seen with a glamorous woman on their arm.

The owner of escort service The High Society Club, who wanted to be known only as Julien, said his agency had a 30 per cent increase in business during the Singapore Airshow in February.

He expects last-minute calls to come in today and tomorrow, and thinks business will be up by 75 per cent.

A manager at social escort company Dave McBright, who wished to be known only as Simon, said he has 18 bookings so far, up from the two to five requests on an average weekend.

One company is even slashing prices to lure customers. Singapore Model Escort's website states that there is a 'Singapore F1 GP Special offer' at '50 per cent discount or even more'.

The company declined to be interviewed.

Checks show that an hour with a high-society escort would set a customer back by between $1,000 and $1,500.

The escort's job is to smile, entertain the client and his friends by making small talk and sometimes show the client around Singapore.

Escort companies generally get a 40 per cent cut of the escort's fee, but this varies according to individual escorts.

Just who are these clients looking for during these international high-profile events?

Agencies say they are rather more picky, asking for escorts from a good family background and at least a university degree.

Julien said: 'They want escorts who don't look, sound or dress like escorts. They want people to think, 'what a nice girlfriend he has'.''

In his fold are airline stewardesses, insurance and property agents, nurses, teachers and even a lawyer. All have at least a polytechnic diploma.

As for sexual services, agencies made it clear it was not part of the deal. That is strictly between the escort and client to arrange.

Prostitution is not illegal in Singapore but soliciting in a public place is and carries a fine of up to $1,000, and a maximum $2,000 fine and six months' jail for subsequent offences.