By Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney

Sydney is gearing up for the Apec summit

Sydney's brothels are preparing for a very busy week as thousands of delegates and officials descend on the Australian city for a major summit.

One establishment said it was expecting business to boom and had been receiving overseas telephone enquiries for weeks.

Sydney is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum.

One Sydney brothel is offering an Apec special called The Presidential Platter, which apparently includes a variety of pleasures.

Then there is the United Nations option, which features escorts from a range of countries.

Regulated trade

Thousands of foreign delegates, journalists and other officials have begun arriving in Sydney. When the hard work is over, some may well have more on their mind than a trip to the zoo or Bondi beach.

The big question that prospective brothel clients from overseas have been asking is not about the price but how discreet a visit could be during this high-profile international conference.

A brothel industry spokesman said complimentary services would not be available but suggested that there might be an Apec discount.

With business set to boom, many of Sydney's most popular sex workers will be on duty during a special public holiday, which will coincide with the meeting of Apec's 21 leaders.

The city's brothels and massage parlours enjoyed a surge in patronage during the Olympic Games seven years ago.