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Hospitality goes on a green trip

Hotels are now keeping the ecology in mind with their people and environment friendly products

PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

GREEN LOO Eco-friendly bath products for the conscious guest

Eco-friendly and organic are definitely the `in' concepts of this decade. What started off as a trend years ago has grown to become a part of our day-to-day life. The importance of social responsibility and the need for conserving the ecology has been well understood by especially the hospitality industry. Most of them have taken every measure possible to stay eco-friendly.

From using refrigerators and air conditioners that don't deplete the ozone layer to timer-based lights to save energy, from garbage disposal to non-plastic bags, every aspect has been taken into consideration. Conserving water and electricity tops the list for most hotels. Aditya Park Inn, for example, has a water treatment plant for recycling water. "We ensure double way usage of water, so the recycled water is for flushes and gardens again," explains Sanjeev Tiwari, F&B manger at the hotel. "We have a energy conservation team to look into this matter. We also have an advanced sensor based lighting system, though we had to spend a fortune on it. We don't use plastic in our hotel," says Ravinder Singh, F&B manager, Hotel Golconda. The hotel, which is currently under renovation, has put an exterior glazing that will not let the heat escape and ensure that the A/C doesn't consume much energy.

Recycled paper and more

Most hotels also use bags that are made out of recyclable papers. At Aditya Park Inn bags are made out of newspaper. "Our laundry bags are made out of jute exclusively for our group," elucidates Prachi Dixit, PR Manager, Taj Group of Hotel elucidates, adding, "Even the various cleaning liquids we use are made from eco-friendly chemicals. We have strict measures for storing and disposing excess hazardous chemicals as well. We also maintain a notice board for its employee, where it lists out the latest in eco-friendly methods."

And it is not just the five star hotels that have this prerogative, mid segment hotels are also tuning into it. "All the sanitary products used in our hotel are organic. Even the cover we used to wrap them is made out of recycled paper. We use only wood-free pencils in our hotel, than includes the ones we provide the guest," says Subhomoy De, general manger, Minerva Grand. "As a part of the society we also have some social responsibility and that is what prompted us to think of environmental friendly measures. If the eco system is damaged it is ultimately going to hamper us. It is cost effective as well," he adds.

MANGALA RAMAMOORTHY

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