The Hindu Business Line : The Rain Tree Hotel gets Ecotel certification

MR C. SUBBA REDDY, Managing Director, The Rain Tree Hotel, receiving the Ecotel certification from Mr Manav Thadani, Managing Director, HVS International, (left) at a press conference in Chennai on Wednesday. Mr Geoff Magee, CEO, is also seen. — Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai , April 19

Work on the second The Rain Tree Hotel in Chennai is likely to start in two months' time, according to Mr C. Subba Reddy, Managing Director, Ceebros Hotels, a part of Ceebros Property Development Pvt Ltd.

The project is estimated to cost about Rs 80 crore and is to be located on Anna Salai, he said. Another hotel is also planned near the airport.

The first Ceebros hotel, Rain Tree Hotel in Chennai, was on Wednesday awarded the Ecotel certification by the US-based HVS International, the authorised licensee of Ecotel.

Mr Geoff Magee, CEO, The Rain Tree Hotel, said this was the first hotel in south India to get the Ecotel certification. The Ecotel certification is based on five areas of environmentalism — conservation of energy and water, solid waste management, employee environmental education and an environment commitment.

Mr Manav Thadani, Managing Director, HVS International, said that only four other hotels in India have qualified for the Ecotel certification.

The Ecotel Collection is a group of international inns, hotels and resorts that define the concept of environmental responsibility in the hospitality industry. All Ecotel certified hotels must pass a detailed inspection and satisfy stringent criteria set by environment experts , he said.Ecotel Collection began in 1994 when the New York Vista Hotel reopened as the world's first Ecotel certified hotel after the bombing of the World Trade Centre. Mr Thandani said since then over 1,100 hotels, resorts and inns have applied for the certification. Currently, there are 36 Ecotel hotels in the world.