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Amit Castelino
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Thakur: We engage our customers with various Green initiatives as follows:
• Guestroom linen reuse program
• Having an option of organising Green meetings for customers
• Involving guests in various activities during Environment Awareness Month in April.
• Observing International Earth Hour in the entire property.

Baljee: Inspiring awareness and responsibility in our guests is an important step for us, especially in a competitive market.

Awareness in our guests is inculcated by strategically placed signs and some innovative measures like, having a display button within the room, giving the guest an option of not having their linen changed. This would lead to reduced energy consumption for laundry purposes.

How much of a difference has  going green made?

Castelino: Going green just means more savings in energy which logically mean better profit margins. Eventually these green measures also give us a feeling that we are doing our bit for the environment and that’s what matters as well.

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COMMENT Comment on this article

Raj: By adhering to the above mentioned good practices we can save 3 to 4 % of the total energy that we are spending.

Thakur : A lot of difference. Going Green directly affects the profitability of the hotel and helps in long term sustainable development.

Do you feel that practising a few green trends gives you an edge over other properties?

Castelino: Yes, guests are conscious about hotels conservation policies. Most of them ask what our initiatives to go green are. Some of them go a step ahead and buy some of these products where they can use at their residences or offices as these are not available easily in the local market. Eventually it does give an edge to our property as we use some products that no other hotel in India could boast of – the use of dimmable CFLs.

Raj: The corporate segment is very much particular about the green initiatives. In many cases we are considered for their bidding process only when we are environmentally conscious hotel. However when it comes to the “Free Individual Travelers (FIT)”, there is a scope for improvement.

Thakur: Going green creates better reputation among customers and investors, new business opportunities and greater operational efficiencies are the major benefits perceived by Indian companies at the overall level. Further, the companies perceive that improved environmental performance leads to increase in shareholder and market value of businesses.

Baljee: Being a socially responsible corporate is important today. ‘Green’ trends help not just conserve precious resources, but also aid cost effectiveness In our company.

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