Since opening in 1997, The Orchid has achieved an occupancy rate of 90 per cent barring the initial period when it was thrown open.

The Orchid is now all set to graduate from an `ecotel hotel' to a `Five Globe Ecotel Hotel'. The re-classification assumes importance since, at present, there are only five such hotels in the world. The Orchid is the first hotel in India to achieve this `status'.

Mr Christopher Balfe, divisional president, HVS - Eco Services, which is a division of HVS International, said, ``Being environment-friendly helps in building value and enhances marketability. It has a direct impact on the room tariff and hotel occupancy.''

HVS International is a firm specialising in hotel consulting and appraisal worldwide. It certifies the `Five Globe Ecotel' status for hotels worldwide.

The Orchid has reduced its power consumption by 35 per cent to 65 kw/per hour per room from 104 kw/per hour when it commenced operations three years back. Its water requirement too has significantly come down by 21 per cent over the same period, thus saving on operational cost. It also charges a premium room tariff of $270 per day.

The new status of a `Five Globe Ecotel Hotel' would be assigned for a period of two years. It will be reviewed at the end of the two-year period.

Besides compliance with environment legislation, employee education and community participation, The Orchid would have to observe stringent guidelines on solid waste management, energy efficiency and water conservation because of its new status.

Conservation and recycling are one of many ways of saving costs. However, achieving eco-friendly status is a difficult proposition since the success rate stands at 10 per cent among all those who have applied, Mr Balfe added.

Though a perception exists that construction of ecotel hotel would be at a cost of 20 per cent premium than a normal hotel, ``proper integration of technologies by architects and engineers can help develop an ecotel hotel at a little or no additional cost,'' Mr Balfe said.