View allAll Photos Tagged ahmedabad...
Adalaj step-well.
Adalaj is a village 18 kms to the north of Ahmedabad . The 'Vav' (step-well) at Adalaj derives its name from the lady patron, Ruda, wife of the Vaghela chief, Virsinh; who built it in the 15th or 16th century AD.
The 'Vav', laid out in the north-south direction, the step well with the well in the north and the entrance in the south, has a total length of 75.3 metres. It is the only major monument of its kind, having three entrance stairs leading to the stepped corridor. These three entrances meet in the first storey, underground, in a huge square platform. The platform has an octagonal opening on the top.
The platform rests on 16 pillars, eight on the corners, and two in front of each main side. Four built-in shrines, with doors, windows and balconies, mark the four corners of the platform. The stepped corridor begins from this square platform.
The corridor is entirely surrounded by a one-metre high parapet wall with a rounded topping. It descends with four pavilion towers for five storeys. The walls of the 'Vav' are veritable showcases of sculptures and ornamentation. The sculptures range from a king sitting on a stool under a parasol, to erotic scenes; and from ladies churning buttermilk to dancing girls.
The frames of the doors around the entrances of the spiral staircases to the octagonal shaft are surrounded by a 'parikrama', which is an enlarged version of the frames around the niches. Stringcourses running along the sidewalls embellish all parts of the structure, sometimes dividing the wall into horizontal sections. They also appear on the walls of the octagonal shaft, depicting floral or leaf patterns, or rows of animals..
The Jami Masjid in Ahmedabad.
The Jami Masjid of Ahmedabad is one of the biggest and oldest mosques of India, built by a Bahmani ruler Ahmed Shah I (1411-1442), the founder of Ahmedabad, in 1423. One of the major tourist attractions of Gujarat, Jami Masjid is known for its fine and amazing architecture. The Mosque has a total of 260 pillars supporting 15 domes at different elevations. The ami Masjid also had tall minarets, which were destroyed in an earthquake.
Centered on a spacious 75 x 66 meters marble courtyard with entrances on three sides - west, south and north, the Jami Mosque is regarded as one of the most superb and imposing structures of its class in the world. The architecture of the Jami Mosque shows distinctive Hindu and Jain influence, clearly visible on the decorations of walls and the niches of the mosque. One of the distinct features of this Mosque is its royal gallery with beautiful and intricate stonework. There is also a long rectangular ablution tank in the center. The prayer hall of the mosque is a rectangular area with five symmetrical domes. The central Mihrab (position indicating the direction of the Holy Mecca) of the mosque has inscriptions commemorating its completion on January 4, 1424, by Sultan hmad Shah I.
Ahmedabad - Gujarat - India
Muslim to the mosque
Ahmedabad is the largest city and former capital of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. With a population of more than 6.3 million and an extended population of 7.2 million, it is the sixth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area of India. Ahmedabad is located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, 30 km from the state capital Gandhinagar.
Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. It is the second largest producer of cotton in India, and its stock exchange is the country's second oldest. The effects of liberalisation of the Indian economy have energized the city's economy towards tertiary sector activities like commerce, communication and construction.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad
Met de tuktuk rijden we naar de Shree Swami Narayan tempel en de Sidi Saiyyad moskee in het ochtendlicht. Een vriendelijk gezin liet zich fotograferen. We eindigen de dag aan de vrijdag moskee Jami Masjid met een heel grote binnenplaats en rondom een galerij, verder wandelen we naar het inmiddels verlichte Sidi Saiyyad moskee.
Papaya Care is one of the well-known in home health care services provider in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. We provide the possible hospitality and friendly environment with amazing comfort. Our services are designed to help older people and live active, assisted living, skilled nursing, transitional care and memory care services. This comprehensive range of services is intended to make daily life as comfortable as possible, while celebrating the dignity and individuality of each resident.
Visit our website www.papayacare.com/ or Call us today for your FREE, No-Obligation Consultation at +91-992-539-0425
You can watch the all serie here :
opiumm.com/street-photography-ahmedabad
#streetphotography #Ahmedabad
Bain News Service,, publisher.
Gateway, Ahmedabad
[between ca. 1915 and ca. 1920]
1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.
Notes:
Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards.
Photograph shows Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).
Format: Glass negatives.
Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
General information about the Bain Collection is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.ggbain
Higher resolution image is available (Persistent URL): hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.28584
Call Number: LC-B2- 4888-1
Ahmedabad - Gujarat - India
Daily life on the street
Ahmedabad is the largest city and former capital of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. With a population of more than 6.3 million and an extended population of 7.2 million, it is the sixth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area of India. Ahmedabad is located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, 30 km from the state capital Gandhinagar.
Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. It is the second largest producer of cotton in India, and its stock exchange is the country's second oldest. The effects of liberalisation of the Indian economy have energized the city's economy towards tertiary sector activities like commerce, communication and construction.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad
We bezoeken Calico house of Textiles and Sarabhai Foundation collection.
Met de tuktuk rijden we naar de Shree Swami Narayan tempel
NEWS RELEASE
AHMEDABAD OPENING MARKS TUNE HOTELS’ ENTRY INTO INDIA
Presents new green ideas; Rs 599 per night introductory rate
NEW DELHI, 3 May 2013 – Award-winning international hotel chain, Tune Hotels, is all set to welcome its first guests in India with the opening of the 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad this month.
“We look forward to offering travellers to Ahmedabad an unbeatable proposition that combines great savings with a great comfortable stay and in a location that is annexed to the newest Shopping Mall in Ahmedabad. Our business model is designed to take care of the needs of travellers in India looking for great comfort without paying exorbitant rates,” said Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.
“Ahmedabad is an amazingly vibrant city in the fast growing state of Gujarat and we are looking to welcome both business and leisure travellers. We are very excited about this hotel as it marks our brand’s very first entry into India’s very exciting hospitality market. The Tune Hotel Ahmedabad aims to serve both domestic travellers and visitors from abroad, especially members of the large non-resident Indian (NRI) community from Gujarat settled in places like the US, Britain and the Gulf, who may already have had prior knowledge of the brand in the five countries we are already present in” he said.
To celebrate the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, online bookings are now accepted with attractive all-inclusive room charges that start from as low as 599 Indian rupees (US$11 / RM34 / Bt330 / Rp108,000). Guests have the option to choose and pay only for amenities that they require.
The promotion is offered exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com and bookings can be made from 3 May 2013 until 10 May 2013, subject to availability of rooms. The rate is available on a first come, first served basis, for stay period starting 15 May 2013 until 30 September 2013.
The arrival of Tune Hotels in India will also introduce new green ideas to hotel stay.
“We at Tune Hotels pursue a conscious policy of being environmental-friendly by optimising use of available resources, reduction of waste and by introducing processes that save on energy consumption. And our guests have endorsed our operations that encourage lifestyles that protect the environment,” Lankester said.
“As part of our business philosophy, we strive to remain locally-relevant in each and every community that we’re in, and this includes being responsible towards the local environment. We invite our guests in India to celebrate with us the introduction of new green concepts.”
The 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, annexed to the newly developed 4D Square Mall in the city’s Motera area, is well positioned on the main thoroughfare to the state capital of Gandhinagar and a stone’s throw away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel cricket stadium.
Providing world-standard, high quality accommodation by focusing on key essentials but minus the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, Tune Hotels keeps its operating costs low and savings are passed on to guests in the form of super low rates.
Aside from its standard single and double rooms, Tune Hotels will be introducing family rooms that can accommodate between four to six people in order to meet the needs of the Indian guests, especially in the wedding market.
“In addition to larger room varieties, we have also made other adjustments in our offerings to serve our Indian guests better including more expansive food and beverage availability within the hotel. With a view to the huge wedding market in India, the hotel is able to cater to the needs for major banquet facilities for that total wedding experience. In fact, we’ve taken bookings for our very first wedding entourage already!” said Lankester.
Apart from properties in major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai –Tune Hotels is focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities along with hotels in the tourist triangle destinations of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. Tune Hotels will have five to six hotels in Gujarat as part of our 20 planned hotels across India in the next three years.
Commenting on the prospects for Tune Hotels in India, Lankester said: “India’s domestic hospitality market in total is huge and the major international brands all have a focus on the country. We see strong growth in both business and tourist segments as the domestic economy remains resilient. India’s middle class is expanding and rising disposable incomes have boosted travel. We are in a good position to offer quality affordable accommodation to these travel groups.”
Tune Hotels has received over four million guests since the opening of its first hotel in Downtown Kuala Lumpur in 2007. With the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, there will be 29 Tune Hotels in operation globally. The rest are 11 in Malaysia, five in the UK, four in the Philippines, four in Thailand and four in Indonesia.
By the end of 2013, Tune Hotels will have operating hotels in eight countries. Apart from India the company is set to open properties in Japan and Australia this year. Future projects are also coming up in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Tune Hotels’ Indian expansion signifies growing economic relations between India and Malaysia, which has emerged as India’s key partner in Southeast Asia. Companies and business people are increasingly benefitting from these expanded business links and two-way flow of investment and people continues to rise. India-Malaysia trade hit a record high of $13.5 billion in 2012, a 7.3 per cent growth over 2011, while tourist traffic also continues to remain strong between the two countries.
Tourist arrivals between the two countries have been on the rise with Malaysia being among India’s top 10 sources of tourism, while India was Malaysia's sixth biggest source of tourists in 2012.
The opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad comes as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia plans to launch its domestic airline services in India in a new venture.
“We see this as a great boost for not only travel between Malaysia and India, but adding further attraction to increasing travel within India. Like AirAsia, we pride ourselves on being a customer-focussed brand,” Lankester said.
Tune Hotels is part of Tune Group, a lifestyle business conglomerate co-founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, who are the Group Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer respectively of Asia’s largest low cost carrier AirAsia.
For real-time updates and promotion alerts, guests can stay connected with Tune Hotels via Facebook at www.facebook.com/tunehotelsIndia and on Twitter via www.twitter.com/tunehotels.
For booking and further information, visit www.tunehotels.com.
AHMEDABAD FACTS & ATTRACTIONS:
Bhadra Fort – Situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, its significance was established in 1411 the year Sultan Ahmad Shah established Ahmedabad as the capital of Gujarat Sultanate. The fort was built on the East Bank of the Sabarmati River and in 2012, a joint initiative between the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archeological Survey of India was signed to restore and redevelop to the fort to its former glory.
AutoWorld Museum – Featuring the largest collection of vintage automobiles in India, the AutoWorld Museum is located in Ahmedabad. The museum was founded by the Pranlal Bhogilal family and features cars, motorcycles and jeeps by marque carmakers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler-Chrysler and many more.
Sidi Sayed Mosque, Lal Darwaja – The mosque of Sidi Sayed is one of the most prominent mosques in Ahmedabad. Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque has gained worldwide recognition for it's intrincate artistic splendour.
Kankaria Lake – The Kankaria Lakefront development offers its visitors a myriad of activities and attractions apart from the gorgeous and serene view. Along the lake's 2.3km circumference, visitors can treat themselves to water sports & rides, visit the Balloon Safari, Kankaria Zoo, Kid City and a host of other attractions.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial - This is one of the most important buildings in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. It is a museum as well as an exhibition center, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Akshardham Temple – The temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat is one of the largest Temples in the state. The monument that enshrines the 2.1 metre gold-leafed Murti of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the temple. The monument itself, which is 30 meters in height was build with 6 thousand tonnes of Pink Sandstone and is largely heralded as an architectural masterpiece.
Sabarmati Ashram – This ashram is widely known as the Gandhi Ashram, in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who spent 12 years of his life here. Located at the base of the Sabarmati river, the Ashram is recognised as a monument of national significance due to the role the place had played for the Independence of India.
- END –
About Tune Hotels
Tune Hotels is part of the lifestyle business conglomerate Tune Group that was founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun. Tune Hotels seeks to innovate and revolutionise the way services are made available and has employed efficient web-based technologies to reach and engage its customers, presenting a unique lifestyle opportunity.
All Tune Hotels’ properties feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: a five-star bed, powerful hot showers and energy-conserving ceiling fans along with housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, CCTV surveillance, and 24-hour security.
The Tune Group of companies are Tune Air (a substantial shareholder of AirAsia), Tune Hotels, Tune Money (holding company of Tune Insurance), Tune Talk, Tune Box, Tune Studios, Tune Tones, Caterham F1 Team, Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) and Educ8 Group (owner of Epsom College in Malaysia).
Photos are available from www.flickr.com/tunehotels.
For media enquiries please contact:
Cymantha Sothiar
Mobile: +6012 315 3638
Fax: +603 7955 5899
Email: cymantha@tunehotels.com
Q & A with Mark Lankester
Group CEO, Tune Hotels
Q: Where does the environment figure in Tune Hotels’ business philosophy?
A: For us at Tune Hotels, being environment-friendly is not a slogan. Using resources in a way that reduces waste and promotes healthy lifestyles is built in our daily operations whether it is saving energy or minimising waste. As a value hotel chain we by nature consume less resources. Shorn of the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, we are promoting a more sustainable form of travel.
Q: What specific examples of green steps can you provide?
A: To give you an example of our energy conservation ways, we have a pay-as-you-use air-conditioning system programmed into guest keycards. Ceiling fans are a standard feature in our hotel rooms so guests have a choice not to use air-conditioning. And those who do need air-conditioning have it by agreeing to a small charge. Hallway air-conditioners in our hotels are set on a timer system so they turn on in alternate sequence to conserve power. We also actively use energy-efficient bulbs wherever we can. In developing new projects, we will look at how green standards can be incorporated in the location, size and building methods. Recycling containers are provided at all our hotels.
Q: How will Tune Hotels execute its green initiatives in India?
A: As part of our green initiatives, we encourage people to make smarter choices about the use of resources. Most people in India consider wastefulness as something bad. There is already a level of awareness about environmental degradation and how resources must be used better. People listen to arguments in favour of protecting the environment. Therefore, it is important for the hospitality industry to take its corporate social responsibility seriously.
Just recently the government of Delhi asked the city’s five-star hotels to conserve water and set up waste treatment plants. In our messages we are going to highlight why sustainable travel is important and how our guests can be part of our environment-friendly practices. Our properties do not feature swimming pools so most of our efforts will be directed at efficient use of water in rooms, laundry and energy efficient practices.
Q: These days it is not uncommon to see hotels putting up instructions for guests on towel and linen use. What are Tune Hotels’ practices in this regard?
A: This is an important area for any hotel to show what it can do to check water pollution. Laundry operation involves significant use of detergents, chemicals, water and electricity. By seeking the cooperation of our guests we can considerably reduce water use. Most people who stay at home are happy not to change bathroom towels and their bed linen every single day. Surely they can be encouraged to do the same during hotel stays. Tune Hotels reduces water consumption and the flow of laundry effluents into the environment by providing towels, if required for a small charge.
Q: How does Tune Hotels set green standards?
A: When we develop our hotels we invest in systems and technologies that are compatible with our green standards. Then we invest in our staff training and customer education so that we benefit from our environmental efforts. We always look at new technological developments in the hospitality industry so that we can improve our response to environmental issues.
We are keen to work with government bodies, academia, community and industry associations to promote green practices in travel. We strongly believe that environmental concerns should go mainstream in the hospitality business.
- ENDS -
NEWS RELEASE
AHMEDABAD OPENING MARKS TUNE HOTELS’ ENTRY INTO INDIA
Presents new green ideas; Rs 599 per night introductory rate
NEW DELHI, 3 May 2013 – Award-winning international hotel chain, Tune Hotels, is all set to welcome its first guests in India with the opening of the 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad this month.
“We look forward to offering travellers to Ahmedabad an unbeatable proposition that combines great savings with a great comfortable stay and in a location that is annexed to the newest Shopping Mall in Ahmedabad. Our business model is designed to take care of the needs of travellers in India looking for great comfort without paying exorbitant rates,” said Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.
“Ahmedabad is an amazingly vibrant city in the fast growing state of Gujarat and we are looking to welcome both business and leisure travellers. We are very excited about this hotel as it marks our brand’s very first entry into India’s very exciting hospitality market. The Tune Hotel Ahmedabad aims to serve both domestic travellers and visitors from abroad, especially members of the large non-resident Indian (NRI) community from Gujarat settled in places like the US, Britain and the Gulf, who may already have had prior knowledge of the brand in the five countries we are already present in” he said.
To celebrate the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, online bookings are now accepted with attractive all-inclusive room charges that start from as low as 599 Indian rupees (US$11 / RM34 / Bt330 / Rp108,000). Guests have the option to choose and pay only for amenities that they require.
The promotion is offered exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com and bookings can be made from 3 May 2013 until 10 May 2013, subject to availability of rooms. The rate is available on a first come, first served basis, for stay period starting 15 May 2013 until 30 September 2013.
The arrival of Tune Hotels in India will also introduce new green ideas to hotel stay.
“We at Tune Hotels pursue a conscious policy of being environmental-friendly by optimising use of available resources, reduction of waste and by introducing processes that save on energy consumption. And our guests have endorsed our operations that encourage lifestyles that protect the environment,” Lankester said.
“As part of our business philosophy, we strive to remain locally-relevant in each and every community that we’re in, and this includes being responsible towards the local environment. We invite our guests in India to celebrate with us the introduction of new green concepts.”
The 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, annexed to the newly developed 4D Square Mall in the city’s Motera area, is well positioned on the main thoroughfare to the state capital of Gandhinagar and a stone’s throw away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel cricket stadium.
Providing world-standard, high quality accommodation by focusing on key essentials but minus the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, Tune Hotels keeps its operating costs low and savings are passed on to guests in the form of super low rates.
Aside from its standard single and double rooms, Tune Hotels will be introducing family rooms that can accommodate between four to six people in order to meet the needs of the Indian guests, especially in the wedding market.
“In addition to larger room varieties, we have also made other adjustments in our offerings to serve our Indian guests better including more expansive food and beverage availability within the hotel. With a view to the huge wedding market in India, the hotel is able to cater to the needs for major banquet facilities for that total wedding experience. In fact, we’ve taken bookings for our very first wedding entourage already!” said Lankester.
Apart from properties in major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai –Tune Hotels is focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities along with hotels in the tourist triangle destinations of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. Tune Hotels will have five to six hotels in Gujarat as part of our 20 planned hotels across India in the next three years.
Commenting on the prospects for Tune Hotels in India, Lankester said: “India’s domestic hospitality market in total is huge and the major international brands all have a focus on the country. We see strong growth in both business and tourist segments as the domestic economy remains resilient. India’s middle class is expanding and rising disposable incomes have boosted travel. We are in a good position to offer quality affordable accommodation to these travel groups.”
Tune Hotels has received over four million guests since the opening of its first hotel in Downtown Kuala Lumpur in 2007. With the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, there will be 29 Tune Hotels in operation globally. The rest are 11 in Malaysia, five in the UK, four in the Philippines, four in Thailand and four in Indonesia.
By the end of 2013, Tune Hotels will have operating hotels in eight countries. Apart from India the company is set to open properties in Japan and Australia this year. Future projects are also coming up in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Tune Hotels’ Indian expansion signifies growing economic relations between India and Malaysia, which has emerged as India’s key partner in Southeast Asia. Companies and business people are increasingly benefitting from these expanded business links and two-way flow of investment and people continues to rise. India-Malaysia trade hit a record high of $13.5 billion in 2012, a 7.3 per cent growth over 2011, while tourist traffic also continues to remain strong between the two countries.
Tourist arrivals between the two countries have been on the rise with Malaysia being among India’s top 10 sources of tourism, while India was Malaysia's sixth biggest source of tourists in 2012.
The opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad comes as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia plans to launch its domestic airline services in India in a new venture.
“We see this as a great boost for not only travel between Malaysia and India, but adding further attraction to increasing travel within India. Like AirAsia, we pride ourselves on being a customer-focussed brand,” Lankester said.
Tune Hotels is part of Tune Group, a lifestyle business conglomerate co-founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, who are the Group Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer respectively of Asia’s largest low cost carrier AirAsia.
For real-time updates and promotion alerts, guests can stay connected with Tune Hotels via Facebook at www.facebook.com/tunehotelsIndia and on Twitter via www.twitter.com/tunehotels.
For booking and further information, visit www.tunehotels.com.
AHMEDABAD FACTS & ATTRACTIONS:
Bhadra Fort – Situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, its significance was established in 1411 the year Sultan Ahmad Shah established Ahmedabad as the capital of Gujarat Sultanate. The fort was built on the East Bank of the Sabarmati River and in 2012, a joint initiative between the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archeological Survey of India was signed to restore and redevelop to the fort to its former glory.
AutoWorld Museum – Featuring the largest collection of vintage automobiles in India, the AutoWorld Museum is located in Ahmedabad. The museum was founded by the Pranlal Bhogilal family and features cars, motorcycles and jeeps by marque carmakers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler-Chrysler and many more.
Sidi Sayed Mosque, Lal Darwaja – The mosque of Sidi Sayed is one of the most prominent mosques in Ahmedabad. Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque has gained worldwide recognition for it's intrincate artistic splendour.
Kankaria Lake – The Kankaria Lakefront development offers its visitors a myriad of activities and attractions apart from the gorgeous and serene view. Along the lake's 2.3km circumference, visitors can treat themselves to water sports & rides, visit the Balloon Safari, Kankaria Zoo, Kid City and a host of other attractions.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial - This is one of the most important buildings in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. It is a museum as well as an exhibition center, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Akshardham Temple – The temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat is one of the largest Temples in the state. The monument that enshrines the 2.1 metre gold-leafed Murti of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the temple. The monument itself, which is 30 meters in height was build with 6 thousand tonnes of Pink Sandstone and is largely heralded as an architectural masterpiece.
Sabarmati Ashram – This ashram is widely known as the Gandhi Ashram, in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who spent 12 years of his life here. Located at the base of the Sabarmati river, the Ashram is recognised as a monument of national significance due to the role the place had played for the Independence of India.
- END –
About Tune Hotels
Tune Hotels is part of the lifestyle business conglomerate Tune Group that was founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun. Tune Hotels seeks to innovate and revolutionise the way services are made available and has employed efficient web-based technologies to reach and engage its customers, presenting a unique lifestyle opportunity.
All Tune Hotels’ properties feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: a five-star bed, powerful hot showers and energy-conserving ceiling fans along with housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, CCTV surveillance, and 24-hour security.
The Tune Group of companies are Tune Air (a substantial shareholder of AirAsia), Tune Hotels, Tune Money (holding company of Tune Insurance), Tune Talk, Tune Box, Tune Studios, Tune Tones, Caterham F1 Team, Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) and Educ8 Group (owner of Epsom College in Malaysia).
Photos are available from www.flickr.com/tunehotels.
For media enquiries please contact:
Cymantha Sothiar
Mobile: +6012 315 3638
Fax: +603 7955 5899
Email: cymantha@tunehotels.com
Q & A with Mark Lankester
Group CEO, Tune Hotels
Q: Where does the environment figure in Tune Hotels’ business philosophy?
A: For us at Tune Hotels, being environment-friendly is not a slogan. Using resources in a way that reduces waste and promotes healthy lifestyles is built in our daily operations whether it is saving energy or minimising waste. As a value hotel chain we by nature consume less resources. Shorn of the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, we are promoting a more sustainable form of travel.
Q: What specific examples of green steps can you provide?
A: To give you an example of our energy conservation ways, we have a pay-as-you-use air-conditioning system programmed into guest keycards. Ceiling fans are a standard feature in our hotel rooms so guests have a choice not to use air-conditioning. And those who do need air-conditioning have it by agreeing to a small charge. Hallway air-conditioners in our hotels are set on a timer system so they turn on in alternate sequence to conserve power. We also actively use energy-efficient bulbs wherever we can. In developing new projects, we will look at how green standards can be incorporated in the location, size and building methods. Recycling containers are provided at all our hotels.
Q: How will Tune Hotels execute its green initiatives in India?
A: As part of our green initiatives, we encourage people to make smarter choices about the use of resources. Most people in India consider wastefulness as something bad. There is already a level of awareness about environmental degradation and how resources must be used better. People listen to arguments in favour of protecting the environment. Therefore, it is important for the hospitality industry to take its corporate social responsibility seriously.
Just recently the government of Delhi asked the city’s five-star hotels to conserve water and set up waste treatment plants. In our messages we are going to highlight why sustainable travel is important and how our guests can be part of our environment-friendly practices. Our properties do not feature swimming pools so most of our efforts will be directed at efficient use of water in rooms, laundry and energy efficient practices.
Q: These days it is not uncommon to see hotels putting up instructions for guests on towel and linen use. What are Tune Hotels’ practices in this regard?
A: This is an important area for any hotel to show what it can do to check water pollution. Laundry operation involves significant use of detergents, chemicals, water and electricity. By seeking the cooperation of our guests we can considerably reduce water use. Most people who stay at home are happy not to change bathroom towels and their bed linen every single day. Surely they can be encouraged to do the same during hotel stays. Tune Hotels reduces water consumption and the flow of laundry effluents into the environment by providing towels, if required for a small charge.
Q: How does Tune Hotels set green standards?
A: When we develop our hotels we invest in systems and technologies that are compatible with our green standards. Then we invest in our staff training and customer education so that we benefit from our environmental efforts. We always look at new technological developments in the hospitality industry so that we can improve our response to environmental issues.
We are keen to work with government bodies, academia, community and industry associations to promote green practices in travel. We strongly believe that environmental concerns should go mainstream in the hospitality business.
- ENDS -
NEWS RELEASE
AHMEDABAD OPENING MARKS TUNE HOTELS’ ENTRY INTO INDIA
Presents new green ideas; Rs 599 per night introductory rate
NEW DELHI, 3 May 2013 – Award-winning international hotel chain, Tune Hotels, is all set to welcome its first guests in India with the opening of the 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad this month.
“We look forward to offering travellers to Ahmedabad an unbeatable proposition that combines great savings with a great comfortable stay and in a location that is annexed to the newest Shopping Mall in Ahmedabad. Our business model is designed to take care of the needs of travellers in India looking for great comfort without paying exorbitant rates,” said Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.
“Ahmedabad is an amazingly vibrant city in the fast growing state of Gujarat and we are looking to welcome both business and leisure travellers. We are very excited about this hotel as it marks our brand’s very first entry into India’s very exciting hospitality market. The Tune Hotel Ahmedabad aims to serve both domestic travellers and visitors from abroad, especially members of the large non-resident Indian (NRI) community from Gujarat settled in places like the US, Britain and the Gulf, who may already have had prior knowledge of the brand in the five countries we are already present in” he said.
To celebrate the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, online bookings are now accepted with attractive all-inclusive room charges that start from as low as 599 Indian rupees (US$11 / RM34 / Bt330 / Rp108,000). Guests have the option to choose and pay only for amenities that they require.
The promotion is offered exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com and bookings can be made from 3 May 2013 until 10 May 2013, subject to availability of rooms. The rate is available on a first come, first served basis, for stay period starting 15 May 2013 until 30 September 2013.
The arrival of Tune Hotels in India will also introduce new green ideas to hotel stay.
“We at Tune Hotels pursue a conscious policy of being environmental-friendly by optimising use of available resources, reduction of waste and by introducing processes that save on energy consumption. And our guests have endorsed our operations that encourage lifestyles that protect the environment,” Lankester said.
“As part of our business philosophy, we strive to remain locally-relevant in each and every community that we’re in, and this includes being responsible towards the local environment. We invite our guests in India to celebrate with us the introduction of new green concepts.”
The 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, annexed to the newly developed 4D Square Mall in the city’s Motera area, is well positioned on the main thoroughfare to the state capital of Gandhinagar and a stone’s throw away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel cricket stadium.
Providing world-standard, high quality accommodation by focusing on key essentials but minus the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, Tune Hotels keeps its operating costs low and savings are passed on to guests in the form of super low rates.
Aside from its standard single and double rooms, Tune Hotels will be introducing family rooms that can accommodate between four to six people in order to meet the needs of the Indian guests, especially in the wedding market.
“In addition to larger room varieties, we have also made other adjustments in our offerings to serve our Indian guests better including more expansive food and beverage availability within the hotel. With a view to the huge wedding market in India, the hotel is able to cater to the needs for major banquet facilities for that total wedding experience. In fact, we’ve taken bookings for our very first wedding entourage already!” said Lankester.
Apart from properties in major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai –Tune Hotels is focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities along with hotels in the tourist triangle destinations of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. Tune Hotels will have five to six hotels in Gujarat as part of our 20 planned hotels across India in the next three years.
Commenting on the prospects for Tune Hotels in India, Lankester said: “India’s domestic hospitality market in total is huge and the major international brands all have a focus on the country. We see strong growth in both business and tourist segments as the domestic economy remains resilient. India’s middle class is expanding and rising disposable incomes have boosted travel. We are in a good position to offer quality affordable accommodation to these travel groups.”
Tune Hotels has received over four million guests since the opening of its first hotel in Downtown Kuala Lumpur in 2007. With the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, there will be 29 Tune Hotels in operation globally. The rest are 11 in Malaysia, five in the UK, four in the Philippines, four in Thailand and four in Indonesia.
By the end of 2013, Tune Hotels will have operating hotels in eight countries. Apart from India the company is set to open properties in Japan and Australia this year. Future projects are also coming up in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Tune Hotels’ Indian expansion signifies growing economic relations between India and Malaysia, which has emerged as India’s key partner in Southeast Asia. Companies and business people are increasingly benefitting from these expanded business links and two-way flow of investment and people continues to rise. India-Malaysia trade hit a record high of $13.5 billion in 2012, a 7.3 per cent growth over 2011, while tourist traffic also continues to remain strong between the two countries.
Tourist arrivals between the two countries have been on the rise with Malaysia being among India’s top 10 sources of tourism, while India was Malaysia's sixth biggest source of tourists in 2012.
The opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad comes as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia plans to launch its domestic airline services in India in a new venture.
“We see this as a great boost for not only travel between Malaysia and India, but adding further attraction to increasing travel within India. Like AirAsia, we pride ourselves on being a customer-focussed brand,” Lankester said.
Tune Hotels is part of Tune Group, a lifestyle business conglomerate co-founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, who are the Group Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer respectively of Asia’s largest low cost carrier AirAsia.
For real-time updates and promotion alerts, guests can stay connected with Tune Hotels via Facebook at www.facebook.com/tunehotelsIndia and on Twitter via www.twitter.com/tunehotels.
For booking and further information, visit www.tunehotels.com.
AHMEDABAD FACTS & ATTRACTIONS:
Bhadra Fort – Situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, its significance was established in 1411 the year Sultan Ahmad Shah established Ahmedabad as the capital of Gujarat Sultanate. The fort was built on the East Bank of the Sabarmati River and in 2012, a joint initiative between the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archeological Survey of India was signed to restore and redevelop to the fort to its former glory.
AutoWorld Museum – Featuring the largest collection of vintage automobiles in India, the AutoWorld Museum is located in Ahmedabad. The museum was founded by the Pranlal Bhogilal family and features cars, motorcycles and jeeps by marque carmakers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler-Chrysler and many more.
Sidi Sayed Mosque, Lal Darwaja – The mosque of Sidi Sayed is one of the most prominent mosques in Ahmedabad. Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque has gained worldwide recognition for it's intrincate artistic splendour.
Kankaria Lake – The Kankaria Lakefront development offers its visitors a myriad of activities and attractions apart from the gorgeous and serene view. Along the lake's 2.3km circumference, visitors can treat themselves to water sports & rides, visit the Balloon Safari, Kankaria Zoo, Kid City and a host of other attractions.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial - This is one of the most important buildings in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. It is a museum as well as an exhibition center, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Akshardham Temple – The temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat is one of the largest Temples in the state. The monument that enshrines the 2.1 metre gold-leafed Murti of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the temple. The monument itself, which is 30 meters in height was build with 6 thousand tonnes of Pink Sandstone and is largely heralded as an architectural masterpiece.
Sabarmati Ashram – This ashram is widely known as the Gandhi Ashram, in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who spent 12 years of his life here. Located at the base of the Sabarmati river, the Ashram is recognised as a monument of national significance due to the role the place had played for the Independence of India.
- END –
About Tune Hotels
Tune Hotels is part of the lifestyle business conglomerate Tune Group that was founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun. Tune Hotels seeks to innovate and revolutionise the way services are made available and has employed efficient web-based technologies to reach and engage its customers, presenting a unique lifestyle opportunity.
All Tune Hotels’ properties feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: a five-star bed, powerful hot showers and energy-conserving ceiling fans along with housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, CCTV surveillance, and 24-hour security.
The Tune Group of companies are Tune Air (a substantial shareholder of AirAsia), Tune Hotels, Tune Money (holding company of Tune Insurance), Tune Talk, Tune Box, Tune Studios, Tune Tones, Caterham F1 Team, Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) and Educ8 Group (owner of Epsom College in Malaysia).
Photos are available from www.flickr.com/tunehotels.
For media enquiries please contact:
Cymantha Sothiar
Mobile: +6012 315 3638
Fax: +603 7955 5899
Email: cymantha@tunehotels.com
Q & A with Mark Lankester
Group CEO, Tune Hotels
Q: Where does the environment figure in Tune Hotels’ business philosophy?
A: For us at Tune Hotels, being environment-friendly is not a slogan. Using resources in a way that reduces waste and promotes healthy lifestyles is built in our daily operations whether it is saving energy or minimising waste. As a value hotel chain we by nature consume less resources. Shorn of the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, we are promoting a more sustainable form of travel.
Q: What specific examples of green steps can you provide?
A: To give you an example of our energy conservation ways, we have a pay-as-you-use air-conditioning system programmed into guest keycards. Ceiling fans are a standard feature in our hotel rooms so guests have a choice not to use air-conditioning. And those who do need air-conditioning have it by agreeing to a small charge. Hallway air-conditioners in our hotels are set on a timer system so they turn on in alternate sequence to conserve power. We also actively use energy-efficient bulbs wherever we can. In developing new projects, we will look at how green standards can be incorporated in the location, size and building methods. Recycling containers are provided at all our hotels.
Q: How will Tune Hotels execute its green initiatives in India?
A: As part of our green initiatives, we encourage people to make smarter choices about the use of resources. Most people in India consider wastefulness as something bad. There is already a level of awareness about environmental degradation and how resources must be used better. People listen to arguments in favour of protecting the environment. Therefore, it is important for the hospitality industry to take its corporate social responsibility seriously.
Just recently the government of Delhi asked the city’s five-star hotels to conserve water and set up waste treatment plants. In our messages we are going to highlight why sustainable travel is important and how our guests can be part of our environment-friendly practices. Our properties do not feature swimming pools so most of our efforts will be directed at efficient use of water in rooms, laundry and energy efficient practices.
Q: These days it is not uncommon to see hotels putting up instructions for guests on towel and linen use. What are Tune Hotels’ practices in this regard?
A: This is an important area for any hotel to show what it can do to check water pollution. Laundry operation involves significant use of detergents, chemicals, water and electricity. By seeking the cooperation of our guests we can considerably reduce water use. Most people who stay at home are happy not to change bathroom towels and their bed linen every single day. Surely they can be encouraged to do the same during hotel stays. Tune Hotels reduces water consumption and the flow of laundry effluents into the environment by providing towels, if required for a small charge.
Q: How does Tune Hotels set green standards?
A: When we develop our hotels we invest in systems and technologies that are compatible with our green standards. Then we invest in our staff training and customer education so that we benefit from our environmental efforts. We always look at new technological developments in the hospitality industry so that we can improve our response to environmental issues.
We are keen to work with government bodies, academia, community and industry associations to promote green practices in travel. We strongly believe that environmental concerns should go mainstream in the hospitality business.
- ENDS -
Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, India.
My facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/pages/Maciej-Dakowicz-Photography/266574...
NEWS RELEASE
AHMEDABAD OPENING MARKS TUNE HOTELS’ ENTRY INTO INDIA
Presents new green ideas; Rs 599 per night introductory rate
NEW DELHI, 3 May 2013 – Award-winning international hotel chain, Tune Hotels, is all set to welcome its first guests in India with the opening of the 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad this month.
“We look forward to offering travellers to Ahmedabad an unbeatable proposition that combines great savings with a great comfortable stay and in a location that is annexed to the newest Shopping Mall in Ahmedabad. Our business model is designed to take care of the needs of travellers in India looking for great comfort without paying exorbitant rates,” said Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.
“Ahmedabad is an amazingly vibrant city in the fast growing state of Gujarat and we are looking to welcome both business and leisure travellers. We are very excited about this hotel as it marks our brand’s very first entry into India’s very exciting hospitality market. The Tune Hotel Ahmedabad aims to serve both domestic travellers and visitors from abroad, especially members of the large non-resident Indian (NRI) community from Gujarat settled in places like the US, Britain and the Gulf, who may already have had prior knowledge of the brand in the five countries we are already present in” he said.
To celebrate the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, online bookings are now accepted with attractive all-inclusive room charges that start from as low as 599 Indian rupees (US$11 / RM34 / Bt330 / Rp108,000). Guests have the option to choose and pay only for amenities that they require.
The promotion is offered exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com and bookings can be made from 3 May 2013 until 10 May 2013, subject to availability of rooms. The rate is available on a first come, first served basis, for stay period starting 15 May 2013 until 30 September 2013.
The arrival of Tune Hotels in India will also introduce new green ideas to hotel stay.
“We at Tune Hotels pursue a conscious policy of being environmental-friendly by optimising use of available resources, reduction of waste and by introducing processes that save on energy consumption. And our guests have endorsed our operations that encourage lifestyles that protect the environment,” Lankester said.
“As part of our business philosophy, we strive to remain locally-relevant in each and every community that we’re in, and this includes being responsible towards the local environment. We invite our guests in India to celebrate with us the introduction of new green concepts.”
The 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, annexed to the newly developed 4D Square Mall in the city’s Motera area, is well positioned on the main thoroughfare to the state capital of Gandhinagar and a stone’s throw away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel cricket stadium.
Providing world-standard, high quality accommodation by focusing on key essentials but minus the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, Tune Hotels keeps its operating costs low and savings are passed on to guests in the form of super low rates.
Aside from its standard single and double rooms, Tune Hotels will be introducing family rooms that can accommodate between four to six people in order to meet the needs of the Indian guests, especially in the wedding market.
“In addition to larger room varieties, we have also made other adjustments in our offerings to serve our Indian guests better including more expansive food and beverage availability within the hotel. With a view to the huge wedding market in India, the hotel is able to cater to the needs for major banquet facilities for that total wedding experience. In fact, we’ve taken bookings for our very first wedding entourage already!” said Lankester.
Apart from properties in major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai –Tune Hotels is focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities along with hotels in the tourist triangle destinations of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. Tune Hotels will have five to six hotels in Gujarat as part of our 20 planned hotels across India in the next three years.
Commenting on the prospects for Tune Hotels in India, Lankester said: “India’s domestic hospitality market in total is huge and the major international brands all have a focus on the country. We see strong growth in both business and tourist segments as the domestic economy remains resilient. India’s middle class is expanding and rising disposable incomes have boosted travel. We are in a good position to offer quality affordable accommodation to these travel groups.”
Tune Hotels has received over four million guests since the opening of its first hotel in Downtown Kuala Lumpur in 2007. With the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, there will be 29 Tune Hotels in operation globally. The rest are 11 in Malaysia, five in the UK, four in the Philippines, four in Thailand and four in Indonesia.
By the end of 2013, Tune Hotels will have operating hotels in eight countries. Apart from India the company is set to open properties in Japan and Australia this year. Future projects are also coming up in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Tune Hotels’ Indian expansion signifies growing economic relations between India and Malaysia, which has emerged as India’s key partner in Southeast Asia. Companies and business people are increasingly benefitting from these expanded business links and two-way flow of investment and people continues to rise. India-Malaysia trade hit a record high of $13.5 billion in 2012, a 7.3 per cent growth over 2011, while tourist traffic also continues to remain strong between the two countries.
Tourist arrivals between the two countries have been on the rise with Malaysia being among India’s top 10 sources of tourism, while India was Malaysia's sixth biggest source of tourists in 2012.
The opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad comes as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia plans to launch its domestic airline services in India in a new venture.
“We see this as a great boost for not only travel between Malaysia and India, but adding further attraction to increasing travel within India. Like AirAsia, we pride ourselves on being a customer-focussed brand,” Lankester said.
Tune Hotels is part of Tune Group, a lifestyle business conglomerate co-founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, who are the Group Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer respectively of Asia’s largest low cost carrier AirAsia.
For real-time updates and promotion alerts, guests can stay connected with Tune Hotels via Facebook at www.facebook.com/tunehotelsIndia and on Twitter via www.twitter.com/tunehotels.
For booking and further information, visit www.tunehotels.com.
AHMEDABAD FACTS & ATTRACTIONS:
Bhadra Fort – Situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, its significance was established in 1411 the year Sultan Ahmad Shah established Ahmedabad as the capital of Gujarat Sultanate. The fort was built on the East Bank of the Sabarmati River and in 2012, a joint initiative between the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archeological Survey of India was signed to restore and redevelop to the fort to its former glory.
AutoWorld Museum – Featuring the largest collection of vintage automobiles in India, the AutoWorld Museum is located in Ahmedabad. The museum was founded by the Pranlal Bhogilal family and features cars, motorcycles and jeeps by marque carmakers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler-Chrysler and many more.
Sidi Sayed Mosque, Lal Darwaja – The mosque of Sidi Sayed is one of the most prominent mosques in Ahmedabad. Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque has gained worldwide recognition for it's intrincate artistic splendour.
Kankaria Lake – The Kankaria Lakefront development offers its visitors a myriad of activities and attractions apart from the gorgeous and serene view. Along the lake's 2.3km circumference, visitors can treat themselves to water sports & rides, visit the Balloon Safari, Kankaria Zoo, Kid City and a host of other attractions.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial - This is one of the most important buildings in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. It is a museum as well as an exhibition center, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Akshardham Temple – The temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat is one of the largest Temples in the state. The monument that enshrines the 2.1 metre gold-leafed Murti of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the temple. The monument itself, which is 30 meters in height was build with 6 thousand tonnes of Pink Sandstone and is largely heralded as an architectural masterpiece.
Sabarmati Ashram – This ashram is widely known as the Gandhi Ashram, in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who spent 12 years of his life here. Located at the base of the Sabarmati river, the Ashram is recognised as a monument of national significance due to the role the place had played for the Independence of India.
- END –
About Tune Hotels
Tune Hotels is part of the lifestyle business conglomerate Tune Group that was founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun. Tune Hotels seeks to innovate and revolutionise the way services are made available and has employed efficient web-based technologies to reach and engage its customers, presenting a unique lifestyle opportunity.
All Tune Hotels’ properties feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: a five-star bed, powerful hot showers and energy-conserving ceiling fans along with housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, CCTV surveillance, and 24-hour security.
The Tune Group of companies are Tune Air (a substantial shareholder of AirAsia), Tune Hotels, Tune Money (holding company of Tune Insurance), Tune Talk, Tune Box, Tune Studios, Tune Tones, Caterham F1 Team, Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) and Educ8 Group (owner of Epsom College in Malaysia).
Photos are available from www.flickr.com/tunehotels.
For media enquiries please contact:
Cymantha Sothiar
Mobile: +6012 315 3638
Fax: +603 7955 5899
Email: cymantha@tunehotels.com
Q & A with Mark Lankester
Group CEO, Tune Hotels
Q: Where does the environment figure in Tune Hotels’ business philosophy?
A: For us at Tune Hotels, being environment-friendly is not a slogan. Using resources in a way that reduces waste and promotes healthy lifestyles is built in our daily operations whether it is saving energy or minimising waste. As a value hotel chain we by nature consume less resources. Shorn of the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, we are promoting a more sustainable form of travel.
Q: What specific examples of green steps can you provide?
A: To give you an example of our energy conservation ways, we have a pay-as-you-use air-conditioning system programmed into guest keycards. Ceiling fans are a standard feature in our hotel rooms so guests have a choice not to use air-conditioning. And those who do need air-conditioning have it by agreeing to a small charge. Hallway air-conditioners in our hotels are set on a timer system so they turn on in alternate sequence to conserve power. We also actively use energy-efficient bulbs wherever we can. In developing new projects, we will look at how green standards can be incorporated in the location, size and building methods. Recycling containers are provided at all our hotels.
Q: How will Tune Hotels execute its green initiatives in India?
A: As part of our green initiatives, we encourage people to make smarter choices about the use of resources. Most people in India consider wastefulness as something bad. There is already a level of awareness about environmental degradation and how resources must be used better. People listen to arguments in favour of protecting the environment. Therefore, it is important for the hospitality industry to take its corporate social responsibility seriously.
Just recently the government of Delhi asked the city’s five-star hotels to conserve water and set up waste treatment plants. In our messages we are going to highlight why sustainable travel is important and how our guests can be part of our environment-friendly practices. Our properties do not feature swimming pools so most of our efforts will be directed at efficient use of water in rooms, laundry and energy efficient practices.
Q: These days it is not uncommon to see hotels putting up instructions for guests on towel and linen use. What are Tune Hotels’ practices in this regard?
A: This is an important area for any hotel to show what it can do to check water pollution. Laundry operation involves significant use of detergents, chemicals, water and electricity. By seeking the cooperation of our guests we can considerably reduce water use. Most people who stay at home are happy not to change bathroom towels and their bed linen every single day. Surely they can be encouraged to do the same during hotel stays. Tune Hotels reduces water consumption and the flow of laundry effluents into the environment by providing towels, if required for a small charge.
Q: How does Tune Hotels set green standards?
A: When we develop our hotels we invest in systems and technologies that are compatible with our green standards. Then we invest in our staff training and customer education so that we benefit from our environmental efforts. We always look at new technological developments in the hospitality industry so that we can improve our response to environmental issues.
We are keen to work with government bodies, academia, community and industry associations to promote green practices in travel. We strongly believe that environmental concerns should go mainstream in the hospitality business.
- ENDS -
NEWS RELEASE
AHMEDABAD OPENING MARKS TUNE HOTELS’ ENTRY INTO INDIA
Presents new green ideas; Rs 599 per night introductory rate
NEW DELHI, 3 May 2013 – Award-winning international hotel chain, Tune Hotels, is all set to welcome its first guests in India with the opening of the 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad this month.
“We look forward to offering travellers to Ahmedabad an unbeatable proposition that combines great savings with a great comfortable stay and in a location that is annexed to the newest Shopping Mall in Ahmedabad. Our business model is designed to take care of the needs of travellers in India looking for great comfort without paying exorbitant rates,” said Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.
“Ahmedabad is an amazingly vibrant city in the fast growing state of Gujarat and we are looking to welcome both business and leisure travellers. We are very excited about this hotel as it marks our brand’s very first entry into India’s very exciting hospitality market. The Tune Hotel Ahmedabad aims to serve both domestic travellers and visitors from abroad, especially members of the large non-resident Indian (NRI) community from Gujarat settled in places like the US, Britain and the Gulf, who may already have had prior knowledge of the brand in the five countries we are already present in” he said.
To celebrate the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, online bookings are now accepted with attractive all-inclusive room charges that start from as low as 599 Indian rupees (US$11 / RM34 / Bt330 / Rp108,000). Guests have the option to choose and pay only for amenities that they require.
The promotion is offered exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com and bookings can be made from 3 May 2013 until 10 May 2013, subject to availability of rooms. The rate is available on a first come, first served basis, for stay period starting 15 May 2013 until 30 September 2013.
The arrival of Tune Hotels in India will also introduce new green ideas to hotel stay.
“We at Tune Hotels pursue a conscious policy of being environmental-friendly by optimising use of available resources, reduction of waste and by introducing processes that save on energy consumption. And our guests have endorsed our operations that encourage lifestyles that protect the environment,” Lankester said.
“As part of our business philosophy, we strive to remain locally-relevant in each and every community that we’re in, and this includes being responsible towards the local environment. We invite our guests in India to celebrate with us the introduction of new green concepts.”
The 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, annexed to the newly developed 4D Square Mall in the city’s Motera area, is well positioned on the main thoroughfare to the state capital of Gandhinagar and a stone’s throw away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel cricket stadium.
Providing world-standard, high quality accommodation by focusing on key essentials but minus the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, Tune Hotels keeps its operating costs low and savings are passed on to guests in the form of super low rates.
Aside from its standard single and double rooms, Tune Hotels will be introducing family rooms that can accommodate between four to six people in order to meet the needs of the Indian guests, especially in the wedding market.
“In addition to larger room varieties, we have also made other adjustments in our offerings to serve our Indian guests better including more expansive food and beverage availability within the hotel. With a view to the huge wedding market in India, the hotel is able to cater to the needs for major banquet facilities for that total wedding experience. In fact, we’ve taken bookings for our very first wedding entourage already!” said Lankester.
Apart from properties in major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai –Tune Hotels is focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities along with hotels in the tourist triangle destinations of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. Tune Hotels will have five to six hotels in Gujarat as part of our 20 planned hotels across India in the next three years.
Commenting on the prospects for Tune Hotels in India, Lankester said: “India’s domestic hospitality market in total is huge and the major international brands all have a focus on the country. We see strong growth in both business and tourist segments as the domestic economy remains resilient. India’s middle class is expanding and rising disposable incomes have boosted travel. We are in a good position to offer quality affordable accommodation to these travel groups.”
Tune Hotels has received over four million guests since the opening of its first hotel in Downtown Kuala Lumpur in 2007. With the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, there will be 29 Tune Hotels in operation globally. The rest are 11 in Malaysia, five in the UK, four in the Philippines, four in Thailand and four in Indonesia.
By the end of 2013, Tune Hotels will have operating hotels in eight countries. Apart from India the company is set to open properties in Japan and Australia this year. Future projects are also coming up in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Tune Hotels’ Indian expansion signifies growing economic relations between India and Malaysia, which has emerged as India’s key partner in Southeast Asia. Companies and business people are increasingly benefitting from these expanded business links and two-way flow of investment and people continues to rise. India-Malaysia trade hit a record high of $13.5 billion in 2012, a 7.3 per cent growth over 2011, while tourist traffic also continues to remain strong between the two countries.
Tourist arrivals between the two countries have been on the rise with Malaysia being among India’s top 10 sources of tourism, while India was Malaysia's sixth biggest source of tourists in 2012.
The opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad comes as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia plans to launch its domestic airline services in India in a new venture.
“We see this as a great boost for not only travel between Malaysia and India, but adding further attraction to increasing travel within India. Like AirAsia, we pride ourselves on being a customer-focussed brand,” Lankester said.
Tune Hotels is part of Tune Group, a lifestyle business conglomerate co-founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, who are the Group Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer respectively of Asia’s largest low cost carrier AirAsia.
For real-time updates and promotion alerts, guests can stay connected with Tune Hotels via Facebook at www.facebook.com/tunehotelsIndia and on Twitter via www.twitter.com/tunehotels.
For booking and further information, visit www.tunehotels.com.
AHMEDABAD FACTS & ATTRACTIONS:
Bhadra Fort – Situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, its significance was established in 1411 the year Sultan Ahmad Shah established Ahmedabad as the capital of Gujarat Sultanate. The fort was built on the East Bank of the Sabarmati River and in 2012, a joint initiative between the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archeological Survey of India was signed to restore and redevelop to the fort to its former glory.
AutoWorld Museum – Featuring the largest collection of vintage automobiles in India, the AutoWorld Museum is located in Ahmedabad. The museum was founded by the Pranlal Bhogilal family and features cars, motorcycles and jeeps by marque carmakers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler-Chrysler and many more.
Sidi Sayed Mosque, Lal Darwaja – The mosque of Sidi Sayed is one of the most prominent mosques in Ahmedabad. Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque has gained worldwide recognition for it's intrincate artistic splendour.
Kankaria Lake – The Kankaria Lakefront development offers its visitors a myriad of activities and attractions apart from the gorgeous and serene view. Along the lake's 2.3km circumference, visitors can treat themselves to water sports & rides, visit the Balloon Safari, Kankaria Zoo, Kid City and a host of other attractions.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial - This is one of the most important buildings in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. It is a museum as well as an exhibition center, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Akshardham Temple – The temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat is one of the largest Temples in the state. The monument that enshrines the 2.1 metre gold-leafed Murti of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the temple. The monument itself, which is 30 meters in height was build with 6 thousand tonnes of Pink Sandstone and is largely heralded as an architectural masterpiece.
Sabarmati Ashram – This ashram is widely known as the Gandhi Ashram, in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who spent 12 years of his life here. Located at the base of the Sabarmati river, the Ashram is recognised as a monument of national significance due to the role the place had played for the Independence of India.
- END –
About Tune Hotels
Tune Hotels is part of the lifestyle business conglomerate Tune Group that was founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun. Tune Hotels seeks to innovate and revolutionise the way services are made available and has employed efficient web-based technologies to reach and engage its customers, presenting a unique lifestyle opportunity.
All Tune Hotels’ properties feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: a five-star bed, powerful hot showers and energy-conserving ceiling fans along with housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, CCTV surveillance, and 24-hour security.
The Tune Group of companies are Tune Air (a substantial shareholder of AirAsia), Tune Hotels, Tune Money (holding company of Tune Insurance), Tune Talk, Tune Box, Tune Studios, Tune Tones, Caterham F1 Team, Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) and Educ8 Group (owner of Epsom College in Malaysia).
Photos are available from www.flickr.com/tunehotels.
For media enquiries please contact:
Cymantha Sothiar
Mobile: +6012 315 3638
Fax: +603 7955 5899
Email: cymantha@tunehotels.com
Q & A with Mark Lankester
Group CEO, Tune Hotels
Q: Where does the environment figure in Tune Hotels’ business philosophy?
A: For us at Tune Hotels, being environment-friendly is not a slogan. Using resources in a way that reduces waste and promotes healthy lifestyles is built in our daily operations whether it is saving energy or minimising waste. As a value hotel chain we by nature consume less resources. Shorn of the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, we are promoting a more sustainable form of travel.
Q: What specific examples of green steps can you provide?
A: To give you an example of our energy conservation ways, we have a pay-as-you-use air-conditioning system programmed into guest keycards. Ceiling fans are a standard feature in our hotel rooms so guests have a choice not to use air-conditioning. And those who do need air-conditioning have it by agreeing to a small charge. Hallway air-conditioners in our hotels are set on a timer system so they turn on in alternate sequence to conserve power. We also actively use energy-efficient bulbs wherever we can. In developing new projects, we will look at how green standards can be incorporated in the location, size and building methods. Recycling containers are provided at all our hotels.
Q: How will Tune Hotels execute its green initiatives in India?
A: As part of our green initiatives, we encourage people to make smarter choices about the use of resources. Most people in India consider wastefulness as something bad. There is already a level of awareness about environmental degradation and how resources must be used better. People listen to arguments in favour of protecting the environment. Therefore, it is important for the hospitality industry to take its corporate social responsibility seriously.
Just recently the government of Delhi asked the city’s five-star hotels to conserve water and set up waste treatment plants. In our messages we are going to highlight why sustainable travel is important and how our guests can be part of our environment-friendly practices. Our properties do not feature swimming pools so most of our efforts will be directed at efficient use of water in rooms, laundry and energy efficient practices.
Q: These days it is not uncommon to see hotels putting up instructions for guests on towel and linen use. What are Tune Hotels’ practices in this regard?
A: This is an important area for any hotel to show what it can do to check water pollution. Laundry operation involves significant use of detergents, chemicals, water and electricity. By seeking the cooperation of our guests we can considerably reduce water use. Most people who stay at home are happy not to change bathroom towels and their bed linen every single day. Surely they can be encouraged to do the same during hotel stays. Tune Hotels reduces water consumption and the flow of laundry effluents into the environment by providing towels, if required for a small charge.
Q: How does Tune Hotels set green standards?
A: When we develop our hotels we invest in systems and technologies that are compatible with our green standards. Then we invest in our staff training and customer education so that we benefit from our environmental efforts. We always look at new technological developments in the hospitality industry so that we can improve our response to environmental issues.
We are keen to work with government bodies, academia, community and industry associations to promote green practices in travel. We strongly believe that environmental concerns should go mainstream in the hospitality business.
- ENDS -
NEWS RELEASE
AHMEDABAD OPENING MARKS TUNE HOTELS’ ENTRY INTO INDIA
Presents new green ideas; Rs 599 per night introductory rate
NEW DELHI, 3 May 2013 – Award-winning international hotel chain, Tune Hotels, is all set to welcome its first guests in India with the opening of the 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad this month.
“We look forward to offering travellers to Ahmedabad an unbeatable proposition that combines great savings with a great comfortable stay and in a location that is annexed to the newest Shopping Mall in Ahmedabad. Our business model is designed to take care of the needs of travellers in India looking for great comfort without paying exorbitant rates,” said Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.
“Ahmedabad is an amazingly vibrant city in the fast growing state of Gujarat and we are looking to welcome both business and leisure travellers. We are very excited about this hotel as it marks our brand’s very first entry into India’s very exciting hospitality market. The Tune Hotel Ahmedabad aims to serve both domestic travellers and visitors from abroad, especially members of the large non-resident Indian (NRI) community from Gujarat settled in places like the US, Britain and the Gulf, who may already have had prior knowledge of the brand in the five countries we are already present in” he said.
To celebrate the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, online bookings are now accepted with attractive all-inclusive room charges that start from as low as 599 Indian rupees (US$11 / RM34 / Bt330 / Rp108,000). Guests have the option to choose and pay only for amenities that they require.
The promotion is offered exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com and bookings can be made from 3 May 2013 until 10 May 2013, subject to availability of rooms. The rate is available on a first come, first served basis, for stay period starting 15 May 2013 until 30 September 2013.
The arrival of Tune Hotels in India will also introduce new green ideas to hotel stay.
“We at Tune Hotels pursue a conscious policy of being environmental-friendly by optimising use of available resources, reduction of waste and by introducing processes that save on energy consumption. And our guests have endorsed our operations that encourage lifestyles that protect the environment,” Lankester said.
“As part of our business philosophy, we strive to remain locally-relevant in each and every community that we’re in, and this includes being responsible towards the local environment. We invite our guests in India to celebrate with us the introduction of new green concepts.”
The 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, annexed to the newly developed 4D Square Mall in the city’s Motera area, is well positioned on the main thoroughfare to the state capital of Gandhinagar and a stone’s throw away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel cricket stadium.
Providing world-standard, high quality accommodation by focusing on key essentials but minus the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, Tune Hotels keeps its operating costs low and savings are passed on to guests in the form of super low rates.
Aside from its standard single and double rooms, Tune Hotels will be introducing family rooms that can accommodate between four to six people in order to meet the needs of the Indian guests, especially in the wedding market.
“In addition to larger room varieties, we have also made other adjustments in our offerings to serve our Indian guests better including more expansive food and beverage availability within the hotel. With a view to the huge wedding market in India, the hotel is able to cater to the needs for major banquet facilities for that total wedding experience. In fact, we’ve taken bookings for our very first wedding entourage already!” said Lankester.
Apart from properties in major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai –Tune Hotels is focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities along with hotels in the tourist triangle destinations of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. Tune Hotels will have five to six hotels in Gujarat as part of our 20 planned hotels across India in the next three years.
Commenting on the prospects for Tune Hotels in India, Lankester said: “India’s domestic hospitality market in total is huge and the major international brands all have a focus on the country. We see strong growth in both business and tourist segments as the domestic economy remains resilient. India’s middle class is expanding and rising disposable incomes have boosted travel. We are in a good position to offer quality affordable accommodation to these travel groups.”
Tune Hotels has received over four million guests since the opening of its first hotel in Downtown Kuala Lumpur in 2007. With the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, there will be 29 Tune Hotels in operation globally. The rest are 11 in Malaysia, five in the UK, four in the Philippines, four in Thailand and four in Indonesia.
By the end of 2013, Tune Hotels will have operating hotels in eight countries. Apart from India the company is set to open properties in Japan and Australia this year. Future projects are also coming up in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Tune Hotels’ Indian expansion signifies growing economic relations between India and Malaysia, which has emerged as India’s key partner in Southeast Asia. Companies and business people are increasingly benefitting from these expanded business links and two-way flow of investment and people continues to rise. India-Malaysia trade hit a record high of $13.5 billion in 2012, a 7.3 per cent growth over 2011, while tourist traffic also continues to remain strong between the two countries.
Tourist arrivals between the two countries have been on the rise with Malaysia being among India’s top 10 sources of tourism, while India was Malaysia's sixth biggest source of tourists in 2012.
The opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad comes as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia plans to launch its domestic airline services in India in a new venture.
“We see this as a great boost for not only travel between Malaysia and India, but adding further attraction to increasing travel within India. Like AirAsia, we pride ourselves on being a customer-focussed brand,” Lankester said.
Tune Hotels is part of Tune Group, a lifestyle business conglomerate co-founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, who are the Group Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer respectively of Asia’s largest low cost carrier AirAsia.
For real-time updates and promotion alerts, guests can stay connected with Tune Hotels via Facebook at www.facebook.com/tunehotelsIndia and on Twitter via www.twitter.com/tunehotels.
For booking and further information, visit www.tunehotels.com.
AHMEDABAD FACTS & ATTRACTIONS:
Bhadra Fort – Situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, its significance was established in 1411 the year Sultan Ahmad Shah established Ahmedabad as the capital of Gujarat Sultanate. The fort was built on the East Bank of the Sabarmati River and in 2012, a joint initiative between the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archeological Survey of India was signed to restore and redevelop to the fort to its former glory.
AutoWorld Museum – Featuring the largest collection of vintage automobiles in India, the AutoWorld Museum is located in Ahmedabad. The museum was founded by the Pranlal Bhogilal family and features cars, motorcycles and jeeps by marque carmakers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler-Chrysler and many more.
Sidi Sayed Mosque, Lal Darwaja – The mosque of Sidi Sayed is one of the most prominent mosques in Ahmedabad. Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque has gained worldwide recognition for it's intrincate artistic splendour.
Kankaria Lake – The Kankaria Lakefront development offers its visitors a myriad of activities and attractions apart from the gorgeous and serene view. Along the lake's 2.3km circumference, visitors can treat themselves to water sports & rides, visit the Balloon Safari, Kankaria Zoo, Kid City and a host of other attractions.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial - This is one of the most important buildings in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. It is a museum as well as an exhibition center, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Akshardham Temple – The temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat is one of the largest Temples in the state. The monument that enshrines the 2.1 metre gold-leafed Murti of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the temple. The monument itself, which is 30 meters in height was build with 6 thousand tonnes of Pink Sandstone and is largely heralded as an architectural masterpiece.
Sabarmati Ashram – This ashram is widely known as the Gandhi Ashram, in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who spent 12 years of his life here. Located at the base of the Sabarmati river, the Ashram is recognised as a monument of national significance due to the role the place had played for the Independence of India.
- END –
About Tune Hotels
Tune Hotels is part of the lifestyle business conglomerate Tune Group that was founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun. Tune Hotels seeks to innovate and revolutionise the way services are made available and has employed efficient web-based technologies to reach and engage its customers, presenting a unique lifestyle opportunity.
All Tune Hotels’ properties feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: a five-star bed, powerful hot showers and energy-conserving ceiling fans along with housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, CCTV surveillance, and 24-hour security.
The Tune Group of companies are Tune Air (a substantial shareholder of AirAsia), Tune Hotels, Tune Money (holding company of Tune Insurance), Tune Talk, Tune Box, Tune Studios, Tune Tones, Caterham F1 Team, Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) and Educ8 Group (owner of Epsom College in Malaysia).
Photos are available from www.flickr.com/tunehotels.
For media enquiries please contact:
Cymantha Sothiar
Mobile: +6012 315 3638
Fax: +603 7955 5899
Email: cymantha@tunehotels.com
Q & A with Mark Lankester
Group CEO, Tune Hotels
Q: Where does the environment figure in Tune Hotels’ business philosophy?
A: For us at Tune Hotels, being environment-friendly is not a slogan. Using resources in a way that reduces waste and promotes healthy lifestyles is built in our daily operations whether it is saving energy or minimising waste. As a value hotel chain we by nature consume less resources. Shorn of the generally underutilised facilities commonly found in other hotels such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums, we are promoting a more sustainable form of travel.
Q: What specific examples of green steps can you provide?
A: To give you an example of our energy conservation ways, we have a pay-as-you-use air-conditioning system programmed into guest keycards. Ceiling fans are a standard feature in our hotel rooms so guests have a choice not to use air-conditioning. And those who do need air-conditioning have it by agreeing to a small charge. Hallway air-conditioners in our hotels are set on a timer system so they turn on in alternate sequence to conserve power. We also actively use energy-efficient bulbs wherever we can. In developing new projects, we will look at how green standards can be incorporated in the location, size and building methods. Recycling containers are provided at all our hotels.
Q: How will Tune Hotels execute its green initiatives in India?
A: As part of our green initiatives, we encourage people to make smarter choices about the use of resources. Most people in India consider wastefulness as something bad. There is already a level of awareness about environmental degradation and how resources must be used better. People listen to arguments in favour of protecting the environment. Therefore, it is important for the hospitality industry to take its corporate social responsibility seriously.
Just recently the government of Delhi asked the city’s five-star hotels to conserve water and set up waste treatment plants. In our messages we are going to highlight why sustainable travel is important and how our guests can be part of our environment-friendly practices. Our properties do not feature swimming pools so most of our efforts will be directed at efficient use of water in rooms, laundry and energy efficient practices.
Q: These days it is not uncommon to see hotels putting up instructions for guests on towel and linen use. What are Tune Hotels’ practices in this regard?
A: This is an important area for any hotel to show what it can do to check water pollution. Laundry operation involves significant use of detergents, chemicals, water and electricity. By seeking the cooperation of our guests we can considerably reduce water use. Most people who stay at home are happy not to change bathroom towels and their bed linen every single day. Surely they can be encouraged to do the same during hotel stays. Tune Hotels reduces water consumption and the flow of laundry effluents into the environment by providing towels, if required for a small charge.
Q: How does Tune Hotels set green standards?
A: When we develop our hotels we invest in systems and technologies that are compatible with our green standards. Then we invest in our staff training and customer education so that we benefit from our environmental efforts. We always look at new technological developments in the hospitality industry so that we can improve our response to environmental issues.
We are keen to work with government bodies, academia, community and industry associations to promote green practices in travel. We strongly believe that environmental concerns should go mainstream in the hospitality business.
- ENDS -
Back cover of K. J. Divatia's book about Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, with information re: other publications of the Memorial Trust of the Ahmedabad Management Association.
The Jami Masjid in Ahmedabad.
The Jami Masjid of Ahmedabad is one of the biggest and oldest mosques of India, built by a Bahmani ruler Ahmed Shah I (1411-1442), the founder of Ahmedabad, in 1423. One of the major tourist attractions of Gujarat, Jami Masjid is known for its fine and amazing architecture. The Mosque has a total of 260 pillars supporting 15 domes at different elevations. The ami Masjid also had tall minarets, which were destroyed in an earthquake.
Centered on a spacious 75 x 66 meters marble courtyard with entrances on three sides - west, south and north, the Jami Mosque is regarded as one of the most superb and imposing structures of its class in the world. The architecture of the Jami Mosque shows distinctive Hindu and Jain influence, clearly visible on the decorations of walls and the niches of the mosque. One of the distinct features of this Mosque is its royal gallery with beautiful and intricate stonework. There is also a long rectangular ablution tank in the center. The prayer hall of the mosque is a rectangular area with five symmetrical domes. The central Mihrab (position indicating the direction of the Holy Mecca) of the mosque has inscriptions commemorating its completion on January 4, 1424, by Sultan hmad Shah I.
Ahmedabad - Gujarat - India
Ahmedabad is the largest city and former capital of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. With a population of more than 6.3 million and an extended population of 7.2 million, it is the sixth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area of India. Ahmedabad is located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, 30 km from the state capital Gandhinagar.
Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. It is the second largest producer of cotton in India, and its stock exchange is the country's second oldest. The effects of liberalisation of the Indian economy have energized the city's economy towards tertiary sector activities like commerce, communication and construction.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad
We bezoeken Calico house of Textiles and Sarabhai Foundation collection.
Met de tuktuk rijden we naar de Shree Swami Narayan tempel en de Sidi Saiyyad moskee in het ochtendlicht. Een vriendelijk gezin liet zich fotograferen. We eindigen de dag aan de vrijdag moskee Jami Masjid met een heel grote binnenplaats en rondom een galerij, verder wandelen we naar het inmiddels verlichte Sidi Saiyyad moskee.
Ahmedabad - Gujarat - India
Ahmedabad is the largest city and former capital of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. With a population of more than 6.3 million and an extended population of 7.2 million, it is the sixth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area of India. Ahmedabad is located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, 30 km from the state capital Gandhinagar.
Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. It is the second largest producer of cotton in India, and its stock exchange is the country's second oldest. The effects of liberalisation of the Indian economy have energized the city's economy towards tertiary sector activities like commerce, communication and construction.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad
We bezoeken Calico house of Textiles and Sarabhai Foundation collection.
Met de tuktuk rijden we naar de Shree Swami Narayan tempel en de Sidi Saiyyad moskee in het ochtendlicht. Een vriendelijk gezin liet zich fotograferen. We eindigen de dag aan de vrijdag moskee Jami Masjid met een heel grote binnenplaats en rondom een galerij, verder wandelen we naar het inmiddels verlichte Sidi Saiyyad moskee.