Water Recycling Systems Launched at Arignar Anna Zoological Park to Boost Sustainable Conservation

Water Recycling Systems Launched at Arignar Anna Zoological Park to Boost Sustainable Conservation

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 5, 2026

Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, Chennai, has taken a major step towards sustainable conservation with the launch of a new Water Recycling System at the Nilgiri Langur enclosure. Alongside this, the foundation stone has been laid for similar systems at the Otter and Chimpanzee enclosures, marking an important milestone for the Institute for Climate and Environment (ICE) in its role as Knowledge Partner.

The ceremony was attended by Thiru. Srinivas R. Reddy, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), who graced the event as the Chief Guest. Rtn. Nikhil Raj, President of the Rotary Club of Madras, was present as the Guest of Honour, while Thiru. T. Ritto Cyriac, IFS, Director of Arignar Anna Zoological Park, presided over the function.

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This initiative has been supported by sponsors R B Agarwalla & Co., Aspire Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., and DRA Homes. Co-sponsors Rtn. Shri Shakthi Girish and Rtn. Suresh Amirapu also extended their support. Circen Technologies played a key role as the CTCe Implementation Partner, offering solutions designed to promote responsible and efficient water management.

Developed in association with the Rotary Club of Madras and implemented by its Environmental Action Committee, the water recycling system has a treatment and recirculation capacity of 400,000 litres per day. The technology provided by Circen Technologies is designed to reduce the enclosure’s dependence on fresh water while maintaining high standards of habitat care and animal welfare.

The system installed at the Nilgiri Langur wet moat enclosure is expected to cut fresh water consumption by nearly 70%. At the same time, it ensures that the primates continue to live in safe and healthy surroundings. This move sets a strong example for eco-friendly infrastructure and responsible water use within zoological parks.

In addition to the Langur enclosure, a new water treatment plant is set to come up at the Otter Pond, sponsored by Aspire Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. Plans are also in progress for a water recycling system at the Chimpanzee Enclosure with support from DRA Homes. What started with the Langur enclosure is now expanding across the zoo, building steady momentum towards better water efficiency and environmentally conscious operations.

This joint effort by Arignar Anna Zoological Park, the Rotary Club of Madras, and the Institute for Climate and Environment (ICE) shows how strong partnerships can drive meaningful change. By focusing on efficient water usage and animal well-being, the project highlights how public institutions can lead by example in sustainable conservation practices.


GuestEzee with Contactless Check-In is Powering the Next Generation of Smart Hotels Worldwide

GuestEzee with Contactless Check-In is Powering the Next Generation of Smart Hotels Worldwide

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 4, 2026

Hospitality has always been about experiences, but in today’s fast-moving digital world, experience begins long before a guest steps into the lobby. Modern travellers expect instant confirmations, seamless access, personalised services, and effortless communication. At the same time, hotel operators are managing rising operational costs, staffing pressures, fragmented technology systems, and the constant demand for better reviews and stronger loyalty. The industry does not just need another software solution. It needs a smarter, unified system built for the realities of today. GuestEzee with Contactless Check-In answers that need.

Developed by GuestVento Technology Pvt Ltd, GuestEzee is a global, cloud-based Guest Management System designed to transform how hotels operate and how guests experience their stay. It is not positioned as a single feature application or a limited operational tool. It is built as a complete digital ecosystem that connects guests, staff, and management on one intelligent platform.

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Across global hospitality markets, many hotels continue to function with disconnected systems. Property management software operates separately from POS systems. Door lock access remains dependent on physical cards. Guest feedback is collected manually or too late to make a difference. Housekeeping coordination relies on phone calls and fragmented communication. These inefficiencies cost hotels more than time. They impact revenue, reputation, and repeat business.

GuestEzee brings all essential functions together into one seamless structure. With fully integrated contactless check in, guests can complete arrival formalities digitally and access their rooms using mobile key technology. The elimination of long queues and physical dependency instantly elevates the arrival experience. However, the platform goes far beyond entry.

Through a unified guest interface, visitors can order in room dining, request services, receive curated upsell offers, and provide instant feedback. Every interaction becomes smooth, intuitive, and personalized. For hotels, this translates into stronger guest engagement and increased average revenue per room. Built in upselling capabilities allow properties to present relevant services at the right moment, turning convenience into profitability without disrupting the guest journey.

Operationally, GuestEzee empowers teams with real time coordination. The staff interface enables structured housekeeping, f&b and front office workflows, maintenance tracking, and immediate complaint resolution through an automated escalation matrix. Management gains access to a comprehensive dashboard featuring billing, operational visibility, and performance analytics. Instead of working reactively, hotels can now operate with proactive intelligence.

As a subscription driven SaaS platform priced per key per month, GuestEzee offers scalability for mid scale and premium hotels seeking modern transformation without complex infrastructure investment. Its cloud first architecture ensures quick deployment, remote accessibility, and seamless integration with PMS, OTAs, POS systems, and digital lock technologies. The result is a connected ecosystem that eliminates silos and simplifies technology adoption.

Guests demand speed, personalization, and transparency. Operators demand efficiency, visibility, and revenue growth. GuestEzee with Contactless Check-In brings these demands together into one powerful solution.

As digital transformation becomes the defining factor of competitiveness in hospitality, GuestEzee is not just participating in the shift. It is helping lead it.

“Stay at Ezee with GuestEzee”  

For more info visit: www.guestezee.com & mail us at: enquiry@guestezee.com


Innov8 Reports 55% Revenue Growth in Q1 FY26 to INR 38 Crore

Innov8 Reports 55% Revenue Growth in Q1 FY26 to INR 38 Crore

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 3, 2025

Innov8, one of India’s fastest-growing flex space startups, has reported an impressive start to FY26 with Q1 revenues of INR 38 crore, marking a 55% increase from INR 24 crore in the same period last year. Profitability also improved, with EBITDA rising to INR 8 crore, compared to INR 3 crore in Q1 FY25, underscoring the company’s strong operating performance.

This momentum follows a robust FY25 when Innov8 nearly doubled its revenues to INR 123 crore from INR 75 crore in FY24, and grew EBITDA to INR 70 crore from INR 47 crore. The company also stood out as one of only two net-profitable players in India’s flex space segment, reporting a profit of INR 7 crore in FY25.

A key growth driver has been the rise in average monthly membership revenue (AMMR) per seat, which grew 21% year-on-year to approximately INR 10,000. This reflects improved pricing power, customer loyalty, and a stronger seat mix favoring higher-yield formats. Innov8’s asset-light model, which leverages landlord-led capex for capital-efficient expansion, continues to fuel scalable and profitable growth.

To support its long-term ambitions, Innov8 transitioned from a private limited company to a public limited entity in FY25, while also raising its authorised share capital from INR 1.50 crore to INR 26.50 crore.

Pankhuri Sakhuja, Business Head, Innov8, said, “With a strong foundation and a clearly defined roadmap, we are looking for aggressive growth and confident of doubling our center count in FY26. Our focus is on accelerating expansion in high-density hubs across India’s major metros and strengthening enterprise-grade solutions such as private suites and managed offices. We see significant potential in regions like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and will continue to prioritise growth in these key markets.”

The growth comes at a time when demand for flexible workspaces in India has surged nearly sixfold over the past five years, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Innov8 is doubling down on technology adoption to drive operational efficiency and enhance vibrant, community-led workspace experiences that foster collaboration.

Innov8 offers premium plug-and-play workspaces with flexible layouts, enterprise-grade security, and fully managed services. Its centers are strategically located in prime business districts, giving enterprises access to top talent and infrastructure. Recent expansions include:

  • House Zion near Mumbai International Airport with 1,500+ seats

  • Prestige Tech Park, Bengaluru with 900 seats

  • Graphix Towers, Noida with 500 seats

The company’s client portfolio includes leading enterprises such as Swiggy, Tata Digital, Apollo24/7, Paytm, Razorpay, IndusInd Bank, Whirlpool, BBC News, PepsiCo, Oppo, Snapdeal, Lenskart, Nykaa, BigBasket, Ola, and PhonePe.

Founded in 2015 by Dr. Ritesh Malik, Innov8 is currently present across 10 cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Indore, and continues to position itself as a leading force in India’s flex space industry.


Scaling Love: Pawan Gupta on Building a $10M Wedding Dream

Scaling Love: Pawan Gupta on Building a $10M Wedding Dream

By Pawan Gupta

Published on June 30, 2025

Pawan Gupta is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Wedding Company, a brand that's redefining how dream weddings come to life. Known for blending creativity with breathtaking destinations, Pawan and his team design unforgettable celebrations that truly stand out. What started as “Weddings by Betterhalf” has now rebranded into The Wedding Company, a move that reflects their growing vision and premium service offering. With an impressive 10X growth in just a year and a bold goal to scale to $10 million in services by 2025, the platform is making wedding planning more convenient, transparent, and luxurious than ever before.

In this conversation, Pawan opens up about the journey of TheWeddingCompany.com, its operations, and what goes into making every wedding truly memorable.

1. As a tech entrepreneur transitioning into luxury wedding planning, what inspired the creation of TheWeddingCompany.com, and how do you see technology fundamentally reshaping the hospitality and wedding ecosystem in India?

While building our earlier matchmaking platform, Betterhalf, which grew to over 5–10 lakh monthly users, we noticed something interesting. Many of our users who found their partners on the platform started asking for reliable recommendations for wedding planning. That’s when the idea for The Wedding Company really began to take shape. We started by organizing weddings locally in Bangalore, and quickly saw a bigger gap in the industry. Traditional wedding planners weren’t always affordable or accessible to middle and upper-middle-class families. Yet, these customers still wanted dependable, transparent, and hassle-free services.

India is now going through a big shift, moving from a mostly offline, fragmented wedding planning process to a more organized, tech-driven experience. We see this in three main stages: Pre-wedding planning, with tools like automated proposals and budgeting, Wedding planning, powered by a user-friendly product and solid operational control and Event fulfilment, with experienced on-ground teams guided by centralized planning. Technology is truly at the heart of all this. It brings consistency, scale, and personalization in a way that traditional wedding planning just can’t match.

2. With a 10X growth trajectory and $10M in services projected, how are you building operational excellence and service consistency across 50+ Indian cities and international destinations like Bali and Phuket? 

Our ability to scale comes down to one core strength, our proprietary software infrastructure at The Wedding Company. It’s been built specifically to serve three key groups: our customers, our internal operations team, and our supplier network. This system helps us streamline workflows, maintain quality standards, and cut down on repetitive, manual tasks. We’re also investing in curated supplier catalogues to offer standardized service experiences, while still leaving room for customization and personal touches. For customers, this means access to trusted vendors, great value deals, and real-time updates throughout their planning journey. For our vendor partners, it brings steady business and a reliable demand pipeline and for our internal teams, it provides the operational strength to deliver smooth and high-quality experiences, whether it's in a bustling metro or a destination like Bali or Phuket.

3. Weddings are deeply emotional and culturally rooted, how does TheWeddingCompany.com strike the right balance between standardization through technology and personalization at scale?

We’ve designed the experience with both structure and soul in mind. It works through two layers: First, we have a centralized customer experience system. This part ensures everything runs smoothly and consistently, from transparent pricing and digital contracts to planning checklists and milestone tracking. It brings reliability and clarity to the process. Then comes the local planning and fulfilment team, which adds the human touch. These teams are familiar with regional cultures, languages, rituals  and even the little things that vary from venue to venue. They help personalize the celebration in ways technology alone can’t. Together, this approach helps us stay efficient and scalable while still making every wedding unique, emotional, and true to the couple’s traditions.

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4. What role does hospitality play in curating seamless experiences not just for the couple, but also for guests, families, and vendors across multi-day destination events?

Hospitality is at the heart of everything we do. In Indian weddings, especially destination ones, the guest experience is absolutely crucial. It can truly make or break the entire event. That’s why we train our teams not just in execution, but in thinking hospitality-first. From the moment guests arrive, every detail matters, welcome kits, airport pickups, smooth room allocations, personalized itineraries,  we try to make each touchpoint feel special. This mindset also extends to our vendor partners. We treat them like collaborators, not just service providers. When they feel valued and supported, it reflects in the quality and warmth of the overall experience.

5. What strategic considerations went into rebranding from Weddings by Betterhalf to TheWeddingCompany.com, and how has it impacted your positioning in the luxury wedding market?

The rebranding was a thoughtful, strategic move to boost brand recall and appeal to a wider audience. While “Weddings by Betterhalf” made sense as an extension of our matchmaking brand, it didn’t fully connect with luxury clients or key influencers like parents and relatives who often play a big role in wedding decisions. “The Wedding Company” felt like the right evolution, it’s simple to say, easy to share, and carries a premium yet approachable tone. It also positions us as a category-defining brand in the tech-enabled wedding space. This new identity has helped us engage both middle-class and luxury clients more effectively and establish a stronger foothold in the market. 

6. How are you leveraging data and AI to enhance vendor matchmaking, guest management, and real-time planning efficiencies—especially in comparison to traditional wedding planners?

We’ve built AI-driven tools that make the entire planning process smarter, faster, and more personalized. For example, our venue booking system matches wedding dates with live venue availability and pricing trends. This helps couples make quick, informed decisions without all the back-and-forth. Our Wedding Ideabook uses image clustering and machine learning to recommend decor ideas that align with each couple’s style, budget, and regional preferences and for vendor matchmaking, we analyze past reviews, timelines, and areas of expertise to pair clients with the most suitable partners, making the entire process smoother and more reliable. Unlike traditional planners who depend on intuition or small networks, our approach is powered by data. That means better fit, faster planning, and a much more seamless experience for everyone involved.

7. With increasing demand for global wedding destinations, how is TheWeddingCompany.com fostering partnerships with international hotels and hospitality brands to deliver authentic yet localized Indian wedding experiences abroad?

We’re already seeing strong momentum in destinations like Thailand, Bali, and Phuket. The key to success abroad lies in building reliable networks with suppliers who truly understand Indian weddings, from décor and food to rituals and music. We work closely with these partners and even arrange on-ground recce visits with our customers. This helps ensure everything, from picking the venue to finalizing the décor goes smoothly and stays true to Indian traditions. Since many of our clients are based in Indian metro cities, we start with local planning support and then bridge the gap by coordinating with execution partners abroad. This approach creates a seamless, end-to-end experience that feels both global and deeply personal.

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