Date:03/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/03/stories/2008090353782300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Eight Tamarind Easy hotels to be ready soon

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) will convert its eight Yatri Nivas lodges into Tamarind KTDC Easy hotels within a month.

The one on Asramom Maidan at Kollam, on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake, will be the first to be so converted, KTDC Chairman Cherian Philip said here on Tuesday.

Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will inaugurate it on Monday. Labour Minister P. K. Gurudasan will preside over the function.

Those at Alappuzha, Changanasserry, Peerumade, Thrissur, Guruvayur, Mannarkkad and Kannur are the others being upgraded, Mr. Philip said.

The guests will be provided air-conditioning, television and Internet connection.

Tamarind Easy hotels are functioning at Tirunelli, Kondotty and Kalady.

Works are on to complete the hotels at Nilambur, Sulthan Bathery and Mangattuparambu.

These hotels are aimed at providing modern facilities at affordable rates and serving the traditional Kerala cuisine to the guests.

Creating a budget hotel brand is part of an effort to improve the corporation’s offerings.

The hotels will be linked to nearby tourist destinations to attract domestic tourists, a KTDC official said.

The hotel at Mannarkkad will be a stopover for those proceeding to Silent Valley. The one at Tirunelli, besides catering to pilgrims to the temple there, will be a stopover for those bound for Tholpetti in Wayanad.

Soon, guests will be able to make reservations though the Central Reservation Centre functioning at Mascot Square here, the official said.