Ever wonder what kind of experience and memories you can bring home after staying  in a green and pet-friendly hotel?

Entrepreneurs Don Ramon Bagatsing and Alessandra Atienza, the creative and innovation forces behind Eco Hotel, ensure that this mission translates to every Eco Hotel experience. They believe that every stay should inspire a deeper understanding of the importance of caring for the environment and embracing it as a way of life.

“We communicate our ethos through each design feature of the hotel in order for the customers to understand the artistic and creative effort behind a functional item, which they can emulate when they return home,” says Alessandra, Eco Hotel president and CEO.

CABIN FEVER Cabins Hotel in Tagaytay

Showcasing how recyclables like wood from old homes can be used to build a structure, Cabins by Eco Hotel in Tagaytay became the first Eco Hotel built in 2015. The use of sustainable materials like bricks and integration of biophilic design and upcycled artworks inspired trendy and environmentally themed spaces to meet the rising demand for modern, aesthetic, and functional yet affordable accommodations.

It was also in 2015 that Eco Hotel opened pet-friendly accommodations and became one of the first hotel chains to cater to pet owners. “We recognize the importance of pets to be with their humans,” explains Don Ramon, Eco Hotel chairman and chief vibe officer. “The love and care for animals is encouraged as it helps promote emotional and mental balance.”  Eco Hotel is one of the first hotel chains to cater to pet owners.

The couple also narrates how the hotel’s unique services and features help in educating consumers about sustainable living. Alessandra provides a glimpse of what potential guests can expect from an eco-friendly environment like Eco Hotel. “The room amenities are scaled to essential comforts with shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, and lotion given in refillable lemongrass scented bottles,” she says.

POWER DUO Eco Hotel CEO and president Alessandra Atienza and chairman and chief vibe officer Don Ramon Bagatsing

The hotel provides bamboo or wheat toothbrushes, fresh linens, and towels while encouraging guests to reuse them during their short stay. Clean thick blankets are placed in reusable bags inside the cabinet for use only as needed. “Every energy saving effort is considered significant. Manually switching off all electrical equipment when not in use (especially aircon, TV, and fans) is very much appreciated,” the couple stresses.

A tour of The Greenery in one of the Eco Hotel branches also shows guests how to run a small farm with zero waste and composting. This feature supports its restaurant’s farm-to-table concept that offers a healthier alternative for guests to enjoy their meals. “Earthing and grounding are concepts that we recognize to bring our guests to reconnecting with nature,” Alessandra says.

Running a green service hotel has its share of challenges as well, especially when they opened Cabins by Eco Hotel in early 2015, a time when the concept of sustainability was still new to the market. By the name itself, hotel rooms resemble the size of a ship’s cabin.

“This is a really compact room that encases the bed as if you are sleeping inside a wooden picture frame with a huge view of the garden or Taal Lake. The rooms were scaled down to 16 to 20 square meters with upcycled furnishings like egg crates turned into lamps and old wood into the building’s facade. We even had our house pet Blue, a paraplegic dog on a wheelchair inside the hotel,” recalls Don Ramon.

The first challenge was how to clearly communicate what the hotel brand stands for because guests could not understand why the rooms were made small and the rationale of keeping a pet inside the hotel. “Maybe we came in a little bit early for the consciousness of the sustainability concept, which to us is not just a concept but a way of life,” says Don Ramon.

CABIN FEVER Cabins Hotel in Tagaytay

Since its first branch, Eco Hotel has come a long way of inspiring an eco-conscious mindset among consumers while continuing its advocacy of using sustainable materials, which are locally sourced to benefit communities. “We believe we have succeeded in communicating and creating awareness of each one’s role in the preservation of our resources in their everyday lives and the need for each one to try and reconnect with nature,” says Alessandra.


To date, there are five fully operational eco-friendly hotels under the Eco Hotel chain and three in Pops District (Commercial Walking Street) situated in major tourism destinations across the country. Eco Hotel branches include Surf Kamp Caliraya Lake, Containers Tagaytay, Cabins Tagaytay, Villas Mataasnakahoy Batangas, and Suites El Nido. Pops District commercial walking streets are located in El Nido and Puerto Princesa while Cloud9 Siargao is now on its way to reopening. “Our properties seamlessly blend with its surroundings, the environment,  and the community around it,” Alessandra adds.

Don Ramon and Alessandra believe that every Eco Hotel is different. “Every Eco Hotel is unique,” Alessandra says. “Every experience for each property can provide life lessons that one can take home to help preserve the environment.”