Hoteliers prioritise sustainability

Sustainable practices have become a priority for hospitality leaders and hoteliers. Success of a hotel or restaurant depends on how it preserves the surrounding natural environment and cultural attractions that will entice tourists. Hospitality experts agree upon prioritising sustainable and eco-friendly practices at their properties.

Zubin Saxena, MD, Radisson Hotels
Radisson is leading the sustainability efforts on a global level. There are many global sustainability initiatives going on, which we call sustainability basics and they start from daily operations like preparation of rooms and recycling of towels and soaps. On larger platforms, we have installed electric chargers in all our hotels and now we are looking to promote sustainability from Radisson Roadtrips as well. Sustainability is a way of life for us and we are deeply engaged in initiating such measures and ensure our hotels are really at the forefront.

Sudeep Jain, MD, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts
In 2021, we launched Journey to Tomorrow, a 10-year action plan of clear commitments to drive change for our people, communities, and planet, aligned to our purpose of True Hospitality for Good and to the UN

Sustainable Development Goals. Over the next decade, we focus on working with our hotels to reduce carbon emissions in line with climate science; eliminating single-use items or finding recyclable alternatives; reducing food waste; collaborating with local stakeholders to tackle water sustainability issues in areas of risk.

Bhaskar Gurunath, Area Director of Engineering – South Asia, Marriott International
Creation of a Sustainability committee in every hotel with the GM as the chairperson leading this initiative. Engaging our associates in sustainability community outreach programs, educating them about the Sustainability activities and initiatives that each Hotel is engaged in through meetings, activities and initiatives by each department. Balance score card is driven by departments and it becomes a goal for them to achieve.

Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI
By prioritising life, property and environmental safety, we not only fulfil our ethical obligations but also lay the foundation for sustainable growth and success. The signing of the MoU between HRAWI and IGBC is a stepping stone in this direction. We will continue to hold awareness programs and seminars to educate stakeholders on the conservation of water, food and energy and to share best practices towards achieving Net Zero.

Nikhil Sharma, Market Managing Director-Eurasia Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Sustainability and hospitality always goes hand-in-hand. In order to perform and do better in the market, sustainability plays a major role. We have a program called the Wyndham Green; it has five levels of certification; this is global program that we have shared with our global and domestic partners and we have been encouraging our hotels globally to reach different levels of Wyndham Green and make the hotels more and more sustainable.

Gurmit Singh Arora, Chairman, Indian Green Building Council
The vision of IGBC is to enable a sustainably built environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the global leaders in the sustainably built environment. Towards this effort, HRAWI and IGBC have come together to raise awareness about the benefits of building sustainable properties across the hospitality industry. This will include incorporating existing establishments as well. If we do not conserve water, we will have a major problem on our hands.

Atul Upadhyay, Executive VP, Pride Hotels Group
The budget allocation dedicated to sustainability initiatives varies appreciably among different hotels in our chain, and this variability hinges on factors such as the hotel’s size, location, and overall commitment to sustainable practises. While specific figures can differ, many of our hotels are allocating a significant portion of their budgets to sustainability initiatives. This allocation encompasses investments in cutting-edge technologies helping environs.

Raoof Dhanani, Managing Director, Sayaji Hotels
The hospitality industry has become the greatest example of adopting sustainable practices for the long run post-COVID. Sustainability reduces environmental impact through green practices. Sayaji Hotels constantly strive to protect the local communities, team mates, esteemed guests and life of Mother Earth in daily practice. There are no fixed budgetary allocations for sustainable initiatives, but we focus on energy-efficient measures.

Sunil Kumar, General Manager, JW Marriott, Kolkata
We have been increasingly focusing on sustainability initiatives to reduce our environmental impact and promote responsible practices. These initiatives include zero-waste, water conservation through the installation of bottling plants and sustainable sourcing to name a few. As per the sustainability strategy, JW Marriott Kolkata’s pan-Asian diner, Vintage Asia has set up the ‘zero-wastage’ concept by introducing ‘single diner’ menu for its guests.

Devidyuti Ghosh, Hotel Manager, Mulberry Shades Bengaluru Nandi Hills
We believe in the harmonious coexistence of hotels and sustainability. One of our primary focuses is on energy conservation. Our culinary team prioritises sourcing ingredients locally, supporting regional farmers and reducing carbon emissions from transportation. Waste management is another crucial aspect we address diligently. We have established recycling programs for various materials and implement composting methods.

Ashley James, General Manager, Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort, Bengaluru
In these times, organised hotel management companies and organisations have shifted their focus towards sustainability and responsible hospitality. This change is necessary due to the increasing global demands in climate issues, UNSDG, and ESG goals. Our properties have been consciously built with minimal carbon footprints and a strong emphasis on supporting local employment and responsible hospitality.

Ronan Fearon, General Manager, JW Marriot Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa
Through meticulous planning and innovative strategies, we have incorporated various sustainable practices at our resort. From energy-efficient lighting and water conservation initiatives to waste reduction and responsible sourcing of materials, every aspect of our operations is designed to minimise our environmental footprint. We prioritise partnerships with local suppliers, contributing to the community while reducing our carbon footprint.

Gaurav Pokhriyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL
In the last financial year our spend on sustainability related initiatives was approximately `35 crores. The technology updates in the sustainability field and regulatory requirements are fairly dynamic. Hence, while we have a budget in place, spends will be not be limited to budgets but in line with our promise to lead positive change with IHCL’s guiding force of Tajness. IHCL made an early transition to renewable power at its properties.

HC Vinayaka, Vice President – Technical, EHS and Sustainability, ITC Hotels
It is a matter of pride that ITC Hotels and WelcomHotels have achieved, much ahead of time, the 2030 carbon emission targets envisaged in the COP21 Paris agreement. Guided by the ethos of ‘Responsible Luxury’, we endeavour to create a harmonious balance between luxury and sustainability by prioritising environmental stewardship. ITC Hotels is among the first hotel chains to mitigate single-use-plastic at close to 150 touch points.

Compiled by TT Bureau