Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive VP – Human Resource – IHCL
The hospitality industry’s role in tackling global warming: The hospitality sector both, contributes to and is impacted by climate change, and therefore, has a responsibility to be part of the change that is needed to mitigate impact posed by climate change. The industry can significantly mitigate its environmental impact, enhance economic performance, meet evolving consumer expectations, and fulfill regulatory and corporate responsibilities by adopting and promoting sustainable practices.
According to an Accenture report, a 38% ROI can be achieved, if hotels undertake the decarbonization process in the next five years. These initiatives run parallel to the ever-increasing demand from eco-conscious consumers, with 83% of young travellers ready to pay more for sustainable choices.
India’s commitment at the United Nations in 2021, to meet net zero emissions by 2070, has further emphasized the need for large corporations to develop robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) plans to meet this goal. Besides, increasingly stringent regulatory compliance makes sustainability essential not only for avoiding penalties but also for ensuring long-term viability.
IHCL’s environmental sustainability goals: IHCL, under its ESG+ framework of Paathya, has defined several short and long-term goals to be fulfilled by 2030 under Paathya. From 100% elimination of single-use plastic across all its hotels to ensuring 100% of waste water is reused, 100% of the company’s hotels will be certified to a global sustainability standard. Furthermore, all business meetings and conferences will be green with the introduction of Innergise – Green Meetings, reducing their environmental impact.
Taking ahead its commitment to skill building, and creating employability for the deserving and the marginalized, IHCL aims to impact the livelihood of over 1,00,000 youth.
Long heralded as the custodian of Indian heritage, IHCL’s collaboration with UNESCO, will see adoption of 100% of Intangible Cultural Heritage (IHC) projects in the geographies it operates in.
Environmental certifications, and the roadmap to reach there: Environmental certifications play a pivotal role in the hospitality industry’s transition towards sustainability, serving as tangible evidence of a hotel’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
We, at IHCL, prioritize certifications like EarthCheck and LEED for our stringent criteria and holistic approach to sustainability. EarthCheck certified hotels achieve significant reductions in energy and water consumption, contributing to environmental conservation. Representing best practices, 88 IHCL hotels have achieved EarthCheck certification with 59 Platinum recognitions, largest in the global tourism industry.
IHCL’s roadmap towards certification involves data-driven initiatives aligned with its Paathya sustainability framework. This includes increasing renewable energy consumption, implementing water conservation measures, and partnering with IFC’s TechEmerge program for innovative cooling technologies. Collaborations with EarthCheck facilitate comprehensive assessments and goal-setting for environmental performance improvements.
Through these efforts, today, IHCL aims to integrate sustainability into its core operations and achieve and maintain certification standards. These certifications underscore IHCL’s commitment to responsible tourism and contribute to a more sustainable future for the industry.