With an increase in pressure on the environment, luxury hotels are looking for methods where they can provide luxury without waste and by promoting green standards. Hoteliers from around the nation gathered at the BW Businessworld Responsible Hoteliering Conclave 2016 on Monday to discuss what needs to be done in the sector to attain sustainability and maintain luxury.
Zubin Songadawala, GM of the ITC Maurya, said, "How to train your staff is one of the most important things we can do. If we are able to ensure that we source product from vendors who practise sustainability, then we can talk about sustainability and can create an environment for it."
He added that 60 per cent of ITC hotels run on renewable energy and they have invested hundreds of crores in alternate energy sources. However, the company faces governance problem in achieving 100 per cent power from renewable sources, he said.
Sudhir Mishra, MD, Legal Trust, hospitality, said that there are two major issues right now. One, what is happening in the country and second, how to conserve everything. He said, "You are talking about Incredible India being destination for foreigners but condition on the ground is very severe. Why would foreigners like to come India?"
Bakshin Dean, executive director, Prime Gourment Pvt Ltd, said: "Education at all levels is more important than any other thing. It is important to put pressure on government to come with environment-friendly laws and execute them."
Rohit Arora, area GM of The Park New Delhi, said, "To become more sustainable, it is important that educate consumers to waste less so they will think twice before misusing."
Mishra, who gave the idea of the "odd-even" car number scheme to the Delhi government to control traffic pollution in the capital, said that he had filed a petition that the Tourism Ministry should also be party to the air pollution debate.
BW Reporters
The author is Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld
