MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022: Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has been recognised at the International Convention of WTM Responsible Tourism, an international forum to drive responsible tourism globally. IHCL was the winner for India and the sub-continent in the category of Sustaining Employees and Communities through the pandemic and Contributing to the Cultural Heritage of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL, said, “IHCL has always been committed to driving responsible tourism. In line with the framework of Paathya, it is our endeavour to lead positive change in sustainability and social impact measures. It is an honour to be recognised by a prestigious organisation like WTM and strengthens our resolve of building a more sustainable and inclusive future. ”
Under the Sustaining Employees and Communities through the Pandemic category, IHCL was recognised for ‘Meals to Smiles’, an initiative which offered 4.5 million meals to healthcare providers and migrant workers across cities in India at the peak of the pandemic and ‘Taj for Family’, program for supporting the members of the hospitality industry. IHCL’s collaboration with UNESCO to preserve and promote Intangible Cultural Heritage (IHC) was awarded under the Contributing to Cultural Heritage category.
The International Convention for Responsible Tourism recognizes companies for their efforts towards promoting the development of responsible tourism businesses and initiatives and includes a channel of individuals who support the concept of responsible tourism as defined in the Cape Town Declaration and assure that all activities adhere to the Declaration’s spirit.