ITC Hotels Celebrates World Tourism Day

Offering Experiences in Support of Sustainable Tourism through Responsible Luxury

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. September 28, 2017

NEW DELHI, IN. September 28, 2017 - In honor of World Tourism Day on September 27, ITC Hotels is celebrating its immersive 'Responsible Luxury' experiences with guests. In line with the United Nations General Assembly proclamation of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the day will be dedicated to exploring the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 2017 theme of 'Sustainable Tourism', based on the dimensions of Economic, Social, Environment, Culture and Peace, underscores ITC Hotels' ethos of 'Responsible Luxury' which was created to transcend the limited boundaries of 'Green' to include practices and experiences that showcase luxury with a deeper commitment to the nation and society's surrounding them.

Commenting on the occasion, Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC Ltd. said, “We are pleased to support UNWTO's chosen theme of Sustainable Tourism as it exemplifies ITC Hotels' journey with 'Responsible Luxury' as its credo. ITC's hotels business is committed to delivering luxury experiences in a responsible, sustainable and inclusive manner.”

Experiences that demonstrate 'Responsible Luxury' and its impact on guests will include destination discoveries through guided exploration of the hotels featuring indigenous architecture, art, local traditions and rituals. Culinary journeys that emphasize regional cuisine experiences like Food Sherpa Trails, a 'farm to plate' approach and holistic well-being initiatives, among others.

Mirroring the cultures in which the hotels are based, ITC Hotels “Responsible Luxury” themes will be highlighted across acclaimed restaurant brands like Bukhara, Dum Pukht, Royal Vega that abet India's dominance on the global culinary scape, including initiatives like 'ÚûnyaAqua'-Zero km water and programs showcasing the lesser known culinary legacy of the nation like Local Love and Kitchens of India. A spotlight on well-being programs like indigenous treamtents inside the Kaya Kalp Spa, initiatives on the science of 'Sleeep' and Swasthya cuisine, based on ancient Ayurvedic principles and incorporating seasonality and six rasas (tastes), and a series of social initiatives that engage with local communities providing gainful employment that demonstrate a commitment towards nation building and operating according to the highest principles of environmental stewardship.

World Tourism Day has been celebrated since 1980 on September 27, the day in which the Statutes of the UNWTO entered into force. Peace and Dialogue, Energy, Accessibility, World Heritage and Water and Tourism have been some of the topics tackled on the 37 previous editions of World Tourism Day.

About ITC Hotels

With the enduring Namaste as the symbol of its brand experience, ITC Hotels is one of India's largest luxury hotel chains, operating under four distinct brands that offer comprehensive hospitality solutions through more than 100 hotels in over 70 destinations in the country. Integrating India's fine tradition of hospitality with globally benchmarked services, each ITC Hotel in the collection of hotels is an archetype of the culture and ethos of each destination. With 'Responsible Luxury' as its guiding premise, ITC's hotels combine grandeur with intimacy to operate according to the highest principles of environmental stewardship. Each ITC luxury hotel is certified with a *LEED® Platinum rating for its endeavours towards green building, using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. The brand features opulent accommodations, state-of-the-art business facilities, renowned signature cuisine and award-winning wellness experiences.

About ITC Limited

ITC is one of India's foremost private sector companies and a diversified conglomerate with interests in Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Hotels, Paperboards and Packaging, Agri Business and Information Technology. With a market capitalisation of more than US$ 50 billion and a turnover of over US$ 8 billion, ITC has been ranked amongst the top 10 'sustainable value creators' in the consumer goods segment globally by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). It is the only company in the world to be carbon positive, water positive and solid waste recycling positive, with its businesses supporting around 6 million sustainable livelihoods. ITC Chairman Mr Y C Deveshwar was ranked the 7th Best Performing CEO in the world by the Harvard Business Review. In 2014, ITC was ranked as India's most admired company by Fortune India magazine in association with Hay Group.

*LEED® - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design