Responsible Tourism: The impact of tourism on local communities and environments.

Hosting with Heart: Novotel Kolkata's Commitment to Responsible Tourism

Akash Bansal

Director of Operations, Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences

At Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences, we believe tourism should uplift both the destination and its people. Responsible tourism is about creating meaningful experiences while ensuring we respect and support the local community and environment. We actively source ingredients from nearby markets, supporting local farmers and artisans. This not only helps reduce our carbon footprint but also strengthens the local economy. Our team is encouraged to engage with and support community-driven initiatives, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared beyond the hotel walls.

Environmentally, we follow sustainable practices such as energy-saving technologies, water conservation, in-house bottling, and efficient waste management. These steps help preserve the city’s resources for future generations. We also strive to introduce our guests to authentic cultural

experiences—from traditional cuisine to local festivals—encouraging deeper connections with the heritage of Bengal. Additionally, New Town boasts a cycle track, with one conveniently located right outside our hotel. This promotes a healthier, greener way for guests to explore the area, reducing their carbon footprint while enjoying the local surroundings.

Responsible tourism is not a trend for us; it’s a way of hosting with heart.

Responsible Tourism: The Leela Palace Chennai's Commitment to Positive Impact

Nishant Agarwal

Vice President and General Manager , The Leela Palace Chennai.

Tourism, when practiced responsibly, becomes a force for good. At The Leela Palace Chennai, we advocate for tourism that uplifts local communities and safeguards cultural heritage. Through employment opportunities, local sourcing, and partnerships with indigenous artisans, we ensure the economic ripple effect of hospitality extends beyond our gates. Responsible tourism is about respect—for people, places, and the planet—and we are proud to be torchbearers of this ethos.

Respectful Roots: Seven Seas Hospitality's Approach to Responsible Tourism

Ramesh Dang

Director, Seven Seas Hospitality

Responsible tourism is about respect; both for the environment and the communities that host us. At Seven Seas Hospitality, we aim to operate in a way that positively impacts our surroundings. We hire locally, collaborate with artisans and vendors from the region, and support community-driven events. We believe that when tourism uplifts local culture and livelihoods, everyone benefits.

The Essence of Responsible Tourism: Sustainable Practices for a Better Future

Rajib Roy Choudhury 

Senior General Manager, Hotel Vedic Village Spa Resort

Responsible tourism prioritizes minimizing negative impacts on local communities and environments, while promoting cultural exchange, economic benefits and environmental conservation ensuring sustainable tourism practices that benefit both locals and visitors.

Empowering Communities, Preserving Heritage: Araiya Hotels' Commitment

Amruda Nair, Founder and Director of Araiya Hotels and Resorts

Sustainable Tourism: Traveling with a Conscience

Radhika Changoiwala - Marketing & Communications Manager at The Westin Mumbai Garden City

Responsible tourism minimises the impact on local communities and the environment by supporting local businesses, respecting culture, and promoting sustainability. It encourages mindful travel choices that benefit both people and the planet.

Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality: ITC Grand Central's LEED Zero Carbon Achievemen

Kunal Pahwa, General Manager, ITC Grand Central Mumbai

By incorporating sustainability into its operations and community involvement, ITC Grand Central is a prime example of responsible tourism.

ITC Grand Central hotel in Maharashtra to receive LEED Zero Carbon certification, it uses environmentally friendly methods including recyclable packaging and zero-mile Sunya Aqua water, Bio-degradable packaging by Gourmet Couch, Waste Segregation, Organic Waste Convertor, Radiation Harmonisers known as Enviro Chip, etc.

Additionally, the hotel promotes environmental awareness and enhances the quality of the surroundings by supporting local communities with programs like tree planting drives and pollution control checks for guests.

Hospitality with a Higher Purpose: Connecting People, Culture, and Nature

Aparna Ajith, DOSM, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway

In a hospitality landscape driven by metrics, I’ve learned that our most enduring success is measured in the connections we forge, the cultures we honor, and the environments we protect. Responsible tourism transcends sustainability checklists—it is an ethos that calls us to steward culture, community, and nature with equal care.

At Sheraton, the spaces we craft are invitations to belong. Expansive, open-plan areas replace hidden corridors, encouraging serendipitous conversation and shared discovery. These design choices—rooted in our belief in inclusivity—ask only one thing of our guests: show up, connect, and leave inspired.

Our commitment extends far beyond our walls. Through Gatherings by Sheraton, we curate enrichment experiences—poetry readings under soft light, artisan showcases that celebrate local heritage, and immersive storytelling sessions that give voice to community narratives. Each gathering is a deliberate act of contribution, not extraction.

Sustainability and environmental stewardship are at the heart of our philosophy. From “Renewal” rituals that help guests reset—powered by mindful energy use and water-saving practices—to “Local Stories” programming that elevates indigenous knowledge of flora, fauna, and land, every initiative is designed to protect natural habitats even as we invite guests to explore them.

True hospitality is an act of service and a gift to the future. As leaders, our responsibility is to transform tourism into a force for good—where every stay, every interaction, and every shared moment builds a legacy of inclusion, respect for culture, and guardianship of our planet

Traveling with Care: The Importance of Responsible Tourism in Uttarakhand

Pawan Chahar, General Manager at the Jim Corbett Marriott Resort & Spa.

Responsible tourism in Uttarakhand isn’t just a trend- it’s something we really need to care about, especially now. This state, with its stunning mountains, rivers, and forests, has so much to offer, but it’s also incredibly fragile. You can feel it when you visit places like Kedarnath or Nainital—tourism brings life and business, but it also brings pressure, especially on the environment and small local communities.

What’s heartening, though, is that things are slowly shifting. There are villages like Sarmoli near Munsiyari that are doing it right—hosting travelers in homestays, offering guided treks, birdwatching, and local experiences that are led by the community. It’s not flashy, but it’s real, and it benefits everyone involved. Guests get a deeper connection to the place, and locals get to keep their culture alive while earning a fair income.

You also see a growing effort to reduce plastic use, promote local food, and educate both tourists and hosts about minimizing environmental impact. It’s small steps—like carrying your own water bottle, avoiding packaged snacks, or even just slowing down your travel—that really add up.

To me, traveling responsibly in Uttarakhand means being present, being mindful, and understanding that we’re guests in someone else’s home. And if we want the mountains to keep welcoming us, we need to treat them—and the people who live there—with care.

Savoring Sustainability: Restaurants at the Forefront of Responsible Tourism

Hitesh Keswani, Managing Director at Aspect Hospitality.

Restaurants play a vital role in the current era of responsible tourism as they are uniquely positioned to champion ethical practices that benefit both locals and the environment. By sourcing ingredients locally, supporting nearby farmers, fishermen, and artisans, and showcasing regional dishes that preserve culinary heritage, restaurants can lead the way towards minimizing environmental harm.

Sustainable choices like using recycled materials, managing food waste, and conserving water further reflect commitment towards environmental stewardship. Furthermore, fair employment practices and inclusive hiring empower local communities, ensuring tourism creates jobs with dignity and purpose. In embracing responsible tourism, the restaurant industry becomes a bridge between cultures, a champion for sustainability, and a catalyst for community resilience.”

Empowering Local Communities: The Heart of Treehouse Hotels' Hospitality

Jayant Singh, the Managing Partner of TreeHouse Hotel and Resorts

At Treehouse Hotels and Resorts, we believe that fostering an inclusive and sustainable hospitality industry starts with responsible tourism. The advantages of conscious tourism go well beyond the boundaries of our hotels; it boosts the local economy, sustains and supports small businesses and generates employment. In addition to improving the guest experience at our Hotels, it is our conscious endeavor that the advantages of tourism are distributed fairly and widely by incorporating local culture, sourcing responsibly, and supporting local communities.

Additionally, it offers chances for entrepreneurship in a variety of sectors, including food and craft, transportation, and ecotourism—especially for women and young people. It also provides a platform for locals to showcase their traditions to our guests. By incorporating local culture, including local cuisine, and partnering with community-based vendors, we ensure that the benefits of tourism are shared widely. Through initiatives like incorporating local cuisines and ingredients in our menus, and offering authentic cultural experiences, we’re not just showcasing the diversity India has to offer—we’re building a platform that unites people through shared stories, flavors, and traditions.

People from cities who are normally too engrossed in their busy city lives get to disassociate from the humdrums of their daily busy lives and get to enjoy these experiences and learn about diverse cultures. That is where we can unite people, encourage interaction, and create a platform for people to come together and enjoy the diversity our country has to offer. We are proud to see an increasing influx of tourism into our local surroundings, and we are committed to making that experience meaningful for all stakeholders.

Sustainable Tourism with a Purpose: Lords Hotels & Resorts' Commitment

Rakesh Mathur - Director & Principal advisor - Lords Hotels & Resorts