ITC Grand Central takes the planet positive luxury practices to the homes of discerning guests

Mumbai, 6th June, 2023: Biodiversity is the basis for healthy ecosystems and protecting our natural surroundings not only conserves biodiversity - it is also a way to help protect ourselves. On the occasion of World Environment Day, as part of the ITC Hotels ethos of 'Responsible Luxury', ITC Grand Central takes the opportunity to encourage guests to adopt environment friendly practices for a sustainable future. This year, to celebrate the occasion, the team at ITC Grand Central took the initiative to go on a plantation drive, planting over 100 saplings. This initiative is not only to thank the patrons for choosing planet positive luxury experiences but to take the ethos of Responsible Luxury to every home in the city of Mumbai while they reminisce over the memorable moments spent at ITC Grand Central. At ITC Grand Central, we work towards delivering delectable experiences that are seeped in the quintessential ethos of Responsible Luxury. Produced from the freshest, locally sourced ingredients and seasonal selections, the gourmet delights part of the Gourmet Couch menu are mindfully prepared with utmost care and hygiene while being backed with the promise of ITC Hotel's highly acclaimed WeAssure initiative. We are also delighted to share that the packaging of the food is made using corn starched clamshell and corrugated paper boxes – finally placed in a biodegradable bag with an aqueous coating. For our guests staying with us at ITC Grand Central, a plantable seed pencil, tulsi sapling for all rooms are gifted today. And, and in-house PUC (pollution under control) testing centre has been set up for the day for all kind of vehicles for testing their vehicle and the emission percentage. All of these activities have been conducted as a token of our commitment towards encouraging sustainable practices as a takeaway.

ABOUT RESPONSIBLE LUXURY

Sustainable business practises which respect the environment and society have always been the DNA of ITC Hotels. Since pioneering the concept of “Responsible Luxury” in 2009, ITC Hotels has commissioned numerous planet positive initiatives, which range from use of renewable energy which today powers more than 57% of ITC Hotels electrical requirement to an over 50% reduction in water consumption over the last five years to name a few and amongst the first hospitality chains to discontinue use of ‘Single Use Plastic ‘across its operations.

With a decade strong ‘Responsible Luxury’ as its guiding premise, ITC Hotels is committed to delivering luxury experiences with sustainable practices embedded in the process - an endeavour which has manifested in the coveted LEED*® Platinum rating for all its luxury hotels. ITC Hotels is the largest chain of hotels in the World, which has maximum number of LEED Platinum Certified Properties as per USGBC). Continuing with its Planet Positive Promise, ITC Hotels launched Sunya Aqua or zero kilometer water in glass bottles across the chain over a decade back and have taken this lead further and pioneered the mitigation of single use plastic from its operations pan India.

(*Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design – by U.S. Green Building Council and the Indian Green Building Council)