The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), the world’s 3rd largest association announces the successful culmination of a one-day event “Travel for Life – Tourism Sustainability Summit 2024” held at Hotel Le-Meridien, New Delhi, on March 8, 2024. This initiative was organized with the support of Ministry of Tourism which aims to bring large-scale behavioural change amongst tourists and tourism businesses, significantly impacting environmental protection and climate action.
FHRAI is the apex body of the Indian hospitality industry, representing hotels, restaurants, and hospitality establishments across the country. It works towards promoting the growth and development of the hospitality sector while advocating for sustainable practices and industry standards.
FHRAI forged strategic partnerships and signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with key stakeholders, during the Summit to drive sustainable initiatives within the industry. Noteworthy collaborations include an MoU between FHRAI and the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange and joint initiatives for water conservation and sustainable plumbing practices in hotels and restaurants. FHRAI announced another partnership with the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) to further its commitment towards sustainable development in the built environment. The collaboration seeks to enable India to become a global leader in sustainable building practices by 2025.
The event was also graced by esteemed dignitaries, including “Special Guest” Mr Yugal Joshi, Mission Director of Life & Adviser, Water, Land Resources, and Communication at NITI Aayog, Government of India, and “Chief Guest” Mr Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and Former CEO of NITI Aayog, Government of India. The summit aligns with the Ministry of Tourism’s vision to promote environmental protection and climate action through responsible tourism. With the theme ‘Travel for Life’, the event was aimed to bring a shift in the mindset of tourists and tourism businesses towards sustainable practices.
Special Highlights of the Event are:
- Potential to create 25 million new jobs in the coming years said Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and Former CEO, of NITI Aayog, Government of India
- To bring large-scale behavioural change amongst tourists and tourism businesses, significantly impacting environmental protection and climate action.
- FHRAI signed an MoU with the (IPA)Indian Plumbing Association.
- FHRAI announced another partnership with the CII’s Indian Green Building Council .
“I’m truly delighted that sustainability and Travel For Life is the theme of the FHRAI conference this year. As India charts its path towards sustainable growth, it’s evident that tourism will play a pivotal role in shaping our future. With the potential to create 25 million new jobs in the coming years, tourism not only drives economic prosperity but also presents a unique opportunity for India to lead the way in decarbonization. Despite our low per capita consumption, we must proactively address the looming challenge of greenhouse gas emissions. India’s commitment to decarbonization is not just a necessity but a responsibility as we strive to build a greener and more resilient future for generations to come” said Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and Former CEO, of NITI Aayog, Government of India
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Pradeep Shetty, President of FHRAI, expressed his enthusiasm for the summit’s success and emphasized the importance of collective action towards sustainability. He stated,
“As stewards of the hospitality industry, we recognize that sustainability isn’t just a concept—it’s a powerful force for transformation. By embracing sustainable practices throughout our operations, businesses can not only ensure their long-term success but also play a vital role in fostering a healthier planet and delivering truly enriching experiences for our guests. These partnerships are aimed to drive collaborative action to enable the hospitality industry to have a lasting positive impact on our planet and its people. The time for action is now, and it’s within the hospitality sector that we find the potential to lead the charge towards a more sustainable future”.
In a special interaction with BI correspondent, Mr. Jaison Chacko, Secretary General at FHRAI delightfully explained about the ‘Travel For Life’ Initiative and said,
“Travel for Life is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2023 for promoting sustainability in tourism. So taking this mandate of tourism ministry forward, we have come together with the PhD chamber and HIA, so that the message of sustainability has to be taken out to the farthest and also to each and every member where we represent our members of the hospitality segment. Tourism is being a very important sector that is contributing to national GDP and in employment generation also… In India, there is a lot more to be done with respect to sustainability practices. So we, as the premier apex chamber from the hospitality industry, wants to make it as a mandate for ourselves and also for our members to act, introduce a paradigm shift in the way we do our businesses and heralding change in the way our people enter into the business. So the concept of this summit is revolving around this theme.”
FHRAI extends its gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism, its hospitality partner, The Fern Resorts, and technology partner, Urzza, for their invaluable support in making the summit a resounding success.