The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) jointly with PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Hotel Association of India(HAI) will host “Travel for Life; Tourism Sustainability Summit, an event set to redefine the path of sustainable tourism in India. Under the ambit of the Ministry of Tourism’s Travel for Life program, the summit will be held on 8th March 2024, 10.00 am at Hotel Le-Meridien, New Delhi. The Summit will address crucial aspects of sustainable tourism, aligning with global imperatives for environmental protection and climate action. This event is supported by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, (UK), Niti Aayog, Invest India and KPMG as Knowledge Partner. This initiative stems from India’s commitment, particularly highlighted during its G20 Presidency, to foster a tourism sector that champions sustainability and resilience.
This Summit aims to address key aspects of tourism sustainability, particularly focusing on the “Travel for Life” program, which emphasizes responsible and sustainable tourism practices, aligning with global efforts for a greener and more eco-friendly travel industry. The initiative shall further strengthen India’s position as a “global tourism and hospitality destination” besides fostering cooperation at national, bilateral, regional & sub-regional, multilateral and international levels. This Summit shall bring together various important stakeholders from the government, industry, diplomatic fraternity, international agencies, practitioners and media at one platform to ideate and make a forward-looking action plan for “tourism sustainability” at a global scale.
Through the sharing of best practices and exemplary case studies from global sources, stakeholders will be inspired and informed, contributing to informed decision-making. It also proposes actionable frameworks aligned with the innovative Goa Roadmap for Tourism while highlighting the indispensable role of technology and green investments in advancing sustainability within the industry.
Speaking about the event, Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, said, “The Travel for Life Summit marks a pivotal moment for India’s tourism and hospitality industry. As stewards of this vibrant sector, we recognize the imperative to embrace sustainability as a guiding principle. Through this summit, we aim to galvanise stakeholders towards a collective vision of responsible tourism that not only enriches visitor experiences but also safeguards our planet for future generations. We also expect that the knowledge report published by KPMG at the Summit on national and international best practices on Sustainable Tourism will herald a new paradigm shift in tourism & hospitality in India”.
FHRAI PHDCCI and HAI invite all stakeholders to join this landmark event and contribute to shaping the future of sustainable tourism in India. G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region has consented to be the Chief Guest of the Summit where Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and Former CEO, Niti Aayog will be the Guest of Honour.
Manish Saxena, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI; Sanjeev Agrawal, President, PHDCCI Yugal Joshi, Mission Director, Niti Aayog; Rohit Khosla, EVP Operations, North, IHCL; H C Vinayaka, Vice President, Technical, EHS & Sustainability, ITC Hotels; Sachin Mylavarapu, Senior Area Director of Operations-South Asia, Marriot International Inc.; Aradhana Lal, Senior Vice President (Sustainability & ESG), Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd; Akanksha Singh, Global Sustainability Manager, Radisson Hotel Group; Harish Chandra, Managing Director, HotelKey are some of the eminent speakers and panellists that will take part in the discussions at the Summit.
The event will also have a host of international speakers including H.E. Amb Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma, Ambassador of Nepal to India H.E. Amb Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador of Bhutan to India, H.E. Dato’ Muzafar Shah Mustafa, High Commissioner of Malaysia to India, Philip Halanen, Head of Sourcing and Sustainability, EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, UK.