HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
The Hotel Association of India (HAI) is exploring the possibility of requesting government incentives for smaller hotel operators to adopt sustainability practices, according to Secretary General M.P. Bezbaruah. While large luxury and five-star hotels are setting the pace with exemplary sustainability initiatives, smaller hotels are often constrained by the high costs associated with such practices, Bezbaruah told PTI.
“We have seen big five-star and luxury hotels take the lead in sustainability on a global scale, but we want these practices to extend to our smaller members,” Bezbaruah explained. He added that HAI has encouraged both members and non-members to join globally recognized certification programs for sustainability. However, he acknowledged that some of these practices may be financially challenging for smaller hotels.
When asked about government support for sustainability, Bezbaruah emphasized the potential for incentives. “We’re primarily considering incentives—such as reduced taxation for hotels implementing practices like water management, recycling, or reducing plastic use,” he said. “That kind of incentive could make a significant difference.”
HAI is collaborating with various international partners to understand the best global practices in sustainability. Bezbaruah noted that the association is closely monitoring what other governments are doing to support sustainable initiatives in the hospitality sector.
Without widespread adoption of green practices by smaller members, the hospitality industry’s sustainability goals could be hard to achieve, Bezbaruah noted. Under HAI’s Vision 2047, the association envisions a fully sustainable hotel industry by 2047, guided by a “three-zero” approach—zero kilometers (promoting local resources), zero carbon emissions, and zero waste generation.
