The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has partnered with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) to champion sustainable practices and foster a green building movement within the hospitality sector. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signifies HRAWI's commitment to promoting water conservation, energy efficiency, and responsible waste management in the industry.

The MoU was signed at a recent seminar in Mumbai, focusing on life, property, and environment safety for the hospitality industry. This collaboration between HRAWI and CII-IGBC represents a significant milestone for the sector, aiming to create a sustainable built environment for hospitality projects throughout India. With a shared vision of prioritizing environmental conservation and sustainable growth, the partnership seeks to raise awareness, implement best practices, and drive positive change in the industry.

HRAWI President Pradeep Shetty emphasizes the importance of ethical obligations and sustainable growth, expressing optimism about the collaboration. By organizing awareness programs and seminars, stakeholders will be educated on water, food, and energy conservation, as well as achieving net-zero energy, water, waste, and carbon neutrality. IGBC's support will contribute to recycling, reusing, and executing sustainable practices. Together, HRAWI and CII-IGBC aspire to inspire and support the hospitality industry in adopting sustainable development practices, promoting environmental stewardship, and creating a greener future for India.

The MoU underscores HRAWI's commitment to water conservation, energy efficiency, and responsible waste management within the hospitality sector. Through joint efforts, HRAWI and IGBC will provide guidance and support to stakeholders, facilitating the implementation of sustainable measures and yielding long-term cost savings.

Chairman of IGBC, Gurmit Singh Arora, highlights the need for conservation and sustainable practices due to India's limited freshwater resources. Singh Arora emphasizes that sustainable building practices not only benefit the environment but also offer substantial cost savings. He cites the example of their hotel in Phaltan, where monthly electricity bills significantly decreased, and water self-sufficiency was achieved despite operating in a water-scarce region.

Sandeep Talaulicar, an executive committee member of HRAWI, affirms their commitment to inspire other hotels to embrace sustainable development. With the MoU in place, they aim to encourage sustainable practices across the industry and foster a collective dedication to a greener future.