ITC Royal Bengal Wins ‘Best Energy Efficient Commercial Building/Hotel’ Award at CII National Energy Efficiency Circle Competition 2024

ITC Royal Bengal Wins ‘Best Energy Efficient Commercial Building/Hotel’ Award at CII National Energy Efficiency Circle Competition 2024

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 23, 2024

ITC Royal Bengal has been awarded the prestigious ‘Best Energy Efficient Commercial Building/Hotel’ during the CII National Energy Efficiency Circle Competition 2024. This accolade acknowledges ITC Royal Bengal’s dedication to sustainability, state-of-the-art energy efficiency practices, and unwavering commitment to ITC Hotels' ethos of Responsible Luxury.

ITC Hotels have always prioritized environmental stewardship without compromising on luxury and guest comfort. ITC Royal Bengal’s recognition in this national competition accentuates its status as a paragon of sustainability. As a LEED Platinum-certified building, ITC Royal Bengal underscores its steadfast adherence to global standards in eco-friendly design and operations.

Significant Strides in Energy Efficiency

ITC Royal Bengal has made significant strides in energy efficiency and decarbonization, aiming for Net Zero Carbon. By integrating advanced HVAC and electrical technologies, the hotel ensures exceptional energy performance. Recent initiatives include:

  • Replacing diesel boilers with electric ones

  • Installing heat pumps for hot water

  • Using electronically commutated fans and patented Continewm Nets for air handling units

  • Implementing automated tube cleaning for chillers

  • Converting multiple laundry and kitchen equipment to electrical heating

  • Utilizing IE5 motors for water management

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“These innovations have enhanced energy performance and reduced fossil fuel usage, ensuring our hotel’s lead in energy efficiency and decarbonization,” said Parveen Kumar, Head of Technical Services at ITC Royal Bengal and ITC Sonar.

Commitment to Sustainability

“This recognition is a testament to ITC Hotels’ commitment to embedding sustainability into the core of our operations. At ITC Royal Bengal, we believe that luxury and sustainability can coexist harmoniously. This award reflects our continuous efforts towards creating an eco-friendly environment while delivering unmatched luxury experiences to our guests,” said Gaurav Soneja, Cluster General Manager, ITC Royal Bengal & ITC Sonar.

ITC Royal Bengal’s architectural grandeur and sustainable innovations make it a landmark in Kolkata. The hotel seamlessly integrates local culture and modernity, offering guests a memorable stay and a planet-positive experience.


Wilding Hotels enhances luxury stay with Volo in-room tablets, blending guest experience and sustainability

Wilding Hotels enhances luxury stay with Volo in-room tablets, blending guest experience and sustainability

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 14, 2025

Wilding Hotels, renowned for its immersive wilderness retreats, has taken a decisive step in marrying luxury with sustainability by introducing Volo’s in-room concierge tablets across its properties. This strategic collaboration with Volo Solutions aims to modernise guest engagement, streamline operations, and support the brand’s strong eco-conscious mission.

"At Wilding Hotels, we focus on providing a seamless and elevated guest experience while fostering sustainability," shared Amy Hansen, Head of Hotel Operations. "Implementing Volo in-room tablets has enhanced guest experience, streamlined operations, and supported our sustainability goals."

The decision to integrate Volo was driven by the platform’s user-friendly interface, robust customisation options, and responsive customer support. The tablets, tailored to each Wilding location, allow guests to effortlessly explore hotel services, place orders, contact concierge, and access curated local recommendations—all from an in-room iPad. This has dramatically reduced response times and improved communication, freeing staff to focus on delivering more personalised, high-touch service.

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A key advantage of adopting Volo’s digital solution is the elimination of traditional printed directories, menus, and brochures, significantly cutting down on paper waste and printing costs. This aligns seamlessly with Wilding’s sustainability initiatives without compromising on the luxury experience guests expect.

Beyond operational efficiency and eco benefits, the tablets have proven to be effective revenue drivers. They encourage guests to discover and book dining experiences, spa treatments, and bespoke adventures. Looking ahead, Wilding Hotels plans to deepen this digital experience with AI-led recommendations and smart room integrations that will further personalise each guest’s stay.

"Volo's intuitive platform and exceptional support made this transition seamless, and we've already seen increased engagement and revenue," Hansen added. "These tablets are central to delivering a high-touch experience aligned with our brand's luxury and innovation."

With properties in Alaska and Texas, Wilding Hotels continues to carve out its niche as a luxury wilderness brand that balances comfort with a deep respect for nature. The addition of Volo’s in-room tablets reaffirms this commitment—offering guests an effortless, modern stay while treading lightly on the planet.

For more details, visit getvolo.com and wildinghotels.com.


Zoomcar Unveils ZoomPro Dashboard to Power India’s Evolving Self-Drive Fleet Economy

Zoomcar Unveils ZoomPro Dashboard to Power India’s Evolving Self-Drive Fleet Economy

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 13, 2025

Zoomcar has introduced ZoomPro, a smart fleet management dashboard built to enhance the efficiency and performance of India’s self-drive mobility ecosystem. Tailored for large B2B fleet operators, the platform enables users to manage bookings, pricing, and vehicle performance with ease, marking a major step in Zoomcar’s vision of tech-led transformation.

ZoomPro arrives at a time when Zoomcar is celebrating strong performance in FY25, which includes a 10% year-on-year rise in bookings and an 86% surge in repeat users. These trends signal growing consumer confidence and the rising demand for tech-enabled self-drive options.

“We’re building more than a marketplace, we’re enabling the operating system for self-drive mobility in India,” said Anirudh Lamba, Head of Marketing and Partnerships at Zoomcar. “With ZoomPro, our B2B toolkit empowers fleet operators to drive better performance, higher earnings, and superior guest experiences at scale.”

The dashboard offers a data-first interface that reflects how modern operators function across multiple cities and users. It provides real-time insights on vehicle metrics and customer behavior, allowing for more accurate decision-making and enhanced fleet control.

According to Vishal Ramrakhyani, Head of Engineering, “ZoomPro has been designed to scale with our partners. It supports long-term growth through tools like bulk onboarding, AI-powered recommendations, and soon, LLM-based customer support for faster and more personalized issue resolution.”

Zoomcar’s FY25 milestones also include a USD 4.25 million contribution profit at a 47% margin, a 58% rise in high-rated host vehicles, and a 67% drop in operational losses, validating its pivot to partner-first innovation.

The launch of ZoomPro is set to redefine how India's self-drive car rental sector operates, offering greater transparency, higher efficiency, and scalable tools for large fleet operators aiming to stay ahead in a rapidly growing market.


Mews expands Digital Key with Salto integration for seamless guest access

Mews expands Digital Key with Salto integration for seamless guest access

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 12, 2025

Mews has announced a strategic integration with Salto’s smart locking system, enhancing its Digital Key offering and paving the way for a more seamless, contactless guest experience. Through this partnership, hotels using Salto’s access control can now enable guests to unlock rooms via their mobile devices using the Mews Hospitality Cloud—eliminating the need for physical keys altogether.

This move streamlines the check-in process, reduces manual front desk tasks, and strengthens overall security. Matt Welle, CEO of Mews, said, “Every step of the guest journey should be effortless. With Salto smart access for hospitality compatibility, more properties can reduce the friction around arrival and check-in. Digital Key is a win-win because it’s as much about operational efficiency as it is about improving guest satisfaction.”

Early results from Belgian brand YUST, which operates a hybrid model for short and long stays, show the integration’s impact. At its Antwerp property, 12% of guests checked in using Digital Key in the first month without any promotional push, and 64% of those with an active digital key used it to access their rooms. Dirk Van Gompel, CTO of YUST, shared, “Digital Key makes it easy for guests to go straight to their room, while creating real-time savings for our team, who can then focus on building real human connections.”

Salto’s Nora Urquiza highlighted the value of this collaboration, stating, “Our integration with Mews reinforces our commitment to delivering a seamless, secure, and modern digital experience through strong technology alliances.”

Beyond convenience, the integration also cuts down on environmental waste by removing the need for plastic keycards and supports a fully digital, on-the-go check-in and check-out process. Fully embedded within the Mews Hospitality Cloud, the Digital Key capability allows hotels to customise and automate the guest experience, opening new avenues for upselling and enhanced guest engagement.

Mews has been on a roll with tech enhancements, recently rolling out a Multicurrency feature for customers across Europe.

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