Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL) has strengthened its community healthcare initiatives by committing ₹2.25 crore towards dialysis infrastructure across underserved regions of India. The investment has supported 38 dialysis machines across 19 hospitals and healthcare institutions, creating the capacity to deliver approximately 34,200 dialysis treatments annually.

The initiative, undertaken under Sterling's philosophy of 'Doing Good by Doing Well', reflects the company's approach to corporate social responsibility, focusing on healthcare infrastructure that can continue serving communities beyond the initial investment.

The CSR commitment spans FY2024-25 and FY2025-26, with the programme aimed at improving access to essential renal care in regions where specialised medical facilities may be difficult to reach.

Extending Healthcare Beyond Major Cities

A key focus of Sterling's dialysis initiative is to bring critical healthcare infrastructure closer to communities outside India's major metropolitan centres.

Patients requiring regular dialysis often face the additional burden of travelling long distances for treatment, alongside lost working hours and recurring expenses for themselves and their families. By supporting dialysis infrastructure closer to where patients live, Sterling aims to ease these challenges while strengthening local healthcare capacity.

The programme has reached Tier II and Tier III cities, district headquarters and underserved communities across Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The supported machines have been deployed across government hospitals, medical colleges, district hospitals and community healthcare institutions, extending access to treatment for patients across these regions.

From CSR Investment to Long-Term Healthcare Capacity

Sterling's initiative measures its impact not only through the financial commitment or number of machines installed, but also through the treatment capacity and wider community benefits generated.

According to the company, the programme has resulted in reported patient savings of approximately ₹2.05 crore and created 260 local employment opportunities across the healthcare ecosystems supported by the initiative.

Dialysis machines can remain in service for years, enabling repeated treatments and providing ongoing value to healthcare institutions and the communities they serve. This gives the investment the potential to deliver sustained social benefits through improved access to treatment, reduced patient expenses and stronger local healthcare infrastructure.

Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director and CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, said:

*"Doing Good by Doing Well' reflects a simple belief at Sterling—that as our business grows, the positive impact we create around us should grow with it.

Through our CSR initiatives, we have already supported 38 dialysis machines across 19 healthcare institutions, creating capacity for approximately 34,200 treatments every year, particularly in communities where access to specialised healthcare can be challenging. What makes this meaningful is its ability to endure. Each machine becomes a community healthcare asset that can serve patients year after year—reducing travel, easing the financial burden on families and strengthening healthcare capacity where it is needed most.

For us, that is the real measure of meaningful CSR: not simply what we spend, but the capacity we create and the impact that continues long after the investment is made."*

Focus on Measurable and Sustained Impact

Sterling said it intends to continue directing its CSR investments towards initiatives capable of creating measurable, scalable and lasting social impact as the company expands its hospitality presence across India.

The dialysis project reflects the company's stated objective of ensuring that its growth creates value not only for guests, partners and shareholders, but also for the communities it serves.

Impact at a Glance

• ₹2.25 crore: CSR commitment across FY2024-25 and FY2025-26

• 38: Dialysis machines supported

• 19: Hospitals and healthcare institutions supported

• 34,200: Annual dialysis treatment capacity created

• ₹2.05 crore: Reported patient savings

• 260: Local employment opportunities generated

• 7 states: Geographic reach of the initiative

About Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited is an independently managed hospitality company and a subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited, part of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. The company operates across more than 70 destinations in India, with over 4,000 keys. Its portfolio includes resorts in leisure, heritage, wildlife, hill station and other holiday destinations across the country.

Noida International Airport and Bird Academy, in collaboration with Brisk Olive Trust and Roseate Hotels & Resorts, have completed a hospitality skill development programme for local youth in Jewar, creating pathways to employment across the region's growing aviation, hospitality and services ecosystem.

Conducted at ITI College, Jewar, the programme trained 33 students from different backgrounds who had completed schooling up to Class 12. The initiative focused on employment-oriented skills across key areas of hospitality operations, including Front Office and Food & Beverage, alongside soft skills, industry interactions and visits to hospitality facilities.

The training was designed to provide participants with practical workplace capabilities while building their confidence and readiness for employment. Following completion of the programme, candidates have moved into employment opportunities across the region, including at Noida International Airport, Roseate Hotels & Resorts and outlets along the Yamuna Expressway.

The programme builds on an earlier collaboration between Bird Academy and Brisk Olive Trust, the CSR partner for Noida International Airport. In 2025, the partners conducted an aviation skill development programme at ITI College, Jewar, for 28 students from underprivileged backgrounds.

The earlier programme focused on aviation ground operations, including ramp operations and passenger handling, along with soft skills, airport exposure visits and interactions with industry professionals. Candidates who completed the programme have since secured employment opportunities at Noida International Airport.

The Aviation Skill Development Centre at ITI College, Jewar, was inaugurated last year by Shri Dhirendra Singh, Member of Legislative Assembly of Jewar, with support from Noida International Airport. The centre is intended to equip local communities with skills aligned with employment opportunities emerging from the region's aviation and logistics ecosystem.

Commenting on the initiative, Christoph Schnellmann, Vice Chairman, Noida International Airport, said: “Noida International Airport’s development is closely linked with the communities around it. Supporting local youth with relevant skills and access to employment opportunities is an important part of our commitment to the region. We are encouraged to see participants from these programmes move into employment, and we will continue to work with partners on initiatives that strengthen employability and support inclusive regional growth.”

Mrs. Radha Bhatia, Chairperson, Bird Group & Bird Education Society for Travel & Tourism (BESTT), said the initiative reflects Bird Academy's longstanding focus on connecting skills with employment opportunities.

“The belief that skill is the most powerful enabler of opportunity has driven everything Bird Academy has stood for since 1998. In a world where graduation and post-graduation alone no longer guarantee a rewarding career, focused skilling is what bridges education and employment.”

She also highlighted the Academy's focus on women's empowerment and gender parity, adding that the programmes demonstrate what can be achieved when institutions, industry and communities work together.

Bhatia further said that aviation and hospitality are among the growing sectors of India's economy and require a skilled workforce capable of delivering professional services. She expressed support for sustained public-private partnerships focused on youth, communities and employment.

Together, the two programmes have reached 61 young people, with participants moving towards employment opportunities in aviation and hospitality. The initiative forms part of Noida International Airport's broader CSR focus on education, vocational training and employability.

As the airport and surrounding commercial ecosystem develop, the programmes aim to help communities in Jewar build skills that are relevant to emerging employment opportunities in aviation, hospitality, logistics and related services.

About Noida International Airport

Noida International Airport (IATA code: DXN) is being developed to connect the greater Delhi region and Western Uttar Pradesh with cities across India and international destinations.

Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, is responsible for the development, construction and operation of the greenfield airport under a public-private partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India.

The concession period commenced on October 1, 2021, and runs for 40 years. The airport's masterplan provides for further development over the concession period, with the capacity to serve more than 70 million passengers annually.

About Bird Academy

Bird Academy, the educational arm of Bird Group, operates under the aegis of Bird Education Society for Travel & Tourism (BESTT). Established in 1998, the Academy provides skill development and vocational training across aviation, travel, tourism and hospitality.

Bird Academy is an IATA Regional Training Partner and an IATA Authorised Training Centre, offering industry-aligned programmes and certifications designed to support aviation safety, operational effectiveness and professional capability development.

DBS Bank India has committed ₹10 crore to support the expansion of MITTI Café across India, strengthening employment, vocational training and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities. The partnership was marked by the inauguration of a new MITTI Café at 1 MG Mall, Bengaluru, by the Hon'ble Governor of Karnataka, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot.

The three-year partnership between DBS Bank India and MITTI Café will support the establishment of nine cafés across India, creating employment opportunities for more than 100 persons with disabilities, providing vocational training to approximately 470 individuals, and supporting around 300 people in accessing employment opportunities.

The new café at 1 MG Mall offers customers a mainstream café experience while creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in day-to-day hospitality and customer-facing operations.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka, highlighted the importance of creating opportunities that promote dignity, independence and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities.

"MITTI Café shows us that inclusion is not only a social responsibility; it can also be a successful and sustainable economic model. Give people an opportunity, and their abilities will find their own way forward," he said.

Gaurav Rajput, Head of Group Marketing & Communications, DBS Bank India, said the partnership reflects the bank's commitment to creating impact beyond banking by supporting purpose-driven organisations.

"By expanding access to livelihoods for persons with disabilities, we aim to support greater economic participation and contribute to more inclusive communities," he said.

Alina Alam, Founder & CEO, MITTI Café, said the Bengaluru opening was particularly meaningful as the organisation's journey began in Karnataka.

"This café represents much more than employment; it represents dignity, independence and the power of opportunity," she said.

MITTI Café is a not-for-profit organisation focused on creating livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities and individuals from vulnerable communities. Its cafés operate across public institutions, transport hubs, commercial locations, universities, hospitals and corporate campuses.

The organisation has served more than 22 million meals and beverages and created over 6,500 livelihood opportunities. Its network includes prominent locations such as Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rashtrapati Nilayam, the Supreme Court of India, airports and educational institutions.

The initiative follows an inclusive employment model that integrates persons with disabilities into mainstream commercial environments. Through customer-facing roles, employees gain workplace experience, professional skills and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.

The partnership also aligns with the broader social impact efforts of DBS Foundation, which supports initiatives aimed at improving the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities through financial inclusion, essential needs and purpose-driven solutions.

With the new café at 1 MG Mall and the planned expansion across India, DBS Bank India and MITTI Café aim to create more accessible pathways to employment while demonstrating how inclusive business models can contribute to sustainable social impact.