GBCI India, the nation’s foremost authority on sustainability in building design, construction and operation, announced that it has awarded ITC’s newly launched Welcomhotel in Bhubaneshwar, with the prestigious LEED Platinum rating. GBCI is the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body and is responsible for administering the LEED green building program.
LEED is the most widely used green building program in the world and recognizes projects that are saving energy and water, avoiding waste, improving indoor air quality, creating less environmental burden on their communities and enhancing occupant health and wellness. With this honor, Welcomhotel Bhubaneshwar, which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, has become the state’s first LEED Platinum certified hotel.
ITC’s latest addition to its long line of luxury hotels, Welcomhotel is a landmark hotel with 107 rooms and eight suites in Bhubaneshwar. This beautiful five-star property reflects ITC’s commitment towards offering sustainable hospitality to its guests. The hotel received an overall score of 82 points enroute to securing its LEED Platinum certification from GBCI. Some of the many green and sustainable features deployed at Welcomhotel include the presence of electric vehicle charging points. This EV charging points are conveniently located across 5% of the total parking space available at the hotel. Further, the hotel has installed a rainwater harvest pit to manage 100% stormwater. It has also installed low flow water fixtures that can reduce water consumption by 48%. Additionally, reclaimed water is used for flushing, irrigation and cooling tower make-up water to reduce the use of potable water demand.
Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC Ltd., said, “The ITC Hotels growth story is rooted in sustainability. We strongly believe that sustainable luxury is the way forward and strive to offer this to our patrons at all our properties. We understand the value of going beyond efficiency and have showcased extraordinary sustainability leadership by integrating energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste reduction and greenhouse gases emission mitigation measures at Welcomhotel Bhubaneswar. It is our constant endeavor to provide our customers with the best comfort and luxury layered in sustainability that ultimately reflects their own drive towards pursuing a green lifestyle. We cannot be individually well in a society that is unwell.”
Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director – Southeast Asia & Middle East, GBCI India, said, “Welcomhotel by ITC is a stellar example of how hospitality can make a positive global impact by committing to sustainability and green initiatives. Welcomhotel’s sustainable practices and focus on green initiatives have contributed to its defining distinction of becoming the first hotel in Bhubaneshwar to be LEED Platinum certified. This is a testimony to the zeal of ITC to encourage responsible luxury across its properties. We are truly proud of ITC Welcomhotel and are confident that its stakeholders will reap the tangible socio-economic benefits brought about by its LEED certification.”
Inspired by the culture and architecture of the city, ITC Welcomhotel is not only aesthetically beautiful but also reflects the state’s focus on sustainability. ITC group’s sustainable initiatives include investments towards agriculture, social forestry, livestock development, health and sanitation, as well as multi-dimensional interventions that contribute to social development in Odisha. The hotel has been meticulously designed to incorporate green materials using FSC certified wood, CRI certified carpets and low VOC paints and adhesive. It is also one of the most energy efficient properties having lighting control device in all common areas, LED lighting fixtures and 4.2 KLD solar hot water system.
