IHCL’s ESG+ Framework “Paathya” in the IMD Spotlight
IMD spotlights IHCL’s ESG+ Framework ‘Paathya’, a case study in structured sustainability.
By SOH Edit Team
Indian Hotels Company Limited’s (IHCL) blueprint for sustainable and responsible hospitality has been featured in a detailed case study by IMD Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland. The study examines IHCL’s structured sustainability approach and its deep integration into core business strategy.
Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL, said that as a pioneer of India’s hospitality industry, IHCL continues to set and evolve sector benchmarks. He noted that sustainability in hospitality is a shared responsibility and that Paathya serves as IHCL’s pathway to aligning growth with responsibility.
Progress Against 2030 Goals
IHCL has made significant progress toward its 2030 targets, including:
- Over 70 bottling plants operational
- 51% water recycled
- 41% energy sourced from renewables
- 73 Skill Centres enabled through partnerships, training over 35,000 underprivileged youth
Pokhariyal added that IMD’s recognition of the Paathya framework reflects the collective efforts of IHCL teams in embedding sustainability into the organization’s core operations.
Transformation Journey
IHCL is on a transformation journey guided by its purpose, with a vision to become South Asia’s most iconic, responsible, and profitable hospitality ecosystem.
Professor Florian Hoos and case authors Manojkumar Selvaraj, Harsha Doddihal, and Peter Damyanov highlighted that the case illustrates the complexity of embedding sustainability in a service-led industry. They emphasized the importance of a structured framework like Paathya in translating ESG ambition into measurable outcomes that create value for both business and society.
About Paathya – IHCL’s ESG+ Framework
Launched as IHCL’s ESG+ framework, Paathya is a comprehensive initiative focused on sustainable growth, social impact, and responsible hospitality. Built on six pillars—Heritage, Corporate Governance, Social Responsibility, Environmental Stewardship, Partner Transformation, and Sustainable Growth—the framework sets clear 2030 targets, including:
- Elimination of single-use plastics
- 50% renewable energy usage
- 100% wastewater recycling
- Certification of all hotels under global sustainability standards
Taking ahead its commitment to skill building, and creating employability for the deserving and the marginalised, IHCL aims to impact the livelihood of over 100,000 youth. Long heralded as the custodian of Indian heritage, IHCL’s collaboration with UNESCO, will see adoption of 100% of Intangible Cultural Heritage projects in the geographies it operates in.
