THE LEELA HOTELS & RESORTS ON A MISSION TO FOSTER EQUALITY (India)
The India born hospitality group has at heart to celebrate diversity, and to commit to equality through dedicated programmes. |
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THE LEELA HOTELS & RESORTS ON A MISSION TO FOSTER EQUALITY (India)
The India born hospitality group has at heart to celebrate diversity, and to commit to equality through dedicated programmes. |
Category: Asia Pacific - India - Industry economy
- Interviews and portraits
- Sustainability - Industry leaders
Article written by Sonia Taourghi on 2024-02-19
During the last ILTM in Cannes, the audience heard from many groups: openings, achievements, projects to come… and sustainability of course. One group however, Leela Hotels and Resorts, made it a point to put forward their equality and diversity programmes. Some initiatives are aimed at The Leela's staff, others are destined to serve the wider unfortunate Indian population, rooting the company deeper in the community, and confirming its determination to work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Anuraag Bhatnagar, CEO, and Chief Brand Officer, Anjali Mehra reminded the audience that The Leela Hotels and Resorts is where luxury meets conscience. A value that guests can actually smell for themselves: in partnership with Phool, all the flowers used to decorate the group's properties are recycled and made into incense sticks by marginalised women with the aim to provide for their day to day needs and support their reinsertion. The incense sticks and cones are infused with the Leela’s signature fragrance, Tishya by The Leela, and are both being reused in the group's properties or available to be purchased by the public.
Children are a particularly vulnerable population, and The Leela group's support for the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation aims at creating child friendly environments by stopping child labour, promoting education and sports amongst youngsters and motivating young India girls to thrive. The group hopes to support the growth of a safer and more equal generation through the work of the foundation. So far, more than 12 villages are taking part in the initiative and the partnership is expected to help communities maintain their "child friendly" statuses over time.
The two last programmes presented are dedicated to women: "I am Leela" is a mentoring programme to empower women, and perpetuate the cycle of success amongst the women at The Leela. The programme is designed to develop the pride, achievement and ambition in the women amongst its staff.
“Shefs”, the last initiative presented, is promoting equity in the kitchen to encourage more women to thrive in the kitchen and pursue a career in gastronomy. This concept is curated in partnership with Dean With Us, and hosts a yearly event to celebrate women chefs.
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