New Delhi, 23rd September, 2020:Shri. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, C&MD, ITDC and the other eminent
guests who joined the discussion were Shri. Rakesh Kumar Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry Of
Tourism; Shri. Jose Dominic, Co-Founder, CHG Earth; Shri. Mandeep Singh Lamba, President, HVS
Hanrock and Shri. Anurag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts.
Addressing the panel, Shri. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, C&MD, ITDC said, “The Indian hospitality
industry has witnessed a sudden crash in its revenues and is working towards revival amid daunting
challenges. If we look at the brighter side, this crisis will in a way, help us reinvent our businesses in
the long run. We need to be versatile, innovative, aligned, and stay positive at the same time.
Bringing back the confidence of the travellers is our top priority at the moment. We at ITDC have
provided rigorous training to all our employees and are following strict hygiene and social distancing
protocols across all our properties.”
The industry needs to come up with policies and practice to reboot its service giving priority to
health and hygiene at all levels. The panel jointly agreed that if all the stakeholders come together to
support each other the industry has full potential to bounce back stronger than ever.
” AIT Division organised an online training program by Bacardi on upselling and brand familiarization for its sales teams of various duty-free shops. The training program was for a one-hour duration from 15th to 22nd July (six days).
It was inaugurated by Director (C&M) ITDC and attended by all the RMs, sales teams, and AITD team members at HQ.
India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (ITDC), a public sector undertaking (PSU), under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has signed an MOU with AIIMS, New Delhi to come together and monitor the situation to prevent COVID-19 infection and implement preventive measures that can be taken up by ITDC across its hotels and offices to provide a safe, hygienic and healthy environment to guests and staff.
Hon’ble Prime Minister urges all to actively participate in 6th International Yoga day and highlights the importance of Yoga during extraordinary times of Global Pandemic.
ITDC Commences Training on Health Protocols Amid Preparations For Re-Opening of its Hotels
ITDC has remained active in a spate of upbeat activities since March 2020 to support the fight against COVID -19. Even before the lockdown, when the nation was still grappling with the initial stages of impact, ITDC hotels housed stranded tourists until they could be sent home. Starting April 1, 2020, the kitchens of Hotel The Ashok, New Delhi provided 2000 fresh and hygienically packed meals daily to frontline health workers at AIIMS, Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospitals, as well other needy persons for five weeks, serving more than 62,000 meals. Samrat Hotel, New Delhi was made ready to house upto 100 Government doctors who would be available on immediate call. Today, Hotel Kalinga Ashok, Bhubaneshwar and Hotel Samrat continue to be enlisted as quarantine facilities. Two facilities at Puducherry are being independently used for doctors and quarantine. Guided by AIIMS doctors, all health and safety protocols were put in place for the hotels weeks ago. ITDC has been closely involved with officials of the Ministry of Tourism in the formulation of industry and sector specific guidelines / SOPs under the guidance of Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism. Preparing to restart business amid a new perspective and a new vision, ITDC is committed to placing health and safety on top priority, while retaining traditional hospitality. The Corporation is forming a Health and Safety Advisory Board with leading doctors as mentors. The entire post-COVID initiative is a 360 degree amalgamation of SOPs, HACCP and FSSAI codes, technology, training, medical expertise and strict protocols. Mr. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, C&MD, ITDC, who is stringently monitoring and guiding the activities says, “The aim is to instill a feeling of reassurance and well-being in the minds of our patrons. Our initiative will be based on international benchmarking and be imbued with our deepest concern for our guests.” A rigorous training intervention on health and safety protocols has been formally inaugurated by C&MD, ITDC at the flagship property, The Ashok, on 22.05.2020. The first phase covering each specific function will be completed within a fortnight. An empowered and re-oriented work-force, and completely safe hotels are ready to welcome visitors.
ITDC is moving ahead!
“India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), has geared up to provide up to 2000 cooked and packed meals every day during Lock Down Period for the health workers of government hospitals (AIIMS & RML) in the state capital as well as to other needy people through Local administration. Food is being cooked in the kitchen of ITDC’s Flagship Hotel “The Ashok”.
Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (IC) Shri. Prahlad Singh Patel said, “These are testing times which all of us are going through. The Government has been doing an exceptional job and we stand in solidarity with them to overcome the pandemic which is impacting millions of lives and countries across the globe. As Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for the nation to work hand in hand, ITDC in a humble move will provide upto 2000 meals per day to the healthcare professionals and other needy people as part of CSR activity. Everything we do today combats the massive challenge that we are facing as a nation and as a world.”
He further added that ITDC will continue to work with all the stake holders to aid the community at large. First batch of 500 cooked and packed meals was provided to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital New Delhi on 1st of April 2020.”
In the spirit of celebrating International Women’s Day, AIH&TM, ITDC organises a session on ‘Demonstration on Self Defence & Health and Wellness talk’
“A meeting was organised with key travel and trade officials from IATO, ADTOI, ICBP, FAITH, ITTA, TAAI
etc and other renowned tour operators and travel agents .The meeting was chaired by Chairperson and
Managing Director to discuss various areas where Corporation can collaborate to strengthen its business
and for the overall development of the sector. The meeting was also attended by Director (C&M) and other
senior officials of ITDC.”
The 5th edition of Bharat Parv that commenced on 26th January 2020 at the Gyan Path and adjoining lawns , Red Fort , New Delhi as part of the 71st Republic Day celebrations with the central themes of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’ and ‘150 years of Celebrating the Mahatma’, concluded on 31st January 2020. The closing ceremony was graced by Shri. Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary (Tourism),Ms. Rupinder Brar, ADG (Tourism), Mr. Gyan Bhusan, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India,Chairman & Managing Director ITDC, Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao and other senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism.
