First and largest chain of hotels in the world, ITC Hotels has the maximum LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certified Properties has been accorded with another accolade.
Embodying the ethos of ‘Responsible Luxury’, Welcomhotel Amritsar is Punjab’s ‘First LEED Certified Hotel’ under the aegis of USGBC (US Green Building Council). Spread across eight acres, this hotel has achieved a Platinum rating under LEED 2011 for India NC (New Construction) program within seven months of its launch.
Platinum rating is the highest category of certification and Welcomhotel Amritsar met the coveted rating by following sustainable initiatives. This includes energy efficiency, reduction of water consumption, development of rain water harvesting capacity and reduction of cooling demand of roof area that’s covered with high Solar Reflective Index tiles, among others.
Commenting on this momentous achievement, Nakul Anand, Executive Director of ITC Ltd said, “ITC Hotels is committed to sustainable business practices. As per USGBC, built to LEED or LEED equivalency doesn’t exist and there is no substitute to LEED certification. This is a proud moment for the Welcomhotel brand. Green buildings are energy efficient, utilize renewable energy, conserve and recycle water while taking concrete steps to preserve the ecosystem around them. Our commitment to Responsible Luxury has given ITC Hotels the unique distinction of being the greenest luxury hospitality chain in the world”
ITC Hotels has always prided itself for being future ready. Be it ITC Gardenia, the first LEED Platinum certified hotel in Asia Pacific (2009) to ITC Maurya, the first hotel in the world to be awarded LEED Platinum in the existing building category (2010) or ITC Grand Chola, the largest LEED certified hotel (2012).
Currently, ITC Hotels has 18 LEED Platinum Certified Properties including it’s corporate office, the ITC Green Centre. This was the first corporate building in India to be LEED Platinum rated and the the biggest Platinum rated green building in the world in 2004.
Launched in November 2019, the Welcomhotel Amritsar is centred around a colonnaded mansion, tracing its origins to the early 1900s and has been painstakingly restored with all modern comforts while preserving the cultural, architectural and culinary nuances of a splendid era. The hotel redefines the tourism landscape of Punjab and makes a meaningful contribution to the tourism potential of the state.