In order to do their bit in the fight against COVID-19, ITC Hotels has extended a helping hand with its list of initiatives, for the well being of those in need. By Tanvi Jain
ITC Hotels is providing extensive support to both the Central as well as state governments across different cities, by distributing food based on the requirements of the local administration, and hospitals.
ITC Maurya and Sheraton New Delhi have been providing over 1,500 meals per day, to further be distributed among migrant workers. ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru is also distributing 1,000 food packets every day for 15 days to the Municipal Corporation. ITC Grand Central, Mumbai is delivering meals to doctors at MG Hospital and Kasturba Hospital. Fortune Park BBD, Lucknow, also a part of ITC hotels is lending assistance by providing over 1,000 meals per day.
Moreover, the initiative is also likely to be rolled out soon in Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, as well. Apart from distributing meals, ITC Hotel properties in Jaipur and Goa have also been providing shower caps and sanitisers to healthcare workers.
The ITC group under its credo, ‘Nation First – Sab Saath Badhein’, recently collaborated with NGOs — Child Rights and You (CRY) and SOS Children’s Village India to meet month-long food consumption needs of the children and the elderly. The initiative backed by ITC’s INR 150 crore COVID-19 emergency fund, aims at delivering essentials via its ‘Aashirvaad Box of Hope’ and ‘Sunfeast Box of Happiness’. While the Aashirvaad Box of Hope for the elderly contains Aashirvaad atta, salt and basic spices; the Sunfeast Box of Happiness for children includes multiple packs of Sunfeast biscuits, YiPPee! noodles, Jelimals, B Natural juices and snacks from Bingo!
Moreover, as a part of a new initiative called #FoodForThought, the hotel chain has now started sharing recipe videos on social media. Every day one ITC chef shares either a drink or a food recipe on Instagram and Facebook, with an aim to teach people how to make the same with common ingredients available at home.
ITC Maurya is even offering seasonal produce and sustainable food selections as a part of their take away menu. Crafted with utmost hygiene, their menu features dishes like palak malai qofta, kadhai murgh, gosht ishtew, or even dal makhani, ensuring each dish brings in gourmet tastes in the comfort of your home. Their mindfully curated menu even features global flavours such as porcini risotto or baked cheesecakes.
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Last month, ITC Maratha in Mumbai was identified as one of the quarantine spaces by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The hotel had reportedly offered 100 rooms for the same. Similar rooms were made available in a hotel in Bengaluru as well. ITC Hotels is working closely with the local administration and embassies and have offered spaces at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai and ITC Kohenur, Hyderabad to enable stopover of asymptomatic international travellers as and when required.
Earlier this month, ITC even re-purposed its recently commissioned perfume manufacturing plant in Himachal Pradesh to make hand sanitizers, with an aim to produce additional 1,25,000 litres, and make them available in the market at subsidised rates. Focusing entirely on essentials, the company has temporarily stopped the manufacture of its main revenue earner — cigarettes — and other non-essential items.
Moreover, the hotel chain has also waived off cancellation fee on any reservations made till April 30, 2020. In fact, the expiration of all Club ITC Green Points scheduled between March 17 and April 30, has also been halted for now, and all membership tier changes have been paused.
