ibis, one of India’s leading hotel brands, is strengthening its sustainability focus in the country by embedding responsible practices into the everyday running of its hotels. With a growing presence across the country and 22 ibis and ibis Styles hotels already Green Key certified, the brand is moving beyond certification-led sustainability to focus on the operational choices that shape a hotel stay. This extends to everyday operational choices, from how water is provided in guest rooms and breakfast is managed to how water and electricity are consumed, and waste is handled across its hotels.
ibis is integrating sustainability into its day-to-day hotel operations, with a focus on reducing resource consumption and waste across the guest journey. This includes replacing single-use plastic water bottles with reusable glass bottles, reducing food waste and incorporating local and seasonal ingredients where feasible. The brand is also focusing on responsible water and energy use, along with stronger waste segregation and recycling practices.
The move assumes greater significance as India’s travel economy expands rapidly. The country recorded 4.29 billion domestic tourist visits in 2025, while tourism contributed an estimated 5.22% to India’s GDP and supported 84.63 million jobs. As the number of hotel stays, meals served, and travel-related consumption grows, the cumulative impact of everyday hospitality operations is becoming increasingly important to India’s sustainability agenda. For ibis, the focus is therefore on the areas where a hotel consumes resources every day. In food and beverage, the brand is working to reduce food waste and has incorporated measures such as eliminating single-use plastic from breakfast sideboards, using local and seasonal supplies where possible and promoting more responsible sourcing. In hotel operations, the focus extends to responsible water consumption, energy efficiency and reducing waste generated through routine activities.
“The next phase of sustainable hospitality will be determined by what happens behind the scenes, not only by what guests see. A hotel operates continuously, with water being consumed in rooms, food being prepared and discarded, energy being used across multiple touchpoints and waste being generated throughout the day. The opportunity is to redesign these everyday processes so that the more responsible choice becomes part of the operation itself. At ibis, we are focusing on practical changes that can work at scale and become part of the normal guest experience rather than asking guests to choose between sustainability and convenience,” said Mr Deeppreet Bindra, Director, ibis & ibis Styles India.
ibis’ sustainability focus also extends beyond its hotel operations to on-ground environmental action and community engagement. In June 2026, ibis India launched a nationwide beach clean-up initiative across Mumbai, Goa, Chennai and Kochi, bringing together hotel teams, local NGOs, civic authorities and community volunteers to support cleaner coastlines and promote responsible waste management. The initiative reflects ibis India’s broader approach to sustainability, combining practical measures within its hotels with community-led efforts that contribute to cleaner and more responsible destinations.
