Leela Palaces receives Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award 2025
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has been named a Global Vision Honoree in Travel + Leisure's 2025 Global Vision Awards.
The hotel is recognised for its commitment to sustainable and responsible travel experiences while preserving India's cultural heritage.
The awards recognise companies, individuals, destinations, and organisations that are making significant strides in sustainability, community engagement, and responsible tourism.
"This recognition from Travel + Leisure is a testament to the many efforts we have made to integrate sustainability and responsible tourism practices across our portfolio," said Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer, The Leela , "We have always believed that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand. This award reinforces our commitment to creating meaningful experiences that respect and celebrate local communities and environments."
The Leela's recognition is attributed to its initiative, Leela Ke Phool, which upcycles florals into charcoal-free incense sticks and cones infused with Tishya by The Leela, the brand's signature fragrance.
This partnership not only minimises floral waste and reduces pollution but also fosters women's empowerment by training artisans to handcraft these sustainable products.
The Leela's sustainability initiatives extend across all its properties in key Indian business and leisure destinations, integrating local art, culture, and cuisine while implementing responsible practices in energy conservation, waste management, and community engagement. -TradeArabia News Service
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Philippines Grants Visa-Free Entry To Indian Tourists From June 8
Indian nationals can now enter the Philippines without a visa for up to 30 days under new immigration rules coming into effect on June 8, 2025, according to an advisory issued by the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai. Under the revised visa policy quoted by the Filipino missions in the UAE, Indian passport holders can enter the Philippines without a visa for tourism purposes for up to 14 days, provided they meet the following requirements: a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, confirmed hotel accommodation or booking, proof of financial capacity and a return or onward ticket to another country. The 14-day stay is non-extendible and non-convertible, meaning tourists must exit the country before the end of the two-week period. However, Indian nationals holding valid and current visas or residence permits from the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen states, Singapore or the United Kingdom (collectively known as AJACSSUK countries) are eligible for a visa-free stay of up to 30 days. This 30-day stay is also non-extendible, and travellers must present a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. Both categories require that the individual have no derogatory immigration record with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI). The advisory clarifies that the visa-free entry privileges apply only to short-term tourism. 'Indian nationals transiting in the Philippines or entering the country for long-term visits and non-tourism activities are required to apply for an appropriate Philippine visa at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate in their country of origin, place of legal residence, or any country that requires entry visas for Indian nationals,' the advisory pointed out. The relaxed immigration policy is expected to benefit several Indian expats in the UAE.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Modi opens Kashmir rail link
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Kashmir yesterday since a conflict with arch-rival Pakistan, opening a strategic railway line to the region he called 'the crown jewel of India'. Modi launched a string of projects worth billions of dollars for the northern territory. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan fought a four-day conflict last month, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. 'Pakistan will never forget... its shameful loss,' the premier told crowds a month since India launched strikes on its neighbour after an attack on tourists in Kashmir. 'Friends, today's event is a grand festival of India's unity and firm resolve,' Modi said after striding across the soaring bridge to formally launch it for rail traffic. 'This is a symbol and celebration of rising India,' he said of the Chenab Bridge which connects two mountains. The Chenab span is the 'world's highest railway arch bridge', sitting 359 metres (1,117 feet) above a river. While several road and pipeline bridges are higher, Guinness World Records confirmed that Chenab trumps the previous highest railway bridge, the Najiehe in China. Modi called it 'an extraordinary feat of architecture' that 'will improve connectivity' by providing the first rail link from the Indian plains up to mountainous Kashmir. With 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, the new railway runs for 272 kilometres (169 miles) and connects Udhampur, Srinagar and Baramulla. It is expected to halve the travel time between the town of Katra in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir, to around three hours. The new route will facilitate the movement of people and goods, as well as troops, that was previously possible only via treacherous mountain roads and by air.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
India's central bank cuts rates more than expected to boost growth
India India's central bank cut interest rates more than expected yesterday, citing muted inflation and a need to kickstart economic growth as the impact of US tariffs weighed on the country's outlook. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered the benchmark repo rate, the level at which it lends to commercial banks, by 50 basis points to 5.5%. A majority of analysts had expected 25-basis-point reduction. The cut was its third in a row and comes a week after government data showed India's economy expanded at its slowest pace for four years in the fiscal year that ended in March. And while the January-March quarter showed signs of a rebound, with forecast-topping 7.4% year-on-year growth, analysts said US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs posed risks to the outlook. Easing price concerns have also allowed the RBI to concentrate on growth, with retail inflation dropping to a near sixyear-low of 3.16% in April. Bank governor Sanjay Malhotra said India's growth remained 'lower than our aspirations' in a 'challenging global environment' and that it was necessary to continue stimulating domestic consumption and investment. 'This changed growth inflation dynamics calls for not only continuing with the policy easing, but also frontloading the rate cuts to support growth,' Malhotra said. He added that the monetary policy committee had changed its stance from 'accommodative' to 'neutral', which implies a rate cut is not guaranteed at its next review meeting. The central bank also threw in a liquidity-boosting measure by cutting the cash reserve ratio, the proportion of deposits that banks must set aside with the RBI, by 100 basis points to 3%. The RBI cut rates for the first time in nearly five years in February and followed up with another reduction in April. The Indian government has forecast above-average monsoon rains, which observers say should help growth, as higher agricultural output will aid the rural economy and keep vegetable prices stable. But Trump's protectionist policies could add to growth pressures. While New Delhi is not a manufacturing powerhouse, experts believe that US tariffs will hurt billions of dollars of Indian exports across different sectors including gems and jewellery, electronics and seafood. India is hammering out the first tranche of a trade deal with Washington and negotiators have made several trips over the past three months. Local media reports say that while the White House is pushing for India to drop levies on a range of products, including agricultural produce and automobiles, New Delhi is seeking greater access for labour-intensive exports such as textiles and footwear.
