Nestled amidst the beautiful Aravalli Hills, Fairmont Jaipur blends traditional Rajasthani and Mughal architecture with modern luxury, while prioritising environmental responsibility. The hotel is the first Accor portfolio hotel in India to achieve this milestone. Rajat Sethi, Cluster General Manager, Fairmont and Raffles Jaipur shares the roadmap to sustainable hospitality practices with Keerthana Sundar, Special Correspondent, Clean India Journal.
This Green Globe certification is just a testimony of the hard work and the alignment that we have with the Government of India’s sustainable goals.”
Rajat Sethi
Fairmont Jaipur’s sustainability goals are fulfilled through its Green Team — an inhouse task force dedicated to implementing and overseeing environmental initiatives. These initiatives include integration of renewable energy sources, ensuring net-zero energy usage during daylight hours and eliminating single-use plastics. The hotel manages large events and is a leading wedding destination, necessitating significant resources.
The hotel has tackled the significant issue of plastic water bottles. “We must be consuming at least 1,200 litres of water on a daily basis, which used to be in plastic bottle form.” Now, the hotel uses glass bottles from its own bottling plant, saving approximately 1,200 plastic bottles daily. Other guest amenities have also transitioned from plastic to biodegradable materials.
Water conservation extends to laundry practices. Guests are encouraged to reuse towels, minimizing unnecessary washing.
“Sourcing of raw material is an important aspect of our hotel operations,” Rajat emphasized. The hotel has launched the “Local Love” initiative, sourcing seasonal vegetables ingredients such as onions, tomatoes and cooking oils from nearby suppliers to reduce carbon footprint. Menus, especially for weddings are planned around locally available ingredients such as jaggery and ghee from local villages.
The hotel also caters to evolving dietary preferences by offering a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options. “We use plant-based meat to create delicacies such as Laal Maas or butter chicken, both regular favourites a non-vegetarian relishes and was previously unavailable for a vegetarian to even taste. We have now created to options for them.”
To further meet the demand for pure vegetarian cuisine especially during Marwari’s weddings, Fairmont Jaipur has established a dedicated vegetarian kitchen with separate equipment, staff and even distinct green uniforms for its chefs. “Around 70% of weddings are 100% vegetarian, so this becomes an added advantage, and the guests prefer a hotel where they can get a pure vegetarian kitchen.”
The bustling hotel’s commitment to sustainability extends to energy consumption. “Our energy consumption for a month is close to six lakh electricity units. 50% of the hotel’s energy consumption is through renewable energy,” Rajat stated. The hotel has installed solar plants and is transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles.
“Initially, there was a little bit of challenge, but most of the guests are very accommodating,” Rajat noted with respect to transitioning to sustainable alternatives. “People want to give back to Mother Earth as far as possible.” Regular staff training and the increasing awareness of sustainability provided by education, have facilitated the implementation of these practices.
“This Green Globe certification is just a testimony of the hard work and the alignment that we have with the Government of India’s sustainable goals,” Rajat shared. The hotel is dedicated to implementing the latest energy-efficient technologies and continuously raising its sustainability standards.
Other awards received include Excellence in Sustainable Hospitality Practices at the Financial Express Green Sarthi Awards 2024, Best Sustainable Hotel 2024 by Travel and Leisure, and Hospitality Icons Award 2024: Luxurious Hotel for Destination Wedding at the Times Hospitality Icons 2024.
Rajat advises other hotels to invest in technology to upgrade plant and machinery, reducing fossil fuel and energy consumption. He also recommends utilizing renewable energy sources and eliminating single-use plastics as measures to effectively transition to sustainability.
The Green Globe certification is just the beginning of the hotel’s ongoing journey towards sustainability. The hotel aims to inspire guests, partners and the industry to embrace a greener future by integrating responsible practices into all aspects of its operations.
