India’s premier hospitality company, the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its multi-genre brands like Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, Gateway and Ginger have ranked among the Top 50 Innovative Businesses at the 2025 CII Industrial Innovation Awards. The CII Industrial Innovation Awards are an annual initiative by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to recognise companies that are integrating innovation at a foundational level to secure competitive advantage through the pursuit of new ideas, methodologies, and green practices. The CII believes that structural innovation frameworks will play an increasingly key role in providing companies the global competitive edge they seek.
IHCL’s inclusion as one of the Top 50 Innovative Companies demonstrates its company-wide approach to innovation from improvements in guest experience to the adoption of technology, sustainability, organizational culture and innovation strategies. The company’s innovation includes the implementation of digital technologies that enhance the personalization of guest experiences, optimization of co-owned operational processes and overall enhancement of the guest experience. Furthermore, IHCL’s sustainability initiatives are part of Paathya, the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives operationally integrated into its core business processes.
Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at IHCL, said the recognition affirmed the company’s commitment to innovation as a key enabler of transformation and long-term value creation. He highlighted that innovation is embedded into IHCL’s strategy as it pursues its ‘Accelerate 2030’ vision, aimed at building high-performance culture, enhancing community impact and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
The CII Industrial Innovation Awards–instituted in 2014—assess businesses on their ability to weave innovation into multiple facets of organisational performance, including product and service design, process optimisation, use of technology, sustainability and governance. Earning a spot in the Top 50 highlights IHCL’s continuous ability to innovate. The company has maintained its leadership position in the highly competitive travel and hospitality industry with its innovative approach while adapting to changes in the industry.
Recent achievements highlight IHCL’s growth in its global hotel and brand portfolio and integration of innovations into its service delivery and sustainability practices. IHCL’s Accelerate 2030 strategy focuses on expanding into new markets, diversifying its brands, and developing responsible businesses that build guest loyalty and provide value to the community.
The hospitality industry, traditionally focused on delivering superior service and offering brands with a long-term heritage, is beginning to use technology to enhance guest experiences. This includes the use of digital interfaces and artificial intelligence (AI) to drive revenue management and more effectively manage resources, making IHCL’s commitment to innovation an important factor to achieve a competitive advantage in the industry globally.
