A study into the practices of corporate social responsibility in the hotel industry in India

The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of socially responsible behavior of the hotel industry in India. India‟s hotel industry is on high growth path. Technopak (2008) estimates Indian hotel industry at US$ 17 billion. With rising customer understanding regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR), it is vital for the hotel industry to outline their efforts at CSR as part of their strategies. As the industry grows, there is a greater need for the sector to incorporate CSR in its day to day activities. The focus on CSR has been an integral part of the Indian hotel industry since the 1990s, and as such has become a mainstay in many hotels‟ operation. This paper will address the level of CSR activity being carried out in hotels across the world with a focus on India in particular. Through a review of literature the paper begins by looking at the concept of CSR in general, followed by CSR issues in hotel industry. This is followed by how the Indian hotel industry has benefited from integrating corporate social responsibility into their operations.