Rahul Pandit, CEO, Lemon Tree Hotels, receiving Aaj Tak Care Award

New Delhi : Lemon Tree Hotels (LTH), India’s leading chain of upscale, midscale and economy hotels has been honored with the Aaj Tak Care Awards 2013 for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in the Empowerment category. Lemon Tree Hotels have received this award for its Employees with Disabilities (EWDs) initiative.  This initiative empowers differently abled persons by offering them employment opportunities across Lemon Tree Hotels pan India.

Lemon Tree has been hiring persons with disabilities (mostly Speech and Hearing Impaired (SHIs)) since 2007. Currently, over 6% of employees at the hotels i.e. 134 people (as on 16.8.13) are differently abled. LTH has also employed 4 people with orthopaedic impairment, in the functions of Housekeeping and Finance. The group plans to increase the number of EWDs to 250 people by end 2013-14  i.e. ~10% of total hotel employees.

Speaking on the occasion, Rahul Pandit, President & Executive Director, The Lemon Tree Hotel Company, said, “Our corporate philosophy is to make Lemon Tree Hotels an inclusive environment for employees of all backgrounds and abilities. Our EWD initiative has focussed on optimal placement of our differently abled employees. The attempt is to place them in those job roles where they are on par with other employees and have an equal opportunity to perform. We are happy that our effort is being recognized through the Aaj Tak Care Awards 2013”.

LTH has employed techniques like EWD Card – a simple card introducing the employee to a guest. This helps in sensitizing the guest and setting the expectation. The group also experimented with a numbered menu to make the ordering process very simple. Lemon Tree Hotels have also been honored earlier for their proactive policies towards the differently abled. The group has won awards for Outstanding Work in the Creation of a Barrier-free Environment for Persons with Disabilities, 2012: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India; Svayam Accessibility and Universal Design Award, 2012; Best Employer–National Award, 2011: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India; NCPEDP-Shell Hellen Keller Award 2012: Category C: Role Model Organizations, for the work towards promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities and NCPEDP-Shell Hellen Keller Award 2012: Category B: Role Model Non-Disabled Individuals, for your work towards promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition, Lemon Tree Hotels has been ranked #67 in the Top 100 Great Places to Work 2013.

Source : Purnima