The Ashok was also awarded with “Hotel Providing Best Facilities for Differently- Abled Guest” for the first time. The Ashok, New Delhi, a flagship property of India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a PSU under administrative control of Ministry of Tourism was conferred two National Tourism Awards for the year 2016-17 in a function held today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Ashok, city’s foremost Luxurious Heritage property won the title under the category of “Best Hotel Based Meeting Venue.” The Ashok has received this award for the 3rd time in a row creating a new benchmark in the hospitality industry. Another glory that was added for the first time to the brand ITDC and The Ashok was in the form of second National Tourism award under the category “Hotel providing best facilities for differently abled guests”. Since inception, The Ashok has been serving guests with care, providing the best facilities for differently- abled guests. Indeed, 2% of hotel inventory is dedicated for differently-abled guests, with 11 rooms (including 3 suites) furnished with special fittings, that is the largest in the entire hospitality industry. Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism Shri Alphons Kannanthanam presented the “National Tourism Awards, 2016-17” to various segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry at the function organized by the Ministry of Tourism on the occasion of “World Tourism Day” today. Tourism Ministers of States, Central and State Government Officials, Members from the Travel and Hospitality Industries, including leading Hoteliers, Travel Agents and Tour Operators, Students from Tourism and Hospitality Institutes, Mainstream and Travel Media attended the function. Hon’ble Tourism Minister along with senior officials of ministry and CMD, ITDC also released the brochure of Ashok Events (AE) division, an event execution division of ITDC. The division has successfully implemented and executed several prestigious national and international conventions, conferences and events including ongoing Paryatan Parv at Rajpath in New Delhi. Hailed as one of the highest honors in the tourism industry- National Tourism Awards felicitate the Indian tourism and travel industry and the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for their outstanding contribution in the field of tourism. Bestowed with prestigious award, The Ashok is a best MICE venue which has well equipped arena for meetings and banquet venues that includes a 16,400+ sq ft convention hall with pillar less trifurcation options, a 7,400 + sq ft banquet hall and a friendship lounge besides party rooms and the landscaped gardens for outdoor functions and theme events to cater to gathering of 50 to 5000 guests at any given point of time. The Ashok has been serving guests with care and understands the needs of our special guests. The hotel also provides the best facilities for differently-abled guests. It also provides wheel-chair accessible ramps as well as hydraulic lift at entrance, wheel-chair friendly and barrier free access to all areas of the hotel, a dedicated public washroom in the main lobby and convention areas. Wide and spacious lifts connect all floors with wide corridors and extra wide doors for easy movement. Wooden flooring and free spaces for easy navigation of wheel-chair in the rooms, accessible furniture (bed, writing table, dining table), cordless phone in the rooms, wheel. Guests can avail of a personal valet or special attendant on request. Even our all F&B outlets like The Oudh, Frontier, Coffee Shop and lounges including business centre and indoor venues are wheel chair accessible.