KOCHI: The prestigious ‘Hotelier of the Century’ award was conferred on Capt. C P Krishnan Nair, Chairman of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, by the International Hotels and Restaurant Association at Continental Hotel Beograd in Belgrade, Serbia.
Presenting the award, IH&RA president Dr Ghassan Aidi said Capt. Nair “is an icon of a hotelier with vision. The quality and service seen at the Leela hotels across India remain unparalleled.” Serbian Prime Minister Mirco Cvetkovic, Crown Prince Alexander II, Economy Minister Mladan Dinkic and other top dignitaries attended the function.
IH&RA representatives/members from several countries also participated.
Accepting the award, Nair said he was “humbled by this great recognition from my peers in the hotel industry” and that he would continue to strive to implement sustainable practices in his hotels. “I dedicate this award to the spirit of my 5,250 Leela associates, the people of India and to Sonia Gandhi, who is striving to take India to new heights and make it a superpower,” he said.
Nair is the first Indian hotelier to receive this honour. This is the second time in 140 years that this award has gone to a hotelier. Joseph Giacoponello, former president of the Leading Hotels of the World, is the only other recipient.
Headquartered in Geneva, the IH&RA is the only business organisation representing the hospitality industry worldwide and sponsored by the UN. The Leela group runs The Leela Palaces and hotels in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Kovalam, Gurgaon and Udaipur.