Capt. Krishnan Nair conferred Lifetime Achievement Award

Capt. Krishnan Nair

Capt. Krishnan Nair, chairman of The Leela Palaces and Resorts, has been bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the tourism industry by R. L. Bhatia, the Governor of Kerala, at a ceremony held at the Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram recently.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including Padmashree Dr. K.J. Jesudas, E.K. Bharat Bhushan, IAS, principal secretary, tourism; T. Balakrishnan IAS, principal secretary, industries; and M.R. Narayanan, president, Chamber of Commerce. The award was instituted by the Chamber of Commerce.

The latest offering from the Leela Group, The Leela Kovalam is all set to turn Kerala's most famous tourist spot into a world-class destination. "What we created in Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore will be repeated here," said Capt. Nair. "The Leela Kovalam is poised to become the focus of world tourism and environment. We are taking all steps to make it a world-class resort from the beginning." He added that facilities like conventions, celebrity weddings, Ayurveda and well being treatments would give guests a chance to enjoy the solitude and serenity of the place. The Leela Kovalam Beach is a homecoming of sorts for Capt. Nair, who hails from the state.

Tides launched

The hotel that redefined luxury for Kerala introduced a new dining experience for the discerning travellers with the launch of its new rustic seaside restaurant, Tides. With a breathtaking view of the beach and the blue sea, Tides encompasses the best of Kovalam. From grills to stir-fries, from Keralan to Sichuan specialties, it offers a wide variety of dining choices. Guests can also relish the 'fresh catch of the day' - they actually get to see the local fisherman return with the bounty from the sea - while a DJ entertains them with live music into the night.

Annual day celebrations

Kovalam was also an inspiring setting for the hotel's first annual day celebrations on October 21. Capt. Nair, and Peter J. Leitgeb, president, The Leela Palaces and Resorts, were present on the occasion in traditional Kerala attire. The event that was truly Keralan with pookkalams, Panchavadyam, Kalaripayattu etc saw Capt. Nair launching the inaugural issue of the Leela Sandesham, the employee newsletter.

According to Biswajith Chakraborty, general manager, this first-ever employee function after being branded as The Leela Kovalam Beach, is ‘more of a bonding and a family activity to promote team spirit and co-operation among all its associates’.