An Indian hotel industry legend, Hotel Leelaventure Founder C P Krishnan Nair, passed away at age 92 on Saturday after a brief illness.
Nair, who started his career with the Indian Army, ventured into textiles industry and later started the luxury hospitality chain under the Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts brand. He had stepped down as the chairman of Hotel Leelaventure, the company he founded in 1981, on February 7. His son Vivek is now the chairman and managing director of the eight-hotel chain, while brother, Dinesh, is the co-chairman and managing director of Hotel Leelaventure Ltd.
The war veteran known in most circles as Captain Nair had a flair for stylish dressing and was widely known for his charming personality. “His networking ability, his personal connect with customers, ability to pick winning teams and passion to sell the Indian dream and Indian skills in luxury hospitality worldwide – he was a true ambassador for India,” said Rattan Keswani, deputy managing director of Lemon Tree Hotels.
Nair’s entry into the hotel business came in 1981 when the Sahar international airport opened in Mumbai, where Nair had already built a textile factory. He understood there was a space for a luxury hotel close to the airport and within five years opened Hotel Leela. Thus he had made a grand entry into the Indian hospitality industry at the age of 65.