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The chairman of one India’s most renowned hotel groups was honored recently by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS) for his contribution to the environment and his hotel group’s social responsibility. Captain C.P. Krishnan Nair is the first recipient of this prestigious award, which the AAHS instituted to honor corporate leaders who have championed the cause of the environment.
A visionary hotelier, Capt. C.P. Krishnan Nair has created a green oasis at each of The Leela’s five hotels and resorts. The flagship Leela Palace Bangalore is set amidst four and a half acres with 250 varieties of rare palms, Ayurvedic plants and herbs. On the 44 acres of The Leela Kovalam Beach in Kerala, there are landscaped gardens full of exotic flowers and 2,500 coconut trees. The Leela Goa is set amidst 75 acres of lush gardens and blooming foliage, and while the Leela Kempinski Mumbai is in the heart of the bustling city, it is surrounded by 11 acres of flowering plants, lotus ponds, waterfalls, and palm trees.
“Environment is no longer about being green, reusing towels and recycling paper. Today the main focus is on corporate responsibility by practicing environmental protection and sustainability,” said Capt. Nair.
In 2005 the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) awarded Capt. Nair the PATA Gold Award for environmental excellence. In 1999, His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan conferred the prestigious UNEP’s Global 500 Laureate Roll of Honor on Captain Nair for his environmental initiatives. The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts support the UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign, a global initiative to encourage tree planting. A total of 3,556,633 trees and plants have been planted at the four Leela properties. More than 78,000 trees and plants will grace The Leela Palace Udaipur when it opens later this spring.
The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences is known for recognizing excellence globally in the travel and luxury services sector. The awards salute quality in the hospitality industry worldwide. All recipients are world-renowned and deemed to have attained an unrivaled level of excellence.
“The Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Five-Star Diamond Award is the most prestigious emblem of achievement bestowed exclusively to individuals with vision who demonstrate exemplary dedication and commitment to a cause,” said Joseph Cinque, President of AAHS.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
