A doyen of the hotel industry Capt. C. P. Krishnan Nair, Founder Chairman of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, passed away peacefully at the age of 92, following a brief illness.
His family was beside him, a press release from the hotel group said. The last rites will be performed tomorrow, Sunday, May 18, at 3 pm at Pawan Hans crematorium in Juhu, Mumbai. A memorial prayer ceremony is scheduled at The Leela Mumbai, Sahar, at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 22.
Capt. Nair is survived by his wife Madam Leela, their sons – Chairman and Managing Director, Vivek Nair, and Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Dinesh Nair, their wives and children.
A freedom fighter and an officer of the Indian army who later built a luxury hotel chain, Capt. Chittarath Poovakkatt Krishnan Nair is a Padma Bhushan awardee.