<div>Hotel Leelaventure Founder C P Krishnan Nair - known as the grand old man of Indian hospitality industry - passed away this morning after a brief illness.<br /><br /><div>He was 92 years old.<br /><br /></div><div>Nair, who started 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.<br /><br /></div><div>He had stepped down as the Chairman of Hotel Leelaventure - the company he founded in 1981 on February 7 2013 - passing the baton to his sons, Vivek Nair and Dinesh Nair.<br /><br /></div><div>Referred to as Captain Nair, he remained Chairman Emeritus of the firm.<br /><br /></div><div>A recipient of the Padmabhushan award, he was recognised as a hotelier extraordinaire, visionary and an environmentalist.<br /><br /></div><div>He was also conferred the Global 500 Laureate Roll of Honour by the United Nations Environment Program for his efforts in environmental conservation.<br /><br /></div><div>He is survived by his wife Leela, their two sons – Vivek Nair, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of the group, and Dinesh Nair who is Co-Chairman and Managing Director.<br /><br /></div><div>A statement by Leela group said his last rites will be performed tomorrow at 4 pm in Mumbai. </div></div>
<div>Hotel Leelaventure Founder C P Krishnan Nair - known as the grand old man of Indian hospitality industry - passed away this morning after a brief illness.<br /><br /><div>He was 92 years old.<br /><br /></div><div>Nair, who started 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.<br /><br /></div><div>He had stepped down as the Chairman of Hotel Leelaventure - the company he founded in 1981 on February 7 2013 - passing the baton to his sons, Vivek Nair and Dinesh Nair.<br /><br /></div><div>Referred to as Captain Nair, he remained Chairman Emeritus of the firm.<br /><br /></div><div>A recipient of the Padmabhushan award, he was recognised as a hotelier extraordinaire, visionary and an environmentalist.<br /><br /></div><div>He was also conferred the Global 500 Laureate Roll of Honour by the United Nations Environment Program for his efforts in environmental conservation.<br /><br /></div><div>He is survived by his wife Leela, their two sons – Vivek Nair, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of the group, and Dinesh Nair who is Co-Chairman and Managing Director.<br /><br /></div><div>A statement by Leela group said his last rites will be performed tomorrow at 4 pm in Mumbai. </div></div>