Kerala Recognises Its Achievers

G V Raja Award For Thangam Phillip

Awards have become a popular norm in the travel trade and have become a benchmark for recognition in the industry. Kerala had its own this year, awarding individuals and organisations within the trade who had contributed notably. Thangam E Philip has been selected for the colonel G V Raja Award for lifetime achievement in tourism for the year 2002-03. Tourism Minister K V Thomas informed the media here that Thangam E Philip, a Padamshree awardee, was selected for the award for her contributions to tourism and hotel management. The Food and Agricultural Organisation selected Thangam who became only the third Indian woman to bag the prestigious CERES Award. The other Indians who have previously been honoured with the CERES Award are Indira Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Thangam Philip has served as the principal of the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai, for over 25 years.

K K Mohandas of Kumar Taxies was selected for the special award for tourist carrier. Kumar Taxies has a history of over 75 years in tourism transport sector. Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru were among those who used the service of Kumar Taxies.

The other awards included:

• Tour Operator / Travel Agent who handled the maximum number of tourist in Kerala - Travel Corporation India (TCI), Ravipuram, Kochi.
• Tour Operator / Travel Agent who earned the maximum amount of foreign exchange in Kerala - TCI, Ravipuram, Kochi.
• Best Tour Operator from Kerala - Great India Tour Company, Trivandrum
• Best One-Star Hotel - Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village, South Kovalam, Trivandrum
• Best Two Star Hotel - Hotel Samudra, Kovalam, Trivandrum
• Best Three Star Hotel - The Tranvancore Heritage, Chowara, Trivandrum
• Best Four Star Hotel - Taj Garden Retreat, Varkala
• Best Five Star Hotel - The Muthoot Plaza, Trivandrum
• Best Five Star Deluxe Hotel - Le Meridien, Kochi
• Best Heritage Hotel - The Malabar House, Fort Kochi
• Best Ayurveda Centre - Nagarjuna Ayurvedic Centre, Kalady
• Best Home Stay Facility - GK's River Home Stay, Kumarakom
• Best House Boat Operator - Lakes and Lagoons Tour Company, Allappuzha
• Best Wayside Amenity Centre - Motel Araam, Kannur.
• Individual / agency who has introduced the most innovative project in the field of tourism in the State - Far Horizon Tours, New Delhi
• Individual / agency who has implemented the most eco-friendly tourism project in the State - Coconut Lagoon, Heritage Resort, Kottayam.
• Best performing District Tourism Promotion Council - DTPC, Wayanad
• Most Kerala-friendly overseas individual - Jorg Hussong, Com Tour Communication and Tourism, Germany
• Best Tourism related article - Joby Cherian, Freelance writer.
• Best performing Arts Centre - Cochin Cultural Centre (Academy of Arts and Performing Theatre), Kochi
• Tourist-friendly taxi / Auto Driver - N R Anilkumar, Kottayam
• Best Tourist Guide - V Balaram, Trivandrum
• Best Tourist Club - Darul Uloom VHSS, Ernakulam
• Best Student Coordinator of Tourism Club - V Prashanth, NSS College, Chertala
• Best Teacher Coordinator of Tourism Club - C Pushpalatha, SSHSS, Kuttukukke, Kasargod.

The awards were presented by the Minister for Tourism - Kerala, at a function in Trivandrum.