Mr. Param Kannampilly

Batch of 1974/75
Chairman and Managing Director
Concept Hospitality

Having launched the brand Fern, Mr. Param Kanampilly is regarded as one of the most poignant and impactful professionals in our industry. He has been affiliated with numerous hotel groups but started his career with the Taj group of hotels. In the year 1975, he moved to a small inventory hotel in Goa- The La Paz at Vasco as the General Manager.

He credits his managerial skills to the lessons he learnt here from Mr. S. K. Mukherjee, under the wing of Mr. V.M.Salgaonkar, who set the targets for the hotel. He was then associated with Spencer International Hotels, The Fariyas Hotels, The Leela Group, Raheja Group of Hotels and Kamat Group of Hotels. It was during this time that he was approached by Kamat Hotels Ltd to be on the board and to help develop an upmarket property next to Mumbai’s domestic Airport.

He took this as an opportunity to make a difference to the environment. His entrepreneurial thinking made him realize that though the key positions of hospitality, food and professionalism were taken by Taj, ITC, and Oberoi respectively, the niche for environment was up for grabs. In 1996, he went on to set up and operate Asia’s first Ecotel; Hotel- The Orchid Mumbai, which is considered the hallmark of environmentally sensitive hotels.

When asked about his time studying at IHM Mumbai, he cherishes the memories and is grateful for his classmates. Even more than 30 years down the line, they still make it a point to meet regularly, often going for trips together! He fondly recalls Ms. Thangam Phillip, Mr. Pesi Shaw and Mr. S.K. Mukerjee and numerous teachers who have not just been mentors but sources of inspiration.

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