Accordingly the founder of India’s leading luxury hotel chain Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, CP Krishnan Nair was born in rather humble circumstances, to in a large and poor family of eight children in a Kerala village. Meanwhile his fortune turned when he was awarded a lifetime scholarship by the ruler of Chirakkal. Furthermore Nair went on to join the Indian army, rising to the rank of a captain. Earlier in 1951, he resigned from his position to set the All India Handloom Board to promote Indian yarn abroad and his exposure to international hotels led him to open the first Leela hotel, named after his wife, in 1987 in Mumbai.

Previously in 2016, it clocked revenues of Rs 661 crore. Further through frequent business trips to Europe and the United States, Nair gained exposure to international hotels such as Adlon Kempinski, Dorchester Savoy, George Shanvk and Waldorf Astoria, which would inspire his own eventual entry into the hospitality industry. Reportedly in 1958, he joined hands with Brooks Brothers to announce Bleeding Madras Fabric, which later had clients like Tommy Hilfiger, Wal-Mart, Liz Claiborne and Macy's.

Moreover following his stay at the Kempinsky Hotel in Budapest, he realized the need for a luxury hotel chain in India that could measure up to international standards. Perhaps with the Sahar International Airport opening in 1981, Nair realized that there were no good hotels in Andheri, the Mumbai suburb where the airport is located. Accordingly Nair established Hotel Leelaventure Ltd. in 1983, and began construction of a hotel in Sahar on 4 acre plot of land that he owned, and an additional 6.5 acres that he leased. Apparently the first Leela Hotel opened in Mumbai in 1987 and this was followed by the Leela Goa, the Leela Palace in Bangalore, and the Leela Beach Resort in Thiruvananthapuram.