Celebrating Excellence: Cholan Tours, The Residncy Chennai, The Gateway Madurai, aldanSamudra Resort & Hotels- Mamallpuram and Radisson Selam Wins Prestigious Tamil Nadu Tourism Awards 2024
Cholan Tours has reaffirmed its leadership in the tourism industry by securing two prestigious Gold Awards at the Tamil Nadu Tourism Awards 2024 in the categories of Best Domestic Tour Operator and Best Inbound Tour Operator. GRT Hotels and Resorts also emerged as a major winner, clinching three awards, including Best Themed Resort for Great Trail River View Resort, Thanjavur; Best Budget Hotel for Regency Madurai by GRT Hotels and Best Multi-Cuisine Restaurant for the Bazaar at Grand Madurai.
SriLankan Airlines was recognized as the Best Airline Partner for Tamil Nadu, while The Residency Tower, Chennai, won the Best 5-Star Hotel award. The Best 4-Star Hotel accolade went to Radisson Hotel, Salem, and the Gold Award for Best Heritage Resort was bestowed upon IHCL’s The Gateway Hotel, Madurai.
Other notable winners included, Kaldan Samudra Resort & Hotels, Mamallapuram in the category of the Best Beach Resort and Sinnadorai Bungalow, Valparai adjudged as the Best Plantation Resort.
The awards ceremony was graced by distinguished dignitaries, including Mr. R. Rajendran (Minister for Tourism, Tamil Nadu), Mr. Ma. Subramanian (Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments), and Mr. P. K. Sekar Babu (Minister for Health and Family Welfare), in the presence of Ms. R. Priya, Mayor of Chennai Metro Corporation, at the Tamil Nadu State Tourism award function, held at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Dr. Chandra Mohan B., I.A.S., Principal Secretary to the Government (Tourism, Culture, and Religious Endowments Department) and Chairman of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), welcomed the gathering. Ms. Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, I.A.S., Director of Tourism and Managing Director of TTDC, proposed the vote of thanks.
Chennai based Garuda Logistics Services Pvt. Ltd., won the Best Travel Partner award along with Unleash Paintball & Adventure Zone Pvt. Ltd., in the Best Adventure Tourism & Camping Site Operator category.
Tiruchirappalli District administration won the Best District for Tourism Promotion award while Tamil Nadu Police Museum, Chennai bagged the Clean Tourism Destination award.
Other noteworthy Gold award winners included:
Best Niche Tourism Operator: Heritage Inspired, Chennai
Best Medical & Wellness Tourism Establishment: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Chennai
Best Agri Tourism Operator: Grace Garden Model Agro Tourism Centre, Madurai
Best Homestay/Bed & Breakfast: Gold – House of Joy, Ooty and Silver – Cassiopeia, Nilgiris
Best Themed Restaurant: Gold – Avartana, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai | Silver – House of Cheese, Chennai
Best Traditional Cuisine Restaurant: C-Salt, Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa
Best Continental Restaurant: Match Point, Taj Wellington Mews, Chennai
Best Pan Asian Restaurant: ChipChay, The RainTree (St. Mary’s Road), Chennai
Mr. Pandian Kumaravel, Managing Director and Mrs. Mythili Pandian, Director of Cholan Tours received the award from Mr. R. Rajendran, Minister for Tourism, Tamil Nadu and Mr. P. K. Sekar Babu, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Pandian Kumaravel, Managing Director of Cholan Tours, expressed his gratitude, “Being recognized at this esteemed platform underscores the significant role Cholan Tours plays in promoting Tamil Nadu as a world-class travel destination. These accolades honor our commitment to delivering exceptional travel experiences for both domestic travelers exploring Tamil Nadu’s treasures and international visitors seeking authentic cultural encounters.”
He further added that these awards inspire Cholan Tours to set new benchmarks in quality service, innovative tour designs, and customer satisfaction.
On behalf of SriLankan Airlines, Mr. Fawzan Fareid, General Manager- India, received the award from Mr. Ma. Subramanian, Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments, Tamil Nadu at the Tamil Nadu State Tourism award function.
Silver Award winners included MPM Travel XS Pvt. Ltd., Mamallapuram (Best Inbound Tour Operator), and Express Holidays, Coimbatore (Best Domestic Tour Operator). Neemrana’s Bungalow on the Beach, Tranquebar, and UDS Coco Hotels & Resorts, Udumalpet, won Silver Awards for Best Heritage Resort and Best Plantation Resort, respectively.
Complete List of Other Award Winners:
Best TTDC Premium Hotel: Hotel Tamil Nadu Beach Resort Complex, Mamallapuram
Best TTDC Budget Hotel: Hotel Tamil Nadu, Yercaud
Best TTDC Boathouse: TTDC Raindrop Boathouse, Mudaliarkuppam
Best Social Media Influencer: Mr. Karunakaran (Tamil Navigator)
Best Tourist Guides:
North: Mr. K. Natarajan, Chennai
South: Mr. G. Manikantan, Madurai
East: Dr. S. Mohanty, Trichy
Best Educational Institution for Tourism & Hospitality:
Gold: Institute of Hotel Management, Chennai
Silver: State Institute of Hotel Management, Trichy
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Awards continues to celebrate outstanding contributions to the state’s tourism sector, inspiring excellence and innovation.
