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Mahendra Patel receives the Lifetime Achievers Award from Hon. Laisenia Qarase, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Islands |
FIJI. Mahendra Patel, one of the true statesmen of the international duty free business, has been awarded the Lifetime Achiever Award at the 2005 Fiji Tourism Excellence Awards.
The award is the highest recognition bestowed on any individual for their sustained contribution to the country’s tourism industry. Mahendra Patel received the Lifetime Achievers Award from Hon. Laisenia Qarase, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Islands, at a function held on 9 December at the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort.
The citation made was as follows:
Lifetime Achiever Award
“The award goes to a person whose family has been associated with Fiji from the very early days of the Indian settlement in Fiji and started business as merchants in Ba.
“In the 1970s they had the opportunity to establish a duty free Shop at Nadi Airport. Virtually over night the airport facility became the leading retail shop in Fiji, at the time changing from a very basic “˜hole in the wall’ facility to a quality visitor transit and arrival product, winning many awards in the following years and personally for his dedication to Fiji. The award goes to the Head of the Motibhai Company Limited Mr Mahendra Patel.”
Mahendra Patel, in accepting the award, made the following remarks:
“For me and for my company tonight is an exceptional and historic night. To be granted the Tourism Life Time Achievement Award – the highest accolade in Tourism. I am humbled and very touched by this wonderful recognition. Thank you.
“In accepting this award I want to express my deep sense of gratitude to my company, my family and my country which has given me the opportunity to be able to contribute and excel in our field of endeavor.
“I take this opportunity to thank past and present governments for the opportunity to personally serve on various organisations and for the confidence they have had in myself and Motibhai Group and I am happy to say that this confidence has never been misplaced. We shall continue in the same vein in the future. Prime Minister this is our pledge.
“Some 76 years ago, Motibhai Patel saw the opportunity and came to Fiji. From its humble beginnings and the solid background established by the founding brothers, we have been able to create a business entity that proudly belongs to Fiji.
“Despite our growth and establishment we have always steadfastly maintained that common touch and we are ever so grateful to the guiding hand that enables us to do so.
“This latest recognition is indeed a tremendous source of encouragement and motivation to reach even higher levels of excellence in all our endeavors.
“I dedicate this award to all the 800 employees of Motibhai Group as they are the source of inspiration in whatever we do, be it in retailing, property development, manufacturing – we have always presented ourselves as a business that is admired.
“Tonight’s award and recognition reaches the very pinnacle of all awards and accolades we have received and we are indeed most grateful.
“We also share this award with our local and international partners – with AFL, with Tokatoka Nadrau Holding Trust, with Colonial, with Sony, Kraft, Twinings, Bushells, Unilever, Chanel, Seiko, Rolex, Omega, Pure Fiji, J. Hunter Pearls, ANZ Banking Group and many more.
“More importantly. To receive the award from the Prime Minister I feel a great sense of honour and privilege. With these few words, Vinaka Vakalevu for the award, an evening I shall never forget.”
COMMENT: This is rare recognition indeed for an executive from the duty free industry, whose contribution to the tourism industry is often overlooked. Mahendra Patel, a great gentleman and statesman of this business, thoroughly deserves this recognition and The Moodie Report joins his many industry friends in congratulating him on it.
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