Going the extra mile

KOCHI: It was a big day for Ashokan P, a boat driver at Le Meridien, as he received the 'Unsung Hero Of the Year' award at the prestigious third Hotelier India Award held on December 16 at The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi.With a total of 14 categories, the awards are given to the best performers in the hospitality industry and includes almost every big name in the field.Ashokan was one among the four short-listed nominees and was invited to the award ceremony. The award for 'Unsung Hero' is given to a personnel who goes beyond his/her line of duty in order to do something extra for their hotel or a guest or a fellow colleague in the course of the year.On March 19, earlier this year, it was around half past one when Ashokan, along with two housekeeping staff Jithu S Nair & Sijo of Le Méridien Kochi, were returning to the tower wing of the hotel situated across a backwater away from the main building, in the hotel boat. About half way through the journey, Ashokan heard loud wailing sounds and cry for help from a distance.He looked around and saw people gathered at the public boat jetty across the backwater, where local people take ferry services to the mainland. They were shocked to see a collapsed capsized boat in water with around 25 people drowning in the water. Ashokan quickly sped the boat towards the capsized boat, and he and the two other associates onboard threw the life jackets and lifebuoy available in the hotel boat into the water for the victims to grab. An elderly lady and a teenager grabbed the life buoy and Ashokan and team quickly pulled them into the boat. Some passengers grabbed the life jackets and managed not only to save themselves but also helped six others drowning in water. By then some local people had also reached the site and started helping the victims. Later, the police and fire department arrived and joined in the operation. While 25 people were saved, unfortunately a four year old child did not make it. Ashokan was glad to receive the award and said,“I am extremely happy, the award does not belong to me alone but to the entire hotel”  “Good things come back and this is a proud moment for us,” says Rajesh Madan, General Manager, Le Méridien Kochi. According to Le Meridien, Kochi, Ashokan's show of courage didn't come as a surprise to anyone at the hotel. "A proactive person, Ashokan has always been known to go that extra mile towards providing service to the guests. Whether loading and unloading luggage on the boat, or giving his hand to an elderly guest, making sure they are seated safely before the journey begins, Ashokan's gestures embody the  spirit of true hospitality," adds Madan.