http://www.famoushotels.org/article/765
"I still remember a Japanese Zero fighter grounding in front of the hotel!" recalls Kuttan. Since 1942 he is doorman (he had started as a bell boy) of the Galle Face Hotel in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. Octogenarian Kottarapattu Chatthu Kuttan is undoubtedly one of the oldest serving employees in the hospitality industry in the world. Born in 1920, Kuttan has served the Galle Face Hotel loyally and diligently since the days of the British Raj and - in 2008 - he had completed his 66th year at the hotel.
Kuttan when recalling his memories as a waiter said he had served dignitaries like Lord Mountbatten, Princess Elizabeth, Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru, Gandhi and Arthur C. Clarke. His pay back then was twenty five rupees, "My Chairman was paid Rs.1500 at the time and the two chefs were paid Rs. 500 rupees."
Kuttan has been an usher since the and his face hamid 1990s and appeared in the international as a symbol of the Galle Face Hotel. Kuttan’s humble greetings, broad smile the characteristic moustache make him a personality you cannot forget.
Kuttan works only in the mornings due to his ill health, after walking a mile to get to the hotel. Although presently Kuttans presence is only felt during the mornings, he may appear for an occasional evening party on the chairman’s requst.
There is no guest who has visited the hotel and left without posing for a photograph with him and Kuttan’s photograph and the story has appeared in world’s leading travel magazines and journals and he virtually became a newsmaker overnight and brought a lot of publicity for the hotel and the country he pointed out.
