Fiji hotel and business mogul Y.P. Reddy dies, aged 89

The Fiji diaspora are this week mourning the loss of one of its most influential visionaries, Yanktesh Permal Reddy, commonly known as Y.P. Reddy.

Reddy died in Auckland on the 4th of January at the age of 89.

Speaking at the memorial service, Fiji's deputy Prime Minister Bill Gavoka described him as a “pioneer in an industry that is pivotal to the economies of the Pacific”.

“In 1965, he launched Reddy Enterprises Limited to invest in tourism, becoming one of the local pioneers of an industry that is so important to our economy today.

“The Tanoa Group acquired other hotels from the 1960s to the early 1990s. The Reddy Group continues to invest and contribute immensely to Fiji and the Pacific.”

The Reddy Group began in 1947 as a construction company in Fiji, which later expanded to four major investment groups operating in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Pacific region with more than 2,000 employees.

One of those business interests includes the Tanoa International Group, a chain of eight hotels across Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

The Tanoa Dateline Hotel in Tonga is one of Reddy's hotels across the Pacific. Photo/Matangi Tonga

The Reddy Group is now managed by his children, Rohit and Kamini, along with Sandra Reddy.

Reddy also delved into politics, chairing the National Federation Party’s management board from 1992-1999, while Fiji’s 1997 Constitution was being established.

Fiji’s deputy prime minister Biman Prasad paid tribute in a social media post.

“Y. P. Reddy was not only a leading figure in the tourist industry as well as a philanthropist renowned for his social and charitable work, but a man who was principled and championed the rule of law and democracy at all times.”

Prasad says Reddy’s views helped shape NFP policies on tourism, trade, industry and commerce, such as free bus fares for school students.

“Reddy had great understanding of the lives of farmers, the working class and those struggling to make ends meet.

“His views and close interactions with ordinary people also contributed towards the development of the party’s policies on the sugar industry, increasing employment opportunities and relief for people especially those living in poverty or on the margins of poverty.”

Philanthropic work and recognitions

Reddy also led the Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Sangam organisation for 23 years as it evolved into Fiji’s largest cultural organisation, and was a prominent stakeholder in the education sector.

In New Zealand, the Reddy Foundation supports organisations like BBM Buttabean Motivation, family harm prevention service Gandhi Nivas and the Breast Cancer Foundation.

In 1973, Reddy received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) and The Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF) in 1995.

Reddy is a life member of the Fiji Hotel Association and in 2000, received the lifetime achievement in excellence award for tourism in Fiji.