City-based hotelier K.V. Gopala Rao died here on Thursday owing to ill health. He was 86.
Gopala Rao is popular for establishing Hotel Durga Bhavan, said to be the first hotel of the city, opposite the Old Bus Stand in 1957. He later established Hotel Mamatha near the same location in 1968 and Hotel Krishna Residency in Governorpet later.
Rao served as an executive committee member of the Federation of Indian Hotels Association and also president of A.P. Hotel Owners’ Association.
Later, he became the governor of Rotary District 3020 and focussed on service since then.
Homage
Hotel owners and members of Vijayawada Hotels Association paid homage to Rao at his home.
Rao is survived by a son and four daughters.
