Evolve Back Resorts Named ‘Best Hotel Chain’ at Inaugural Karnataka Tourism Awards 2026
Evolve Back, an Indian luxury resort chain, has been recognised as the ‘Best Hotel Chain’ at the inaugural Karnataka Tourism Awards 2026, instituted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, in association with the Karnataka Tourism Society. The awards, held on World Tourism Day at the Bangalore Palace Grounds, recognised 42 stakeholders from across Karnataka’s tourism ecosystem, including hotels, resorts, tour operators, guides, naturalists, content creators, startups and tourism institutions.
The inaugural Karnataka Tourism Awards received more than 175 entries across 35 categories, recognising enterprises and individuals contributing to the growth and development of tourism across the state. Mr Thomas E Ramapuram, Director; Mrs Tessa Thomas Ramapuram, Manager – HR; and Mr Thomas Paul, Vice President Designate, received the award on behalf of Evolve Back from the Hon. Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr D. K. Shivakumar.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar said, “Our state’s tourism strength is powered by the resilience and passion of our private trade community. To further elevate our global footprint, the government is committed to building world-class infrastructure, including plans to construct a grand ‘Karnataka Mandapa’ modeled after the Bharat Mandapam. Through these strategic investments and the maiden Karnataka Tourism Awards, we are ensuring that our tourism ecosystem receives the scale of recognition and growth it truly deserves.”
Thanking the organisers for the recognition, Thomas E Ramapuram, Director, said, “We are honoured to receive the Best Hotel Chain award at the first Karnataka Tourism Awards. For us, hospitality has always been closely connected to the character of the places we are fortunate to operate in. Coorg, Kabini and Hampi each have a distinct landscape, history and culture, and that sense of place is central to how we welcome our guests. To have this approach recognised at the state’s inaugural tourism awards is particularly meaningful, and we are grateful to the Department of Tourism and the Karnataka Tourism Society for this recognition.”
Tourism Minister Shri K.J. George Ji said, “To make Karnataka’s tourism more inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready, we must actively leverage artificial intelligence and cutting-edge digital technologies. From smart booking engines to AI-driven heritage interpretation and digital marketing tools, our operators are setting new benchmarks. The Karnataka Tourism Awards celebrate these exact innovators who are modernizing the traveler’s journey across our 31 districts.”
Shri K. Syama Raju, President of the Karnataka Tourism Society, said, “For more than six years, stakeholders across Karnataka’s travel and hospitality sector have requested a dedicated platform to recognize excellence. Seeing this long-felt need become a reality in partnership with the Department of Tourism is immensely gratifying. With more than 175 entries evaluated across 35 categories in this maiden edition, the overwhelming response proves that our industry was ready and eager for this benchmark. We look forward to institutionalizing these awards annually to continuously elevate service standards and hospitality quality across Karnataka.”
The recognition holds particular significance for Evolve Back, whose roots and primary presence are in the state, with properties in Coorg, Kabini and Hampi each offering a distinct expression of its destination. United by Evolve Back’s ‘Spirit of the Land’ philosophy, the resorts draw on the character, landscape, heritage and communities around them to shape their architecture, experiences and approach to hospitality. From the coffee estates and Kodava traditions of Coorg, to the forests and indigenous communities of Kabini, and the rich heritage of Hampi, each property offers travellers a different way to connect with the land and its stories.
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