French Government’s distinction Officer de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole (Officer of the Order of Agricultural Merit) conferred on the General Manager of Hotel Yak & Yeti, Philippe Belhay.

The French government bestowed the distinction of Officier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole on Philippe Belhay, General Manager of Hotel Yak & Yeti for his contribution to the development of the French gastronomy.

 On behalf of the French Minister for Agriculture, the distinction was conferred upon Belhay by Yves Carmona, French Ambassador to Nepal.

 According to a press release issued by French Embassy, Belhay is a seasoned hotelier with experiences in managing hotels in Qatar, UK, France, Tunisia, India, China and Nepal.  Belhya has been educated in the United Kingdom, Germany and France and speaks English, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

Belhay has been the foremost promoter of the project Goût de France / Good France in Nepal since its inception in 2015.

Hotel Yak & Yeti, under Belhay's management, has achieved the International award from World Luxury Hotel Awards, "Global Winner Luxury Historical Hotel" and "Luxury Historical Hotel Country Winner – Nepal in 2015 and 2016 respectively. 

 About the distinction

The French government confers several distinctions in recognition of merit in various fields.  Among these, Le Mérite agricole was instituted on 7th July 1883 by the then Minister for Agriculture Jules Méline in recognition of services rendered to agriculture.