New look, new name

Twenty-one months after 26/11, the heritage palace wing of the Taj Mahal hotel will reopen to guests again in a couple of days with a new name, The Taj Mahal Palace.

Twenty-one months after 26/11, the heritage palace wing of the Taj Mahal hotel will reopen to guests again in a couple of days with a new name, The Taj Mahal Palace.

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On August 15, the country's first luxury hotel will reopen with 285 rooms, 19 themed suites, said Raymond Bickson,

managing director of the Indian Hotels Company Ltd, at a press conference on Thursday that the new name would apply collectively to both the Palace and Tower wings of the hotel.

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata arrived briefly at the press conference to address members of the staff, who assembled along the banisters of the grand staircase beneath the dome to take an oath of courage and shower rose petals on him.

"This is a very special occasion for this company as this memorable old lady is going to reopen the splendour it has upheld for a century," said Tata.

The newly restored Taj will include two suites that will be launched at the end of September — the Ravi Shankar suite where George Harrison had taken sitar lessons from the Indian maestro, and the 5,000 sq ft Tata suite.

The hotel will also now offer private butler services to all guests in the Palace wing.

Anil Goel, executive director of finance for the group,

said that the Taj spent a total of Rs 175 crore for restoration work. They have filed an insurance claim of Rs 180 crore towards loss of property covering a period of 12 months since the attack, and have absorbed the losses faced in the seven additional months they have taken to restore.

"We are flooded with inquiries for bookings from all old guests and customers, including many who were present in the hotel during the attack," said Ajoy Misra, senior vice president, sales and marketing.