When terror struck 18 months earlier, the 107-year-old heritage wing, also known as the Palace wing, of the Taj Mahal Hotel here looked like a war-ravaged zone. All that looked like a distant memory today, as a cascade of red rose petals, cheers and loud applause heralded the hotel’s full reopening.
So, when Tata Sons’ chairman, Ratan Tata, posed with staff on the grand cantilever staircase under the hotel’s iconic red dome, which caught fire during the three-day siege, the symbolism touched many hearts. Mumbai had, indeed, beaten the terrorists, hands down.
“This is a very special occasion. This company and this flagship property, this honourable old lady, is going to reopen in the splendour it has enjoyed for over a century,” Tata told employees looking over the wrought-iron balustrades.
Older than the Gateway of India overlooking the Mumbai harbour, the Palace wing of the hotel will be reopening on Independence Day. The modern Tower wing of the Taj reopened within a month of the attacks.
An extensive restoration by acclaimed designers from around the world such as Lissoni Associati of Milan, BAMO of San Francisco, DesignWilkes of Malaysia and James Park Associates, Singapore, was carried out. The restoration cost Rs 175 crore, while the insurance settlement amount received for loss of property and property restoration was Rs 180 crore.
The hotel is also trying to win its guests back with offers galore. It is offering a complimentary night for every one spent in its suites and a third night free for every two nights at the Luxury Grande rooms in the restored wing, along with special rates to guests who would like to stay for three nights or above.
Indian Hotels MD Raymond Bickson said: “The foundation of the building, though more than 100 years old, withstood the attack quite well. Some of the walls are up to two feet thick. We remain deeply committed to the security of our guests and have deployed visible and invisible measures, which can’t be shared for security reasons.”
Bickson said the occupancy rate has been 70 per cent, and the settlement amount for loss of profit is still under discussion with insurance companies.
While the thrust has been on retaining and restoring the original glamour of the rooms with a contemporary feel, technology additions have made life much simpler for guests. With light dimmers and reading lights in place and TV screens in the bathrooms, the restoration has moved ahead with the times, while keeping the technology simple.
