Taj reopens on Sunday
MUMBAI – The 105-year-old Taj Mahal hotel, one of two luxury hotels hit by terrorists in the Mumbai attacks, will reopen on Sunday evening.
However, only the newer Tower rooms and suites will re-open – along with several of the hotel’s restaurants – on Sunday.
The iconic older part of the Taj is still under repair after gunmen took scores of guests hostage and battled commandos during a 60-hour siege.
"To reopen the Taj with such speed but with no loss of attention to details, shows our resolve to commemorate all the innocent and brave people who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks," said Raymond Bickson, chief executive of The Indian Hotels Company, part of Tata.
The Taj was one of 10 sites attacked by the gunmen on November 26-29.
Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Group, which also owns several heritage properties in India, has vowed to "rebuild every inch" and "bring back the Taj to its full glory."
Mumbai’s luxury Trident hotel that was also attacked by the gunmen will also reopen on Sunday. However, the Trident’s older Oberoi wing that suffered extensive damage may not reopen for several months.
"We have got communication through e-mail from customers around the world confirming their presence on the day of the opening," SS Mukherji, vice chairman of Trident owner East India Hotels, told Indian business journal Business Standard.
"We are not expecting a great occupancy on Sunday [Dec. 21] but we should be able to do 25-30 percent."
Ian Jarrett
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