Mumbai: The 103-year-old Taj Mahal hotel threw its doors open to a part of its property on Sunday. Its chairman Ratan Tata said the reopening, within a month of the attacks November 26, sends out a strong message to terrorists that their nefarious designs will be defeated.
With prayers on their lips and resolve to fight terrorism in their hearts, guests and staff flocked to two sea-facing hotels — the Trident Hotel and the Taj Mahal hotel — in India's commercial capital that reopened on Sunday, barely three weeks after terrorists ravaged the properties in one of the worst attacks on the country's soil that left nearly 170 dead.
"We dedicate the restored hotel to those who have lost their lives," Taj Hotels group chairman Ratan Tata said shortly before the Tower wing of the iconic hotel was reopened to guests this evening.
Meanwhile, guests started checking in early at the Trident hotel, owned by the Delhi-based Oberoi group, after which an all-religion prayer meeting was organised by the management, attended, among others, by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.
"Thank you for your support" was the first greeting, besides loads of smiles and flowers, offered by Trident to one of its first customers in place of the usual bill as the hotel came back to life.
In the nearby Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, some 1,000 guests and visitors were invited for the re-opening of as many as 268 rooms, including nine suites, as also seven restaurants.
“By reopening the hotel, we have sent a strong message to the terrorists. Taj is the symbol of our tenacity,” said Ratan Tata, the chairman of the $62.5 billion Tata group, India's largest industrial house that manages the hotel.
"Of the 268 rooms in the tower block, 150 have been booked,” said R K Krishna Kumar, vice-president of Indian Hotels, the corporate owners the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, while expecting booking to pick up from New Year.
But the heritage wing of the century-old Taj property, facing the Gateway of India, is likely to take at least a few months to reopen, as will be the case with the Oberoi wing of the Trident, the managements said.
The Oberoi and the heritage building of the Taj were badly affected and experts in structural engineering and architects feel it may take between six-eight months to recommence operations in these wings.
The Oberoi-Trident and the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotels were among more than 10 locations that had been targeted by terrorists November 26, leading to nearly 60 hours of mayhem that killed nearly 170 people in the city.
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