Heritage wing of Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai to open next month

According to a report by Tejeesh N S Behlin of Mint, Indian Hotels Co Ltd, owner of the Taj chain of premium hotels is ramping up its business, opening hotels in countries such as Mexico, Morocco and other overseas markets, as it prepares for the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on its flagship Mumbai property. The chain, which went into a cost cutting drive following the slowdown and the closure of Mumbai's iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, extensively damaged in the November 26, 2008 attack, is reviewing its freeze on recruitment, replacement hiring and salary increments that were to last until March 2010. It will also partially open the heritage wing of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel a day before the anniversary of the attack.

“We are opening a hotel each in the British Virgin islands and Mexico while our Cape Town hotel will open in December 2009. Another two are underway in Morocco,” said Raymond N Bickson, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Indian Hotels. India's largest hospitality chain, 25 per cent of whose revenue accrues from its international operations,