Company Background - Indian Hotels

Jamsetji N Tata initiated an element of Tata group; The Indian Hotels Company Limited was incorporated in the year of 1902. The company and its subordinates are communally known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, is one of Asia's prime and most excellent hotel company in hospitality sector. The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay was started in the year 1903, which was the company's first property. IHCL covers 52 Destinations, 12 Countries, 5 Continents, 77 Hotels, 7 Authentic Palaces, 12 Resorts & SPAs, 3 Personal Jets and Luxury Yachts out of this the company have 17 international hotels in the Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. Business divisions of the company are divided into three categories, the Luxury Division, Business Hotel Division and Leisure Division. The Taj played an important role in launching several of India's key tourist destinations. An innovator in dining, Taj was the first to introduce Sichuan, Thai, Italian, Mexican, and Californian cuisine into the country.

As early as 1974, the Taj opened India's first international beach resort-Fort Aguada Beach Resort in Goa. During the period 1978-82: Taj launched in Delhi with its luxury hotel - Taj Mahal Hotel and then prepared India for the Asian Games by setting up Taj Palace, Delhi with the largest convention centre in the country. In the year of 1982, Taj ascertained an attendance in the Western Hemisphere with the historic St. James Court Hotel near Buckingham Palace, London. Well before these destinations became world renown for their beauty, Taj expanded to Kerala and Sri Lanka during 1984-92. In the year 2000, fused its position as the largest chain in India with hotels in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, the latter city being a joint venture by the way of GVK Hotels resulted in a dominant position in the market for premium and luxury hotel rooms. In 2001-02, the company hived off its air catering business to a new joint venture company namely Taj SATS Air Catering by relationship with Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS). As on 2002 the new Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives, within six months of its launch, was awarded the title of "The Best Resort in the World" in the first ever Harpers and Queen Travel Awards and in September of the same year the company along with ICICI Trustee Services (I-Ventures) has acquired Lokhandwala Hotel's (LHL), Regent Hotel at Bandra in Mumbai for a total consideration of Rs 452 crore.

The company has originated Taj Wellingtone Mews Luxury Residences located in Mumbai with 80 serviced apartments in the year 2004, in same year the company has launched 'Smart Basics' concept, indiOne, at Bangalore through Roots Corporation Ltd, its wholly owned subsidiary and also launched its exclusively developed two brands viz the high end 'Jiva Grande Spa' and the smaller `Jiva Spa' traditional Indian ayurvedic & yogic systems, set in internationally contemporary ambience. During the year 2005-06 IHCL entered into its third marketing alliance. The first such alliance was occurred with Raffles Hotels and Resorts encompassing 14 Taj Luxury Hotels and 15 Raffle Hotels. The second alliances were made with Shilla Hotels and Resorts, Korea and the third marketing alliance was made with Silversea Cruises, European Cruise Company in the year 2006-07, also the company tied up with Qantas Airline for frequent flier loyalty program. The Taj brand campaign was launched in the US market in January 2007, the campaign has two distinct elements namely the `Perspectives' and the `Portraits'.

Asia Pacific Hotels Ltd, Taj Lands End Ltd (subsidiary) and Indian Resorts Hotels Ltd, Gateway Hotels & Gateway Resorts Ltd, Kuteeram Resorts Private Ltd (associates) were merged with the company. IHCL acquired the erstwhile Ritz Carlton, Boston through an outright purchase and completed the acquisition of the Campton Place Hotel in San Francisco in April 2007. The company concentrates on its expansion of field; hence its key projects in different areas are budding in speedy. Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces Winner of the Selling Long Haul Travel Awards 2007, Indian Hotels Company Ltd received the CNBC TV 18 International Travel Award for the Outstanding Exporter of the Year 2007, in the Travel Tourism & Hospitality Category and also Winner of the inaugural 'Genius of the Web 2007' award given by CNBC-Web 18 in association with Frost & Sullivan for the Best Hotel Website in India. In the year 2008, Taj West End awarded best eco- friendly hotel by the department of tourism, Taj Residency was awarded the best hotel in the five-star category, being the highest foreign exchange earner in the country with the maximum number of tourist arrivals and the Gateway hotel on Residency Road was awarded the best hotel in the four star category.

IHCL plans to integrate environment management in all its business areas as a part of EARTH (Environment Awareness and Renewal at Taj Hotels). EARTH is a company-wide movement to reinstate its vision and efforts on environment management in all its hotels.