Part of Taj hotel to reopen before Christmas

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CNN

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, the landmark hotel that withstood three days of bombings, grenade blasts, gunfire and fires when a group of terrorists seized it last month, is slated to reopen many of its rooms before Christmas.

"We dedicate our reopening to the city of Mumbai as affirmation of the values of courage, resilience and dignity," said Raymond Bickson, managing director and CEO of The Indian Hotels Company Limited.

The reopening will take place December 21 at 7 p.m.

"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," he said in a written statement. "In their honor, the Taj will shine again in all its brilliance."

A spokesman for the 565-room hotel, who would not identify himself, told CNN that only the 200-plus rooms in the tower -- which was built in 1973 -- would open on December 21; those in the older palace section will not be ready for occupancy until some time next year.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/13/india.taj/index.html

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I was totally amazed watching the fires how well that hotel resisted the flames. Must be some amazing building. Here it seems apartment buildings and hotels built in last couple of decades are completely destroyed. We had a Comfort Inn burn in our area today and its a total loss.