Taj, Trident flooded with reservation requests
Hotels lining up special menus, Taj to use Jaguar cars for guest
transfers.
The Trident and Taj Mahal Palace and Tower said they have been
flooded with requests for reservations at their restaurants when they reopen
December 21, almost a month after the terrorist attacks on these landmark hotels
destroyed significant portions of both buildings.
"Considering the kind
of response we have seen ever since we opened reservations we are expecting the
restaurants to be packed on reopening day,’’ an official of East India Hotels
(EIH) said, declining to be identified. “It will be difficult to share the exact
details about the number of people who have booked so far but we are sure that
it will be a full-house."
EIH is the holding company of Trident and
Oberoi hotels. The hotel has four restaurants — Frangipani, India Jones, Opium
Den and Verandah. "Our guests have been asking for reservations at our
restaurants till December 31," added the official.Meanwhile, Taj
officials today said the tower wing of the Taj — or the “new wing” — will open
The Zodiac Grill, Souk, Masala Kraft, Aquarius, Shamiana, Starboard and La
Patisserie on December 21 at 7.30 in the evening.
The iconic Taj Heritage
– commonly known as the “old wing” — bore the brunt of the terrorist attacks and
will be closed for renovation for some more time.One or more restaurants
will have special menus on that day, a Taj food and beverages (F&B)
executive said.
Taj is also making special transport arrangements for
guests to arrive and depart from the hotel. The Tata-owned property will add two
Jaguars to its fleet for guest transfers.
According to estimates, F&B
accounts for more than half the revenues of the Taj Mahal and Trident
revenues."We do not see revenue from the food and beverage segment going
down despite the risk factor. We are already into the peak holiday season when
business generally booms for hoteliers,” said Harleen Babber, research
associate, Almondz Research.
“We see this trend being extended beyond
December 31 till March-April next year," Babber added.Even as last month’s
three-day terrorist attacks severely impacted the day-to-day business of most
hotels in Mumbai, the management at Trident expects occupancy levels of 25 to 30
per cent on reopening day. Both Taj and Trident are offering discounts on room
tariffs in an effort to attract guests.
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