Type Public Founded 1903 Headquarters Mumbai, India Key people Ratan Tata, Raymond Bickson Industry Luxury Hospitality Products Luxury Hotels, Palaces, Resorts and Spas, Luxury Residences Website http://www.tajhotels.com/

Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is a worldwide chain of luxury hotels and resorts. The Indian Hotels Company Limited[1] and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. A part of the Tata Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates, Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces comprises 77 hotels, 7 palaces, 6 private islands and 12 resorts and spas, spanning 52 destinations in 12 countries across 5 continents. Besides India, Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces are located in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Africa, the Middle East, Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Australia. Jamshetji Nusserwanji Tata, founder of the Tata Group, opened the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, the first Taj property, on December 16, 1903. He was inspired to open the grand luxury hotel after an incident involving racial discrimination at the Watson's Hotel in Mumbai, where he was refused entry as the hotel did not permit Indians. Hotels which accepted only European guests were common across British India. Jamsetji Tata traveled to London, Paris, Berlin and Dusseldorf to get the best materials and pieces of art, furniture and interior artifacts for his hotel. Due to its prime location, traditional architecture and massive size, this hotel soon gained the status of the most iconic hotel in Bombay (Mumbai).