Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is a worldwide chain of hotels and resorts. A part of the
Tata Group, one of
India's largest business conglomerates, Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces own and operate 76 hotels, 7 palaces, 6 private islands and 12 resorts and spas, spanning 52 destinations in 12 countries across 5 continents and employ over 13000 people . Besides India, Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces are located in the
United States of America,
England,
Africa, the
UAE,
Maldives,
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
Düsseldorf 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
India.
List of Taj Hotels by city