Tata group's marquee Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi is celebrating the homecoming of India by launching a new suite called 'The Maharaja Suite, a tribute to the famous mascot of the airline.
The 132-sq. mt. 'Maharaja Suite' was launched this week in the presence of Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson, IHCL MD & CEO Puneet Chhatwal, and Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan.
A journey through time, 'The Maharaja Suite', offers a uniquely themed master bedroom, dining room, an enclosed balcony lounge, and a study paying homage to Air India, the pioneer of Indian aviation.
The luxury suite has specially-commissioned furniture and artworks. The Maharaja’s distinctive moustache takes centre stage in the upholstery and aviation aesthetics in the airplane-styled windows, lounge chair, luggage elements, and the deep red in the doors and ceiling.
The Maharaja Suite's marble bath has a deep-island tub overlooking a TV. The suite, decorated in bespoke wallpaper, has its own personal butler and has been designed by Delhi-based design firm Bobby Mukherjee and Associates. The suite can be booked through the Taj Hotels website, and the approximate price per night is Rs 7 lakh.
“The iconic Maharaja is a proud part of Air India’s long legacy, and we are delighted that Taj is celebrating it through The Maharaja Suite at Taj Mahal, New Delhi. It will stand as a strong reminder of Air India’s history even as we transform the airline to become, once again, amongst the best in the world,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India.
Back in 1938, when Tata Airlines (now Air India) began to fly, marketing wizard Bobby Kooka joined the team. Working along with Umesh Rao of J. Walter Thomson, the advertising agency, Kooka created the mascot with a round face, an outsized moustache, striped turban, and a long, sharp nose. The icon is loved by many till date.
JRD Tata once narrated the tale of how he first met Bobby Kooka. "On that fateful day in May, Mr. Kooka appeared in my office and having pointed out the deficiencies in the Tata Organisation, explained how badly needed he was in Tatas to put them right…. I decided that if there was any place for him in Tatas, it could only be in Tata Airlines," Tata had said.
After initially serving as the Secretary of Tata Airlines, Bobby Kooka decided to give the brand a human face. That's how the mascot 'Maharaja' came into being. While describing the Maharaja, Kooka had said, “We call him a Maharaja for want of a better description. But his blood isn’t blue. He might look like royalty, but he isn’t royal.”
Taj Hotels is a chain of luxury hotels and a subsidiary of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), headquartered in Mumbai, India. Incorporated by Jamsetji Tata in 1902, the company is a part of the Tata Group.
Through brands like Taj, Vivanta, SeleQtions, and Ginger, Indian Hotels (IHCL) has a diversified position in the hotel industry with an inventory of 20,826 rooms. The company also has a limited presence in the luxury market through owned or managed properties in the US, the UK, Africa, the UAE, and the Maldives.
The extensive reach of IHCL now extends to 31 Indian states and union territories. Over the past five years, Taj has more than doubled its room inventory, reaching a portfolio of 100 hotels. The IHCL portfolio now totals over 260 hotels after a record-breaking 36 hotels were signed in FY 2022-2023