Tag: Taj

Business

IHCL Makes History with India’s First Sound Mark Registration for Iconic Taj Brand

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Business Desk

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has achieved a historic first by securing trademark registration for the Taj sonic sound, making it the first sound mark registered in the Indian hospitality sector. This milestone marks a significant evolution in how hospitality brands protect and express their identity.

Commenting on the development, Rajendra Misra, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, IHCL, said that being recognised as the world’s strongest hotel brand comes with the responsibility to lead in all facets, including brand equity protection. He added that the sound mark registration reinforces IHCL’s pioneering role in intellectual property and aligns with the evolving ways in which guests engage with brands.

The registration legally protects Taj’s distinctive sonic identity, recognising sound as a core brand asset. In today’s experience-driven marketplace, sonic branding plays a critical role in shaping emotional memory, strengthening recall, and building trust beyond visual elements. As hospitality brands move towards immersive, multi-sensory experiences, sound has emerged as a vital touchpoint for emotional connection.

Earlier, Taj had also secured trademark protection for the three-dimensional shape of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay, reflecting a long-standing commitment to safeguarding unique elements of its heritage through progressive intellectual property strategies.

IHCL was represented in this matter by Fidus Law Chambers, led by Managing Partner Shwetasree Majumder, along with Partner Astha Negi and Senior Associate Umang Gola. The achievement further cements IHCL’s position as a leader in innovation, legacy protection, and brand stewardship within the Indian hospitality industry.

Business

IHCL Hits 250+ Hotels Milestone with 46 Signings & 26 New Openings in H1 FY2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the country’s leading hospitality player, has delivered a sterling performance in the first half of FY2026—securing 46 new signings and launching 26 hotels across India. Among these are 14 properties added through marketing and distribution partnerships with Brij Hospitality and Clarks Group of Hotels. This growth accelerates IHCL’s trajectory toward its Accelerate 2030 vision and pushes its portfolio past the 250‑hotel mark, with over 25,500 rooms currently in operation in India.

Underlining the growing demand in the mid‑scale to upscale segments, a significant portion of the new signings fall under IHCL’s Gateway, Tree of Life, and Ginger brands. Framework agreements with Ambuja Neotia (for Taj, SeleQtions, Tree of Life) and Madison (for Ginger in South India) further boost the pipeline.

IHCL’s footprint expanded geographically too: new Taj hotels were signed in locations such as Darjeeling, ECR Chennai, Puducherry, Mohali, and even Kruger National Park in South Africa. Meanwhile, new openings and onboarding included Taj properties in Alibaug and Raichak; SeleQtions resorts in Lakshadweep; Vivanta in Thane; a fourth Taj property in Udaipur (Taj Lalit Bagh); Gateway hotels in Coorg and Ahmedabad; a second SeleQtions in Haridwar; and a Ginger in Dehradun.

With over 250 hotels now operating in India and a consistent stream of new projects in the pipeline (totaling 302 globally across 4 continents), IHCL is strongly positioned to lead the next wave of growth in Indian and global hospitality. The company, rooted in the legacy of The Taj Mahal Palace since 1903, continues to blend warm Indian hospitality with world-class service across its brand portfolio including Taj, Claridges Collection, SeleQtions, Tree of Life, Vivanta, Gateway, and Ginger.

Stay tuned as IHCL pushes forward on its mission to create a portfolio of 700 hotels by 2030—bringing new experiences, markets, and stories to life across India and beyond.