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[3]. 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[3].
The Oberoi Group has been acknowledged as one of the best hotel groups in the world. The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambore has been ranked the world's best hotel by Travel and Leisure Readers Poll for 2010. In addition to this, The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra has been ranked the fifth best in the world, The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur is ranked the thirteenth best in the world and The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur has been ranked the fifteenth best hotel in the world. The same poll ranks them as the top 4 hotels in Asia. Oberoi Hotels and Resorts has been ranked as the Best Hotel Chain outside United States of America in 2007 and the Best Hotel Chain outside the United Kingdom in 2008. Trident Hotels have been ranked the ‘Best First Class Hotel Brand’ at the