Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is introducing high-definition videoconferencing facilities at five of its properties, allowing meeting planners to organize virtual live meetings across multiple locations. Cutting down on travel for attendees, videoconferencing is a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option to bring people together than traditional face-to-face meetings.
The Cisco TelePresence rooms will be available at the Pierre, NY in early 2009 and will launch at the following hotels in the next few months: Taj Boston; Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Mumbai; Taj West End, Bangalore; and 51 Buckingham Gate, London. Use of the high-tech rooms will be billed on an hourly basis at these rates: $500, the Pierre and Taj Boston; 20,000 rupees (approximately $473) at Taj Mahal Palace Tower and Taj West End; and 250 pounds (approximately $493) at 51 Buckingham Gate.
"It is our constant endeavor to provide state-of-the-art, value-added services to our customers," said Raymond Bickson, managing director of Taj. "With the TelePresence facility, we will be one of the first hospitality companies worldwide to offer this kind of cutting-edge technology."
Taj is comprised of 61 hotels in 42 locations across India, with another 16 properties spread across the United States, the United Kingdom, the Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, Australia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa, and the Middle East. The company is part of Tata Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates.
Originally published Sept. 8, 2008