Taj Residency, Bangalore now in a new, contemporary avataar
November 3, 2005

Unveils its new-look lobby and a plush new bar

In keeping with the changing needs and lifestyles of its discerning guests, the Taj Business Hotels are consistently rolling out enhanced product offerings across its hotels, witnessing a new Spirit Of Change. Setting a precedent for top-end business hotels in the city, the Taj Residency, Bangalore now wears a fresh new look with a refurbished lobby and a brand new bar.

"The Taj Residency, Bangalore has set the standard of excellence in this key gateway city of India for two decades," said Jyoti Narang, chief operating officer, Taj Business Hotels. "The renovations were undertaken after extensive research and reflect the changing needs and lifestyles of our guests. With the newly refurbished lobby a plush new bar, and the recently renovated rooms and banquet facilities, we will be offering our guests a whole new experience, making Taj Residency, Bangalore the preferred choice for the business travelers."

The new lobby at the Taj Residency, Bangalore conveys a warm welcome, through the introduction of wood column casings washed in light, new golden stone flooring and select use of area rugs and contemporary window treatments.

The changes are evident the moment guests step out of their car in the porch: a new water feature adorns the entrance to the hotel. The fountain is an extended pyramidal design with low bubbling geysers and internal lighting adding both sparkle and sound, masking the noise of the bustling world outside.

The past and the present meet the horizon right behind the front desk in the lobby of the Taj Residency, Bangalore. The select use of a few stone relief sculptures of scenes from the "Ramayana" are displayed behind the very modern front desk. The overall feeling of the lobby is a contemporary, yet comfortable space, where the spirit of hospitality is the most important element.

The Taj Residency, Bangalore also unveils a smart, hip, high-energy lobby bar, ICE. The concept of ICE uses elements of Indra, the God of storm and rain.

The bar is replete with allusions to lightning, starlight, wind and rain through the use of fiber optic "lightning", a portion of "starlight" ceiling, and "light curtains" abstracting rain as a backdrop to some of the corner banquettes. The dynamic elliptical shape of the bar itself is evocative of the eye of the storm and features cold cathode lightning accents, backlit art glass shelving for liquor display, and water elements adding an aural and visual impact.

Taking the Indra theme further, the design alludes to clouds - utilising fabric draped over steel tubing to create billowy cloud light features that attract the eye. The overall effect of ICE is a great gathering place celebrating the forces of nature and creating a highly charged, high-energy environment for its patrons.

ICE is manned by a world-renowned barman Giancarlo Mancino who has earlier worked at The Ritz, Paris; St. Regis Grand, Rome and The Lanesborough, London. Crowned with the "Bond Barman 2004 award". Giancarlo is known to whip up a fine selection of contemporary and extravagant drinks. Apart from the classics, ICE has its own signature line of drinks and a fine selection of liquors including aged malts, cognacs and cuban cigars. Eats at Ice are an eclectic and contemporary choice of tapas, tempura and other innovative options.

Enhancing the experience of an elegant stay at Taj Residency, Bangalore are the recently renovated guestrooms, that provide options for entertainment and create an ambience that allows guests to relax and de-stress. Banqueting has taken on a whole new meaning at the hotel, with the recently renovated banquet facilities offering a host of innovative cuisine, inbuilt technology and multipurpose lighting.

Concept 4 Inc., an internationally renowned award winning American interior design firm that has designed hotels for virtually every major operator in the world, is responsible for the whole new look of Taj Residency, Bangalore.

Under the new Spirit of Change being rolled out across the Taj Business Hotels, the Taj Residency, Bangalore was the first hotel to receive a makeover. The hotel's renovated banquet facilities were launched in early November 2003, while the 40 renovated guestrooms were launched in early December 2003. The Taj President, Mumbai launched its new banquet facilities by mid November 2003, which was followed by the opening of 61 rooms at Taj Connemara, Chennai in end January 2004. Early April 2005 saw the opening of the stylish and innovative Pan Asian restaurant 'Hip Asia' and 'Distil' bar at Taj Connemara, Chennai. In June 2005, Taj Business Hotels added a new hotel to its portfolio with the launch of Taj Chandigarh. Recently, Taj Business Hotels announced its plans to develop a new Taj Business Hotel in Coimbatore, the second biggest city of Tamil Nadu. And now, the Taj Residency, Bangalore unveils its newly refurbished lobby and restaurant, and the brand new 'ICE' bar.