Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces have 51 award-winning properties in 36 locations throughout India and an additional ll properties in nine key international destinations outside of India. There are four main divisions of Taj hotels, each marketing to a particular niche. These are The Luxury Hotels, Taj Business Hotels, Taj Leisure Hotels and the Taj International Hotels & Resorts. 

The Taj Luxury Hotels division targets the CEOs and political leaders of the world and has a luxury hotel portfolio that represents 70% of the profit of the entire Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces company.  The Luxury Hotels include seven current properties (Bombay, two in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad) plus one new property with the recent acquisition of Taj Lands End Bombay (formerly The Regent of Bombay). Mr. Bickson will be charged with overseeing the operations of these luxury properties and will be key to the expansion of future hotels.

Taj is India�s oldest and most distinguished hotel group, with 7,477 rooms, making it one of the world�s largest hotel chains.  Its properties reflect the Taj commitment to providing a living heritage of the culture of India and houses one of the world�s largest collection of Indian art and antiques.  The company is owned by The Tata Group, India�s revered Industrial congolmerate.

Raymond Bickson Background

Since January 1988, Raymond Bickson has been general manager of The Mark, New York, formerly the New York flagship of The Rafael Group Hoteliers and now owned by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.  Mr. Bickson has extensive language, managerial and hotelier skills, acquired after nearly thirty years in various luxury hotels throughout Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. 

After earning his stripes in the kitchens of the Berlin Hilton circa 1973, Mr. Bickson ventured on to work in some of the world�s most exotic locations before calling New York home.  The Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris, the Montreux Palace in Switzerland, and the Kahala Hilton in Honolulu were his first stops after Germany.  In 1977, Mr. Bickson joined Regent International Hotels as an assistant guest services manager for the luxury Cerromar Beach Hotel in Dorado, Puerto Rico. 

In 1978 Mr. Bickson returned to the Kahala Hilton, then rejoined Regent International Hotels for an eight-year stint.  In 1979 he opened The Mayfair Regent in New York City and became the assistant general manager.  In 1981 he was resident manager for The Mayfair Regent Hotel in Chicago, and in 1984 Mr. Bickson transferred to Australia as the executive assistant manager for The Regent of Melbourne. 

Prior to joining The Mark in 1988, he was the project manager in China for Regent International Hotels and chief consultant for the restoration of the historic Cathay Hotel and Palace Hotel (now known as The Peace Hotel) in Shanghai.He is a member of the Executive Committee of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. 

Mr. Bickson studied at the Goethe Institute in Berlin, the Alliance Française in Paris, the Université de Sorbonne in Paris, L�École Hôtelière Lausanne, and Cornell University in New York.  His education encompasses languages, French culture, hotel services, cooking, and financial management.  He is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in Boston.

Mr. Bickson was voted one of the Top 10 Best Hotel Managers by Leaders Magazine in 1997, 2000, 2001 and Best Hotel General Manager by Gallivanter�s Guide in 2000. He was nominated for the 2002 Independent Hotelier of the World award by Hotels Magazine.