Wah......Taj........Wah.........

I was at work when news about the terrorist attacks in Mumbai flashed on our TV screen. Since then, we’ve received a number of news stories about these attacks. A lot of stories provided us details on places attacked, number of causalities and plight of foreign tourists. Some stories were even speculating the whereabouts of these terrorists.

However, what caught my eye was the stories from eyewitnesses at the Taj Hotel. Through their eyes, I saw a sense of urgency displayed in the Taj employees during the crisis. These courageous staff members showed leadership amid gun fires and possibly saved over hundreds of lives. In one event, they escorted over two hundred guests to a “Chamber” hall and later safely evacuated them from the Taj premises. The staff also called their guests in their hotel rooms following the attacks and instructed them to lock their doors, turn-off lights and wait for security guards.

While some might argue this type of treatment is expected from any well respected five-star hotel, I want to emphasize that the Taj employees’ audacious attempts to go above and beyond the call of duty in the wake of terror were truly remarkable. I am truly impressed.