Ratan Tata led the Tata Group and Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. for many years and is remembered
for his principles, his deep sense of duty to others, and his boundless love
for India.
MUMBAI – Legendary Indian business titan and former leader
of the Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. (IHCL) Ratan Tata has died at age 86.
Current IHCL Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal told Hotel
Investment Today, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Ratan Tata.
“A tall leader and a true visionary, his immeasurable
contributions have shaped IHCL, the Tata Group and the nation.
“Under his stewardship, Taj forayed to international shores,
took bold strides in pioneering new destinations and innovative concepts. We
will always be indebted for his leadership.
“I am blessed to have had the privilege of personal
interactions with Mr. Tata, his value-based leadership has left a deep imprint
on me.
“His life exemplified his commitment to the Tata group
values and his legacy will forever continue to inspire and guide us. “
The Tata legacy
Tata was born into one of India’s most prominent
industrial families and was the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, the
founder of Tata Group, one of India’s largest and most respected conglomerates.
He studied in the U.S. at Cornell University and in 1962 joined
the family business, which included India’s first steel plant and its first
luxury hotel business.
He didn’t just set new standards for luxury—he championed the idea that hospitality is about creating experiences that touch people deeply. He created spaces where everyone felt seen, valued, and appreciated. That’s who Ratan Tata was—a man who made sure that kindness and compassion were at the core of everything he did.
Raymond Bickson
He took over as chairman in 1991 and in 2000 acquired British
firm Tetley, owner of one of the largest global tea brands, for $432 million.
Seven years later, Tata Steel prevailed in a $12.1 billion battle for control
of Corus, a British steel company.
Tata retired as group chairman in 2012.
IHCL, with brands that include the iconic Taj, was incorporated
by Jamsetji Tata and in 1903 opened its first hotel The Taj Mahal Palace in
Bombay. Today, IHCL has a portfolio of some 263 hotels, including 75 under
development globally across four continents, 12 countries and in over 100
locations. It is India's largest hospitality company by market capitalization
and is listed on the BSE and NSE.
Leader with humanity
Former IHCL CEO Raymond Bickson told HIT,” It’s difficult to find
the right words to describe the magnitude of the loss so many of us feel today.
The world has lost a visionary leader and a titan of industry. Ratan’s impact
extended far beyond the business world he helped shape at the helm of Tata. For
12 years, I had the extraordinary honor of working with and learning from him.
He didn’t just change the course of industry - he changed lives, mine included.
His principles, his deep sense of duty to others, and his love for India were
boundless.
“Many knew him as the man who led a salt-to-steel empire,
but I saw him as a man who redefined what it meant to welcome others, to serve them
with not just luxury, but with humanity. Ratan believed that a hotel wasn’t
just a place for guests to stay—it was a home, a sanctuary. And within its
walls, everyone, from the guests to the staff who made the magic happen,
deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. That was his vision, and he
made sure it came to life in every corner of the Taj Hotels.
“He didn’t just set new standards for luxury—he championed
the idea that hospitality is about creating experiences that touch people
deeply. He created spaces where everyone felt seen, valued, and appreciated.
That’s who Ratan Tata was—a man who made sure that kindness and compassion were
at the core of everything he did.
“We’ve lost a giant today, a man whose legacy will stretch
long beyond his years. But for those of us lucky enough to have been guided by
his hand, we carry his lessons with us. He’s gone, but his spirit—his
commitment to making the world a kinder, better place—will always remain.”