In a bid to make high-end dining more accessible, the five-star Taj Mahal hotel in New Delhi has introduced Braille menus across all of its celebrated restaurants. The significant milestone for the company is a thoughtful step towards creating an environment where luxury and accessibility merge, allowing guests to enjoy the freedom of choice and the joy of taste with dignity.
The launch event took place at Varq, the Taj Mahal’s award-winning modern Indian gourmet restaurant. Highlighting the fusion of art and accessibility in a memorable gathering, esteemed artist and Padma Shri awardee Anjolie Ela Menon graced the occasion as the guest of honour. She was joined by Shalini Khanna Sodhi, the founding director and secretary of the National Association for the Blind India’s Centre for Blind Women and Disability Studies, along with visually impaired women from the association. Together, they painted on a canvas with Menon and experienced the ease and joy of ordering from Varq’s Braille menu.
Dr Anmol Ahluwalia, the area director of operations and the general manager at the Taj Mahal, said, "At Taj, we believe that hospitality should be an enriching experience for everyone. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is reflected in various aspects of our hospitality, ensuring personalised and thoughtful service for guests from all walks of life. The introduction of Braille menus at our much-loved restaurants further strengthens our dedication to providing a dignified and empowering dining experience for all patrons. We hope to create memorable dining moments that resonate with our values of warmth and respect for each guest's unique needs."
The Braille menus reflect the hotel’s commitment to a more accessible and diverse hospitality experience, which they hope inspires enhanced innovations across the luxury hospitality sector and sets new standards for inclusivity through thoughtful design, advanced technology, comprehensive training and supportive infrastructure.
Earlier this year, the Taj Mahal hotel launched the Blind Bakes Café in partnership with the NAB India Centre for Blind Women and Disability Studies. This initiative supports visually impaired women by equipping them with culinary and housekeeping skills, reaffirming the hotel’s dedication to social responsibility. The creations crafted by the Blind Bakes team are displayed in the associate dining room.
(With inputs from a press release)