The famous Sea Rock Hotel in Mumbai is set to return with rebranding itself as the Taj Bandstand. The Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL) plans to start construction on the Bandra site, which overlooks the sea, in the second half of 2025.
Final approvals are awaited from the Airport Authority of India and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of IHCL, confirmed that all other requirements have been met.
Sea Rock Hotel has a rich history. It was built in 1978 by the Luthria family and became a popular spot for celebrities. It was Mumbai’s first five-star hotel in the suburbs. In 1986, ITC took over its operations through a licensing agreement. However, in 1993, the hotel was targeted in a terror attack when a suitcase bomb exploded in one of its rooms.
The hotel never reopened after disagreements arose between its owners and ITC. In 2005, the building was purchased by Suresh Nanda of the Claridges Hotel for ₹300 crore.
Four years later, IHCL bought an 85% stake in the property from the Nanda family. IHCL had initially planned to redevelop the site into a hotel, convention centre, and commercial complex. However, the project was delayed due to legal disputes and environmental clearance issues. In 2020, IHCL became the sole leasehold owner of the site by acquiring the remaining stake.
This property will be IHCL’s fifth upscale hotel in Mumbai. The company already operates Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End, Taj Santacruz, and Taj The Trees in the city.
It also runs 12 hotels in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area under the Ginger, SeleQtions, and Vivanta brands. These hotels have a total of 1,550 rooms. Across Mumbai, there are 75 branded hotels with 15,524 rooms. About 71% of these rooms are in upscale and luxury hotels.
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