Spirits soar as Trident readies to reopen on Dec 21

At the Trident Hotel shopping arcade, Christmas carols play and ardent shoppers walk through high-end shops.

At the Trident Hotel shopping arcade, Christmas carols play and ardent shoppers walk through high-end shops even as employees are seen working hard to restore the hotel for its December 21 opening.

High security and barricades at the hotel’s entrance prevent curious onlookers from entering the building, which has been undergoing renovations since November 28, when two terrorists, who held the hotel hostage, were gunned down by security forces.

Shoppers, are however, allowed to enter the shopping arcade adjoining the hotel building where international fashion and cosmetic brands are housed.

Most of the shops reopened on December 12 after being granted permission by hotel authorities and the fact that the stores stand next to a terror attack site has not affected business.

“There has been a steady flow of customers at the store since we reopened. I don’t think the terror attacks have really frightened people away,” an employee working at one of the stores said on condition of anonymity. The sight of the Oberoi building of the Trident Hotel, where most of the conflict between terrorists and security forces took place, has had all its windows covered as employees work to restore it. It is a bit scary to walk by the hotel knowing it was attacked just last month. But I had to get some things for which the only store is located here, so I had to come here,” a customer, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The chairs of the coffee shop at the Trident, where executives and businessmen hold meetings, lie empty even as employees walk about working to prepare the hotel for its grand re-opening.

Employees can be seen exiting from the rear gate of the Oberoi and a service entrance between the two buildings as they go about their task of restoring the hotel to its former glory.

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However, they remain tight-lipped on the work being undertaken inside, leaving it to the guests to discover it for themselves when the hotel opens its doors to them on this Sunday.