In a significant milestone for India’s hospitality and intellectual property landscape, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has secured India’s first-ever sound mark trademark registration in the hospitality sector for its iconic brand Taj.
The registration legally protects the Taj sonic sound, recognising sound as a distinct and protectable brand asset—marking a decisive shift towards multi-sensory branding in Indian hospitality.
With this move, IHCL becomes the first hospitality company in India to obtain trademark protection for a sound identity. The sound mark reinforces Taj’s global brand presence, ensuring exclusive rights over its distinctive sonic signature across guest touchpoints.
In an increasingly experience-driven hospitality market, sonic branding plays a critical role in shaping emotional recall, trust, and brand familiarity. By securing legal protection for its sound identity, IHCL has elevated brand protection beyond visual elements, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
The development underlines how hospitality brands are now focusing on immersive, multi-sensory guest experiences, where sound is as powerful as design, service, and architecture.
This milestone builds upon Taj’s longstanding commitment to safeguarding its brand equity. Earlier, IHCL had secured trademark protection for the three-dimensional architectural shape of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, making it one of the first hotels in India to receive such recognition.
The sound mark further strengthens Taj’s leadership in progressive intellectual property strategies within the hospitality sector.
Commenting on the achievement, Rajendra Misra, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, IHCL, highlighted the responsibility that comes with being recognised as one of the world’s strongest hotel brands and the importance of protecting every dimension of brand equity.
IHCL was represented in the process by Fidus Law Chambers, led by Shwetasree Majumder, with support from Astha Negi and Umang Gola.
IHCL is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalisation, with a portfolio of 610 hotels, including 253 under development, spread across 14 countries, four continents and over 250 locations.
Its brands include Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, Ginger, Tree of Life, Gateway and Claridges Collection.
IHCL has not only preserved Taj’s architectural and visual legacy but has now also legally secured its sonic identity, making Taj the first Indian hospitality brand to embed sound into its protected brand DNA.
A quiet move, but a loud statement for the future of hospitality branding in India.
