Obama in India: Barack Obama the fourth American President to stay at ITC Maurya

NEW DELHI: ITC Maurya threw a red carpet welcome for President Barack Obama, who arrived there on Sunday morning. The US first couple is staying at its 4,800 square feet presidential suite on the 14th floor during the entire duration of the visit. As per security protocol, Obama was welcomed at the lobby by Power Minister Piyush Goyal and escorted to his suite.

“The Obamas had a continental breakfast and Michelle ate a quiet lunch in the suite when Obama left for his visit to Raj Ghat,” said the source. New Delhi's ITC hotel has hosted several heads of state and business leaders before. The 5-star luxury hotel has been made out of bounds for other guests till the duration of the Obama’s visit and a stringent security blanket has been thrown around the property and its surrounding areas on Sardar Patel Marg.

During his last visit to India in 2010, Obama stayed at the same hotel and had dinner at the hotel’s award winning restaurant Bukhara. This time too, the source said, the hotel’s restaurants are well equipped to cater to any request from the first couple. Obama is the fourth American President to stay at the presidential suite, after Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W Bush.

On the second day of his visit, Obama is scheduled to attend two key business conferences at the neighbouring Taj Palace Hotel. A release from the hotel said women dressed as traditional Indian brides will give a customary Indian welcome to the US president and the hotel staff will offer floral bouquets and garlands to him.

Obama will attend two key conferences – the CEO Forum and India-US Business Forum – in which top CEOs from the US and India will participate. The conferences are expected to take place at the Shahjahan Ballroom and the Durbar Ballroom.