Checking Chefs, AC Ducts and Door Handles: Delhi Hotel Preps for Obama

New Delhi: Where President Barack Obama goes, several White House chefs follow. But just in case, the top chefs at the five-star hotel booked for the US President's trip have been told to stay put - time off has been cancelled and they need to be on call, reports news agency IANS.

Delhi's Maurya Sheraton hotel, which has over 430 rooms, has been fully booked for President Obama and his entourage. No guests will be allowed into the hotel or its restaurants till he departs.

Mr Obama arrives in Delhi on the 25th, will become the first US president to serve as Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on the 26th, and will travel to Agra to tour the Taj Mahal on the 27th. His wife, Michelle, is accompanying him. Daughters Sasha and Malia are not.
The Delhi hotel hosting him has selected a team of 50 who will look after the POTUS and his wife.  

"We have over 70 specialised staff to take care of the US president and his wife. But we have chosen a team of 50 and the remaining 20 will remain on standby," a hotel source told IANS, refusing to be identified because of stringent security restrictions.

The staff who attended to President Obama during his 2010 visit to Delhi when he stayed at the same hotel will reportedly supervise all arrangements.

Three presidential suites at the hotel have been sanitized by Secret Service agents.  They will not reveal which one will be used by the Obamas.   Door handles and locks have been checked by the agents. Air conditioning ducts have been inspected to ensure there are no secret listening devices or  cameras hidden anywhere, according to IANS.

The Delhi Police is installing its own cameras in the suites, except for areas marked as private. These camera inputs will be continuously monitored by the US Secret Service agents, who will comprise the innermost layer of security for the president.