Prithviraj Singh Oberoi, popularly known as ‘Biki’ Oberoi, was among the most renowned names in the Indian hospitality industry. He was the Chairman of The Oberoi Group, the third-largest hospitality chain in India. The Oberoi Group runs a chain of luxury hotels, The Trident Hotels and the Oberoi Hotels and Resorts.
Hailed as one of the largest groups of hotel chains, The Oberoi Group was founded in 1934 by Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi. After the death of Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, his son, Prithviraj Singh Oberoi (PRS Oberoi), became the chairman of the group’s parent company, EIH Limited. PRS led the Oberoi group to great heights. On November 14, 2023, PRS Oberoi passed away at the age of 94.
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The hospitality industry titan had many feathers on his cap. Let us delve into more details about the inspirational journey of Prithviraj Singh Oberoi, who changed the face of the hospitality sector.
Born in 1929, Prithviraj Singh Oberoi, better known as ‘Bikki’, was the son of a hotelier, Mohan Singh Oberoi, and his wife, Ishran Devi. PRS had an elder brother, Raj Tilak Singh Oberoi. After the death of Mohan Singh Oberoi in May 2002 at the age of 103, Bikki took over the business. By then, Mohan Singh’s elder son, Raj Tilak Singh, had already passed away.
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PRS Oberoi did his schooling at St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling and later moved to the United Kingdom and Switzerland for further education. Bikki had graduated in Hotel Management from Lausanne, Switzerland. It was Bikki’s vision that revolutionised the Indian hotel industry.
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After the death of Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, Bikki took over the business and started his journey. He served as the executive chairman of EIH Limited, the parent company of The Oberoi Group. EIH Limited and EIH Associated Hotels Limited are the two listed companies of the Oberoi Group. Under his flagship, the Oberoi Hotel became synonymous with excellence and luxury. With a chain of hotels, Oberoi Hotels became India’s third-largest hotel company. Bikki’s vision not only led to the establishment of several luxury hotels in Indian cities but also spread its wings internationally.
Bikki always gave attention to minute details. His extensive travel taught Bikki the importance of a luxurious and world-class hotel. As per a 2014 profile of PRS:
“In the ’70s and ’80s, Biki Oberoi was known to take his own towels and bring along cooks to Indian cities where he did not own a hotel. His attention to detail – and expectation of comfort – was legendary, and Oberoi’s extensive travel had taught him what a world-class hotel looked like. He was aware that not even their own current properties could make the grade as they were old.”
With time, The Oberoi Group spread its wings in the international market and opened its chain of hotels in Egypt, Indonesia, UAE, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia. In 1967, PRS established The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development in New Delhi. The institution is considered the best in Asia and a getaway for many aspiring students learning the hospitality industry’s operations.
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Prithviraj Singh Oberoi’s contribution and exceptional service in the hospitality sector gained wide recognition, and he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, in 2008. In 2010, he was awarded with Corporate Hotelier of the World.
In 2014, Prithviraj Singh Oberoi was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by Forbes India Leadership. He was also felicitated by CNBC TV-18, at the Indian Business Leader Awards. The business tycoon was voted among CNBC TV-18’s Top 15 Indian Business Icons.
Apart from the Oberoi Group, Prithviraj Singh Oberoi also served as the Director of Jet Airways. He was also recognised as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality. Prithviraj Singh Oberoi's vision was always ahead of his time. At the age of 83, he roped in renowned American interior designer Adam Tihany to upgrade India's first five-star hotel, The Oberoi New Delhi. With so many achievements to his cap, Prithviraj Singh Oberoi inspired many. As per Forbes, his net worth was Rs. 3,829 crores.
Prithviraj Singh Oberoi married Goodie in 1959, the daughter of a Punjabi landowner of Lyalpur. The couple had a son, Vikram Oberoi and two daughters, Natasha Oberoi and Anastasia Oberoi. In 2011, PRS Oberoi named his son, Vikram Oberoi, his successor while PRS remained in his position. He also named his nephew, Arjun Oberoi, to handle overseas planning. Arjun Oberoi served as the chief planning officer for EIH and was also in the race to be Bikki’s successor. In an interview with The Times of India, Bikki confirmed the same and said:
“He (Vikram) is the eldest. He will take over from me. Vikram has been more interested in the operations of the hotels, while Arjun is on in the planning side.”
In May 2022, PRS Oberoi gracefully stepped down from his position as the Chairman and director of EIH Limited and marked the conclusion of his splendid era. He passed on his expertise and the reins of his wide business to Vikram and Arjun Oberoi.
On November 14, 2023, Prithviraj Singh Oberoi passed away and bid adieu to the world at the age of 94, leaving behind his rich legacy. The cremation was held at the Bhagwanti Oberoi Charitable Trust, Oberoi Farm, Kapashera.
Prithviraj Singh Oberoi was a luminary in the hospitality sector, who left an incredible mark on the global landscape. As per one of his famous quotes - “A luxury hotel is like a beautiful woman. If you do not look after her and bejewel her from time to time, no one will desire her.”
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