December 25, 2024 08:42 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Former home secy Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed Manipur Guv amid ethnic violence resurgence | Five soldiers killed, several injured as Army truck falls into Poonch gorge | Allu Arjun quizzed by police in Pushpa 2 stampede case | Wanted Indian drug smuggler killed in the US | Congress leader files complaint against Allu Arjun for 'insulting police' in Pushpa 2: The Rule | Ahead of Jaishankar's US visit, foreign secretary Vikram Misri meets top US diplomats | India refrains from commenting on extradition request for ousted Bengladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina | I don't blame Allu Arjun, ready to withdraw case: Pushpa 2 stampede victim's husband | Indian New Wave Cinema Architect Shyam Benegal dies at age 90 | Cylinder blast at a temple in Karnataka's Hubbali injures nine people
Biki Oberoi
Photo courtesy: twitter.com/TheOberoiMumbai

Doyen of the Indian hotel industry The Oberoi Group Chairman emeritus PRS Oberoi dies at 94

| @indiablooms | Nov 15, 2023, at 06:46 am

Mumbai: Hotel industry veteran Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi died on Tuesday morning at the age of 94.

Chairman emeritus of The Oberoi Group, who was popularly known as Biki Oberoi, was one of the leading figures of the Indian hotel industry with the credit of putting Indian hospitality on the world map.

In May 2023, he stepped down as executive chairman of EIH LTD and EIH Associated Hotels Ltd.

In a statement, his son and nephew Vikram and Arjun said, “It is with deep sadness that we inform the peaceful passing of PRS Oberoi earlier today (November 14). A luminary in the hospitality industry, Oberoi’s legacy transcends borders, leaving and indelible mark on the global landscape. A visionary leader (his) unwavering dedication and pursuit of excellence elevated The Oberoi Group to international acclaim. His influence extended beyond corporate success, touching the lives of countless hoteliers through mentorship and a commitment to unparalled standards.”

He set higher goals for the Oberoi Group and worked on building more sophisticated hotels with finer luxury offerings.

While working under the leadership of his father and company founder, Rai Bahadur M S Oberoi, the company partnered with Sheraton and Intercontinental to develop hotels in Delhi and Mumbai.

However, in the 1980s, Biki observed that luxury standards had evolved beyond these brands. Rejecting the need for international validation, he simply named his new hotel at Mumbai's Nariman Point "The Oberoi" and revamped Calcutta's Oberoi Grand to blend Raj heritage with Asian luxury.

Contrary to The Oberois' cautious approach toward resorts as risky ventures, he not only reversed this policy but also increased the stakes.

The opening of Jaipur's Rajvilas in 1997 marked the most expensive resort hotel ever built in India on a room-to-room basis.

He also led from the front as a mentor. In 1967, he established The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, where numerous leading hoteliers graduated and now hold prominent positions in the industry. Some have even gone on to establish their own successful brands.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.