Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1929-02-03)3 February 1929 |
| Died | 14 November 2023(2023-11-14) (aged 94) Delhi, India |
| Education | St. Paul's School, Darjeeling |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Mohan Singh Oberoi (father) |
| Awards | Padma Vibushan in 2008 |
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi (3 February 1929 – 14 November 2023), also calledBiki Oberoi, was an Indian hotelier. He was the executive chairman of the third-largest hospitality chain inIndia,The Oberoi Group, which runs a chain of luxury hotels under the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and Trident brands.[1][2]
In 2008, theGovernment of India awarded Oberoi thePadma Vibushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his exceptional service to the country.[3][4] Popularly known as "Biki",[5] in 2002 he took over as the chairman of EIH Limited after the death ofMohan Singh Oberoi, his father and the founding chairman of The Oberoi Group, and remained CEO of EIH Ltd until 2013.[6]
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was born on 3 February 1929.[7][8] His father was businessmanMohan Singh Oberoi.[9] Oberoi was one of 5 siblings, including an older brother, Tilak Raj.[10]
He was educated atSt. Paul's School, Darjeeling, India, and later in theUnited Kingdom andLausanne,Switzerland, where he graduated with a degree inhotel management.[9][11] Oberoi's father, Mohan Singh, told him to travel the world and stay at leading hotels to understand luxury hospitality, and Oberoi stated that he did not have to work until he was past the age of 30.[9]
Oberoi joined his father'shotels group company,EIH, in 1961.[9] Oberoi and his brother Tilak Raj worked together; however Tilak Raj died in 1984.[12][10] In 1967, he established The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development inDelhi.[13] He also founded the Oberoi Group's Vilas brand of hotels, beginning with Amarvilas inAgra and Udaivilas inUdaipur.[12][14] Oberoi's management of his business was different from his father, Mohan Singh, and focused particularly on food, hiring foreign chefs and investing in new restaurants.[14] After the terrorists attacked hisTrident Hotel inMumbai during the2008 Mumbai attacks, Oberoi swiftly managed to repair and reopen his hotel.[14]
He also served as a director ofJet Airways (India) Limited from 29 March 2004 onwards.
In 2008, Oberoi was awarded thePadma Vibhushan by theIndian government.[15]Business India awarded him the Businessman of the Year title in 2008 and in 2010, he was presented with the 2010 Corporate Hotelier of the World award byHotels magazine.[15] In 2013, he was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award for Management by theAll India Management Association and in 2015, he was voted as one ofCNBC TV18's Top 15 Indian Business Icons.[15] In June 2022, Oberoi was recognized by the International Hospitality Institute as one of the 100 most powerful people in global hospitality.[16][17] At theErnst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Oberoi was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.[15]
Oberoi was married twice and his second wife was Mirjana Jojic Oberoi.[18] He had a son, Vikram Singh Oberoi,[19] and two daughters, Natasha Oberoi and Anastasia Oberoi.[2][20] At 89, he continued to live at the Oberoi Farm, his house and office on the outskirts ofDelhi.[21] He also had a residence in a village outsideJaipur,Rajasthan.[12] Oberoi died[22] in the early morning of 14 November 2023, at the age of 94.[23][24]
Vikram succeeded his father as head of the Oberoi Group.[2] After his death, an inheritance dispute occurred between his youngest daughter Anastasia, the daughter of Mirjana Jojic, and his other family members including his two older children and his nephew Arjun, the son of his brother Tilak Raj.[20][18] The succession battle was caused by two conflictingwills of Oberoi's.[18] In September 2024, theDelhi High Court issued an interim order favoring Anastasia.[20] The order prohibits the transfer of shares in any of the Oberoi Group companies.[20] The Delhi High Court protected Anastasia and her mother’s rights to their family home.[20]
