Barun Chakraborty | |
|---|---|
 Chakraborty in 2009 | |
| Born | (1943-08-28)28 August 1943 |
| Died | 26 August 2022(2022-08-26) (aged 78) |
| Alma mater | Stockholm University |
| Occupation | Hotelier |
| Spouse | Ylva Lindberg |
| Relatives | Countess Marianne Bernadotte af Wisborg (sister-in-law) |
| Awards | H. M. The King's Medal Royal Patriotic SocietyBusiness Medal Pravasi Bharatiya Samman |
Barun Kumar “Bicky” Chakraborty[1] (28 August 1943 – 26 August 2022)[2] was an Indian-born Swedish businessman. He was the president and founder ofElite Hotels of Sweden andThe Bishop's Arms.[3] He was counted as one of the richest men inScandinavia.[1][4][5][6]
Chakraborty came to Sweden from Calcutta, India in 1966 to study Sociology at theStockholm University.[citation needed] He saw that student dormitories were empty over the summer and began pushing the dorm Domus as a discount hotel to rent out those who were located nearStureplan in Stockholm. Chakraborty managed to acquire these properties from the student association in private hands and they became due plate in his hotel empire. Later he went on to buy the rundown city hotel(sv) and rehabilitate it. In 1980, he bought Hotel in London, a historic city hotel from 1858. At this time there were several run down city hotels around the country. Swedish hospitality was most focused on motels near urban areas. Chakraborty saw this opportunity to revive the ancient city hotel tradition, but in a more modern form. Bicky Chakraborty owned and operated the hotel chain Elite(sv), which covers several historically important city hotels in the country, including Hotel Knaust(sv) inSundsvall, Hotel Mollberg(sv) inHelsingborg, Hotel Savoy(sv) inMalmö and the City Hotel inVästerås. The hotel business founded by Bicky Chakraborty is the only Swedish-owned hotel chain in Sweden.[7][8]
In 2008, Chakraborty was awarded theRoyal Patriotic SocietyBusiness Medal, for having contributed to the development of Swedish industry, and was a recipient ofH. M. The King's Medal in the 12th size.[9] He was also the winner of thePravasi Bharatiya Samman awarded by theGovernment of India.[10] Chakraborty was also member of theJönköping University Foundation.[11]
Chakraborty married in 1973 Ylva Lindberg (b. 1949), then a student at theStockholm School of Economics (Handelshögskolan i Stockholm)[12] and the younger sister of PrincessMarianne Bernadotte, who is 25 years her senior.[13] They are the parents of a daughter, Caroline Chakraborty, and grandparents of three grandchildren.[9][12][14]
