Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, Hotelier
Hotelier

Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi

Born 3 February 1929 · Delhi — Died 14 November 2023

Leading The Oberoi Group to become India's third-largest luxury hotel chain.

Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, also called Biki Oberoi, was an Indian hotelier. He was the executive chairman of the third-largest hospitality chain in India, The Oberoi Group, which runs a chain of luxury hotels under the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and Trident brands.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Despite inheriting a hotel empire, Oberoi was told by his father not to work until after age 30, instead traveling the world to study luxury hospitality firsthand.

The Story

1
In 1967, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi founded The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development in Delhi, pioneering professional hospitality training in India to elevate service standards across his hotel chain.
2
🌟 After the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks targeted the Trident Hotel, Oberoi led its rapid restoration and reopening, demonstrating resilience and commitment to guest safety in a crisis.
3Oberoi’s education spanned continents: from St. Paul's School, Darjeeling to hotel management studies in Lausanne, Switzerland, reflecting a global approach to luxury hospitality.
4He revolutionized hotel dining by recruiting foreign chefs and investing heavily in new restaurants, shifting The Oberoi Group’s focus toward gourmet experiences from the late 1960s onward.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 2008, following the Mumbai attacks, Oberoi swiftly repaired and reopened the Trident Hotel, showcasing his hands-on approach to crisis recovery in the hospitality sector.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth of Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi
Born in Delhi to Mohan Singh Oberoi, future founder of The Oberoi Group.
1929
⚡
Career
Joins EIH Group
Biki Oberoi begins working in the family hospitality business.
1961
⚡
Career
Founds Oberoi Training Centre
Establishes The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development in Delhi to train hospitality professionals.
1967
⚡
Career
Becomes Chairman of EIH Limited
Takes over leadership after the death of his father, Mohan Singh Oberoi.
2002
🏅
Award
Receives Padma Vibhushan
Awarded India’s second-highest civilian honor for his service to hospitality.
2008
🌟
Other
Mumbai Terror Attack on Trident Hotel
Hotel targeted; swift restoration and reopening led by Oberoi.
2008
🏅
Award
Wins Corporate Hotelier of the World
Recognized by Hotels magazine for outstanding leadership in hospitality.
2010
🌟
Other
Resigns Executive Chairman Role
Steps down due to health concerns after decades at the helm.
2022
🕊️
Death
Passing of Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi
The iconic hotelier dies, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian hospitality.
2023
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

The Oberoi Zahra, the group’s luxury Nile cruiser, won Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism Award of Excellence in Tourism and Biodiversity in 2010, highlighting Oberoi's commitment to sustainable luxury.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Oberoi’s son Vikram Singh Oberoi heads operations while his nephew Arjun Singh Oberoi manages overseas planning, indicating a family-led leadership structure.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Oberoi resigned as Executive Chairman in May 2022 due to deteriorating health, marking the end of over six decades of direct leadership in the family business.

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"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."

— Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
PRS Oberoi's 5 keys | Power List Asia | CNA Insider
·YouTube
More from this archive
PRS Oberoi's 5 keys | Power List Asia | CNA Insider
01
PRS Oberoi's 5 keys | Power List Asia | CNA Insider
YouTube
We do not want to be the biggest but the best: EIH Chairman PRS Oberoi
02
We do not want to be the biggest but the best: EIH Chairman PRS Oberoi
YouTube
Mr. PRS Oberoi wins the Lifetime Achievement Award at FILA 2014
03
Mr. PRS Oberoi wins the Lifetime Achievement Award at FILA 2014
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi transformed Indian luxury hospitality by institutionalizing professional training and elevating culinary standards, which influenced the entire industry’s approach to guest experience. His crisis management after the 2008 Mumbai attacks set new safety and recovery benchmarks for hotels facing terrorism. The Oberoi Group’s international recognition and expansion under his leadership placed Indian hotels prominently on the world luxury map.

💬 Social Buzz

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