Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi
{{Short description|Indian hotelier (1929–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi
| image = The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan to Shri P.R.S. Oberoi, at an Investiture-I Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 05, 2008.jpg
| caption = President Pratibha Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan to Oberoi in 2008
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|02|03|df=yes}}
| birth_place = British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|11|14|1929|02|03|df=yes}}
| death_place = Delhi, India
| occupation = Businessman
| parents = Mohan Singh Oberoi (father)
| spouse =
| education = St. Paul's School, Darjeeling
| children = 3
| awards = Padma Vibushan in 2008
}}
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi (3 February 1929 – 14 November 2023), 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.{{cite news |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704075604575356463069927040 |work= Wall Street Journal |title= EIH Chairman: Founders Have No Plans to Sell Stake |archive-date= 11 April 2023 |access-date= 8 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230411220512/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704075604575356463069927040 |url-status= live }}
In 2008, the Government of India awarded Oberoi the Padma Vibushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his exceptional service to the country.{{cite news |url=http://topics.wsj.com/person/O/prs-oberoi/6729 |work=Wall Street Journal |title=Persons: P.R.S Oberoi |archive-date=31 March 2016 |access-date=14 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331165717/http://topics.wsj.com/person/O/prs-oberoi/6729 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2015}} () Popularly known as "Biki",{{cite news |url=http://www.oberoihotels.com/about_us/chairman_ceo.asp |title=Oberoi Hotels and Resorts website |archive-date=4 January 2012 |access-date=14 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104070226/http://www.oberoihotels.com/about_us/chairman_ceo.asp |url-status=live }} in 2002 he took over as the chairman of EIH Limited after the death of Mohan Singh Oberoi, his father and the founding chairman of The Oberoi Group, and remained CEO of EIH Ltd until 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/prs-oberoi-is-new-eih-chairman/51039/1| title=PRS Oberoi Is New EIH Chairman}}
Early life
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was born on 3 February 1929.{{cite web |title=Mr. Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi |url=https://www.oberoigroup.com/aboutus/chairman-emeritus |website=The Oberoi Group |access-date=14 November 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114094003/https://www.oberoigroup.com/aboutus/chairman-emeritus |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=PRS Oberoi dies at 94: Remembering the man who redefined Indian hospitality |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-dies-at-94-early-life-education-contributions-to-indian-hospitality-industry-awards-and-accolades-2462706-2023-11-14 |access-date=14 November 2023 |publisher=India Today |date=14 November 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114085430/https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-dies-at-94-early-life-education-contributions-to-indian-hospitality-industry-awards-and-accolades-2462706-2023-11-14 |url-status=live }} His father was businessman Mohan Singh Oberoi.{{Cite news |date=15 November 2023 |title=Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi dies at 94: Exacting nitpicker leaves behind a legacy of luxury |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-dies-at-94-exacting-nitpicker-leaves-behind-a-legacy-of-luxury/cid/1980088 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305072638/https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-dies-at-94-exacting-nitpicker-leaves-behind-a-legacy-of-luxury/cid/1980088 |archive-date=5 March 2024 |access-date=2024-12-18 |work=The Telegraph |language=en |url-status=live }} Oberoi was one of 5 siblings, including an older brother, Tilak Raj.
He was educated at St. Paul's School, Darjeeling, India, and later in the United Kingdom and Lausanne, Switzerland, where he graduated with a degree in hotel management.{{cite web |title=Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi: Executive Profile & Biography |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=24436405&privcapId=878458 |access-date=11 October 2015 |work=Businessweek}} 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 30 years of age.
Career
Oberoi joined his father's hotels group company, EIH, in 1961. Oberoi and his brother Tilak Raj worked together; however Tilak Raj died in 1984.{{Cite news |last=Karkaria |first=Bachi |date=2023-11-15 |title=Biki Oberoi, hotelier with passion for luxury & eye for detail, dead |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/biki-oberoi-hotelier-with-passion-for-luxury-eye-for-detail-dead/articleshow/105218123.cms |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115031057/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/biki-oberoi-hotelier-with-passion-for-luxury-eye-for-detail-dead/articleshow/105218123.cms |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Paul |date=4 May 2002 |title=Mohan Singh Oberoi, 103, A Pioneer in Luxury Hotels |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/04/business/mohan-singh-oberoi-103-a-pioneer-in-luxury-hotels.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908010309/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/04/business/mohan-singh-oberoi-103-a-pioneer-in-luxury-hotels.html |archive-date=8 September 2024 |access-date=18 December 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en}} In 1967, he established The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development in Delhi.{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Koustav |date=2023-11-14 |title=PRS Oberoi dies at 94: Remembering the man who redefined Indian hospitality |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-dies-at-94-early-life-education-contributions-to-indian-hospitality-industry-awards-and-accolades-2462706-2023-11-14 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114094000/https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-dies-at-94-early-life-education-contributions-to-indian-hospitality-industry-awards-and-accolades-2462706-2023-11-14 |url-status=live }} He also founded the Oberoi Group's Vilas brand of hotels, beginning with Amarvilas in Agra and Udaivilas in Udaipur. 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.{{Cite web |last=Express News Service |date=2023-11-14 |title=P R S Oberoi, 1929-2023: ‘Biki’ Oberoi, who set the gold standard for hospitality |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/p-r-s-oberoi-1929-2023-biki-oberoi-who-set-the-gold-standard-for-hospitality-9026737/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120101208/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/p-r-s-oberoi-1929-2023-biki-oberoi-who-set-the-gold-standard-for-hospitality-9026737/ |url-status=live }} After the terrorists attacked his Trident Hotel in Mumbai during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Oberoi swiftly managed to repair and reopen his hotel.
He also served as a director of Jet Airways (India) Limited from 29 March 2004 onwards.
Honours and awards
In 2008, Oberoi was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Indian government.{{Cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Mehak |date=2023-11-14 |title=Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, Oberoi Group Chairman Emeritus, passes away at 94 |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-oberoi-group-chairman-emeritus-passes-away-405616-2023-11-14 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Business Today |language=en |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114034406/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-oberoi-group-chairman-emeritus-passes-away-405616-2023-11-14 |url-status=live }} 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 by Hotels magazine. In 2013, he was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award for Management by the All India Management Association and in 2015, he was voted as one of CNBC TV18's Top 15 Indian Business Icons. In June 2022, Oberoi was recognized by the International Hospitality Institute as one of the 100 most powerful people in global hospitality.{{Cite web |last=Dundas |first=Guy |date=14 July 2022 |title=LATTE Columnist gains global hospitality recognition |url=https://latteluxurynews.com/2022/07/14/latte-columnist-gains-global-hospitality-recognition/ |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=LATTE Luxury News |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802162329/https://latteluxurynews.com/2022/07/14/latte-columnist-gains-global-hospitality-recognition/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Mix |first=Pulse |date=1 August 2022 |title=Dr Jeffrey Obomeghie and Dupe Olusola among the 100 most powerful people in global hospitality |url=https://www.pulse.ng/business/dr-jeffrey-obomeghie-and-dupe-olusola-among-the-100-most-powerful-people-in-global/3f8n19m |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en |archive-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801163626/https://www.pulse.ng/business/dr-jeffrey-obomeghie-and-dupe-olusola-among-the-100-most-powerful-people-in-global/3f8n19m |url-status=live }} At the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Oberoi was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal life and family
Oberoi was married twice and his second wife was Mirjana Jojic Oberoi.{{Cite web |last=Ojha |first=Srishti |date=2024-09-16 |title=Oberoi inheritance war: Siblings clash over late PRS Oberoi’s will |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/oberoi-inheritance-war-siblings-clash-over-late-prs-oberois-will-vikramjit-natasha-arjun-anastasia-2600606-2024-09-16 |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=India Today |language=en}} He had a son, Vikram Singh Oberoi, and two daughters, Natasha Oberoi and Anastasia Oberoi.{{cite web |last=Zachariah |first=Reeba |last2=Mukherjee |first2=Shubham |date=11 April 2011 |title=Biki Oberoi names son Vikram as successor |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Biki-Oberoi-names-son-Vikram-as-successor/articleshow/7939069.cms |access-date=11 October 2015 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424094248/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/biki-oberoi-names-son-vikram-as-successor/articleshow/7939069.cms |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Vivek |first=Sonu |date=2024-09-17 |title=Inheritance war: How fight for PRS Oberoi’s legacy is unfolding in court |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/oberoi-family-dispute-prs-will-legacy-what-has-happened-so-far-in-court-legal-proceeding-2600786-2024-09-17 |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=1 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001211550/https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/oberoi-family-dispute-prs-will-legacy-what-has-happened-so-far-in-court-legal-proceeding-2600786-2024-09-17 |url-status=live }} At 89, he continued to live at the Oberoi Farm, his house and office on the outskirts of Delhi.{{cite web|title=Leadership Awards 2014: Mr. Hospitality: PRS 'Biki' Oberoi has made guests' comfort his priority|work=Forbes India Magazine|url=http://forbesindia.com/article/leaderhip-awards-2014/mr.-hospitality-prs-biki-oberoi-has-made-guests-comfort-his-priority/38803/1|author=Prince Mathews Thomas|date=13 October 2014|access-date=11 October 2015|archive-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922090935/http://forbesindia.com/article/leaderhip-awards-2014/mr.-hospitality-prs-biki-oberoi-has-made-guests-comfort-his-priority/38803/1|url-status=live}} He also had a residence in a village outside Jaipur, Rajasthan. Oberoi died in the early morning of 14 November 2023, at the age of 94.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Oberoi Group Chairman Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi passes away at 94 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/business/oberoi-group-chairman-prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-passes-away-at-94-2769322 |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114042347/https://www.deccanherald.com/business/oberoi-group-chairman-prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-passes-away-at-94-2769322 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=PRS Oberoi, Who Redefined Indian Hospitality Through His Hotels, Dies At 94 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-who-redefined-indian-hospitality-through-his-hotels-dies-at-94-4572180 |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=NDTV.com |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114043135/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/prithvi-raj-singh-oberoi-who-redefined-indian-hospitality-through-his-hotels-dies-at-94-4572180 |url-status=live }}
Vikram succeeded his father as head of the Oberoi Group. 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. The succession battle was caused by two conflicting wills of Oberoi's. In September 2024, the Delhi High Court issued an interim order favoring Anastasia. The order prohibits the transfer of shares in any of the Oberoi Group companies. The Delhi High Court protected Anastasia and her mother’s rights to their family home.
References
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{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
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Category:People from Darjeeling
Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in trade & industry
Category:Indian chief executives