PRS Oberoi, former chairman of Oberoi hotels, passes away at 94

Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, former executive chairman of East India Hotels Ltd (better known as Oberoi Group hotels), and pioneer of luxury hotels business in India, passed away on Monday. He was 94.

Born in New Delhi, on 3 February 1929, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, affectionately known as "Biki," began his career in hospitality industry under the guidance of his father and founder of The Oberoi Group, late Rai Bahadur M S Oberoi.

Educated in India, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, PRS Oberoi had acquired a global perspective and this was reflected in his role in steering the group into a symbol of luxury hospitality.

PRS also successfully expanded the brand globally by developing Oberoi Hotels and Resorts.

Oberoi established The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development in 1967, which helped set a new standard for hospitality education in Asia.

In received his first award from the International Hotels Investment Forum in Berlin in 2003, and, in 2008, he received the country’s second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan award, recognising his exceptional service to the nation. In 2010, he won the ` Corporate Hotelier of the World' award by HOTELS magazine.

Oberoi had received several awards, including recognition at the International Luxury Travel Market in 2012 and the Forbes India Leadership Awards and CNBC TV18 India Business Leader Awards acknowledging his enduring impact on the hospitality industry.

In May 2022, PRS Oberoi stepped out as chairman and director of EIH Limited, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape the world of luxury hospitality.

He leaves an indelible mark on Indian hospitality industry. His legacy will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.