EAST INDIA HOTELS-OWNED Oberoi Hotels & Resorts will debut in the United Kingdom with a luxury property in London’s Mayfair. The London-based property group Grosvenor received planning permission in 2022 to restore the 33,000-square-foot listed building as part of its South Molton development and began renovations in November 2023. The luxury boutique hotel is scheduled for completion in 2027, the companies said in a joint statement.
EIH recently established a U.K. company with an authorized share capital of $37.5 million, around £30 million. Besides India, the luxury hotel chain has a presence in Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Mauritius.
“Our partnership with Grosvenor marks an important milestone in our international growth,” said Arjun Oberoi, The Oberoi Group’s executive chairman. “London has always been a key market for our guests. We are excited to bring our distinctive hospitality experience to the heart of London. The Oberoi, Mayfair, will not only celebrate our brand at a prime location but also showcase our service excellence.”
South Molton will serve as a new gateway to Mayfair, generating an estimated £6.5 million in annual spend and creating 1,000 permanent jobs, along with 450 jobs and apprenticeships during construction, the statement said.
“Confirming a brand as prestigious as Oberoi will have its first U.K. presence at South Molton, in the heart of Mayfair, is what we mean when we say we are creating a destination of international significance,” said Rachel Dickie, Grosvenor’s executive director of investment and development. “We are thrilled to have such a strong anchor for the project at this early stage.”
JLL represented Grosvenor, while EIH London Investments Ltd was advised by Johnny Sandelson, the statement said. The project, currently the West End’s largest mixed-use development, will include the hotel, office space, housing, cafes, shops, restaurants, and community and leisure spaces.
“This project marks a pivotal moment for our brand’s global journey,” said Vikram Oberoi, The Oberoi Group’s managing director and CEO. “The Oberoi Mayfair will embody the essence of luxury, offering guests an intimate retreat in the heart of Mayfair with the dynamic spirit of the city.”
The Oberoi Group opened its first hotel in Shimla, northern India, in 1934. It now owns and operates 32 hotels and two luxury Nile River cruisers. Based in New Delhi, the group operates in seven countries under the Oberoi and Trident brands and is involved in flight catering, airport restaurants, and corporate air charters.
With The Oberoi, Mayfair, The Oberoi Group becomes the third Indian hospitality group in London. Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. operates two Taj hotels, and in 2023, the Hinduja Group partnered with Accor to convert Winston Churchill’s Old War Office into a Raffles hotel.
The “Grand Indian Hotel,” recently aired on BBC Player, explored Indian hospitality traditions in a three-part series, offering a behind-the-scenes view of luxury hotels like The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur and The Oberoi in New Delhi.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, known as ‘Biki,’ chairman emeritus of the Oberoi Group, passed away on Nov. 14 at the age of 94.
