Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, also known as ‘Biki,’ a stalwart of Indian hospitality and chairman emeritus of the Oberoi Group, passed away on Nov. 14 at the age of 94. Oberoi served as the executive chairman of EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, and as the chairman of Oberoi Hotels Private Limited, the major shareholder of EIH Limited.
“It is with profound grief and sorrow that we wish to inform you of the peaceful passing of our beloved leader, P.R.S. Oberoi, chairman emeritus earlier today,” The Oberoi Group said in a statement. “His passing is a significant loss for The Oberoi Group and the hospitality industry in India and overseas.”
Oberoi is acknowledged as a key figure in the Indian hotel industry, contributing to the globalization of Oberoi hotels by establishing a presence in major cities. He received notable accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, awarded in January 2008 for exceptional service to the country.
Established in 1934, The Oberoi Group presently manages 32 hotels and two river cruise ships across seven countries—India, Egypt, Indonesia, Mauritius, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—operating under the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and Trident brands. The group also oversees The Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development, which he established in 1967 and is recognized as a prominent institution for hospitality education in Asia.
Last February, J.P. Rama, former AAHOA chairman and co-founder of JHM Hotels, now Greenville, South Carolina-based auroHOTELS, died while visiting family in Ahmedabad, India, at the age of 74.
