Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, better known to the world as Bikki Oberoi, is the son of late Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi, the founder of the Oberoi chain of hotels. Building up on his father's legacy, Bikki Oberoi steered the Oberoi chain of hotels to further heights, taking every opportunity that came his way and making 'Oberoi' a brand name to reckon with. Coming from an affluent family, Bikki Oberoi had an experience that very few people could boast of. Using this experience into his business, Bikki Oberoi has managed to come a long way, becoming one of the leading hoteliers in the world and making significant contribution in the hospitality industry. He is known for using novel strategies that have become a boon to the business of Oberois-making himself indispensable to the company and proving himself as a worthy heir of the great empire.
Early Life
Early Life
Prithvi Raj Singh was born to Rai Bahadur M. S. Oberoi. Right from his childhood, Bikki showed keen interest in his father's business. By the time he was in his early twenties, his father had already established himself as an hotelier and had expanded his business to an extent that he could pamper his son with all the luxuries in the world. After completing his education, Bikki Singh left for a long trip, travelling around the world and experiencing new places and their best hotels.
Career
Born in an affluent family, Bikki stayed away from the helm of hotel business until the age of thirty-two. After being discreet about the events of his life during these thirty-two years, Bikki finally disclosed the secret in an interview. He revealed that after he finished his studies, he travelled to almost every major country in the world and stayed in their best hotels where he had the firsthand experience of sampling their best, from great food to awesome services. Squeezed from all these years of travel, he took back the rich experience of the world to his father's business and strived to boost it up than before. He took to his father's ability of a businessman and brought in with him higher goals for the Oberoi Group. Excellent in leadership and management skills, he started new chains of luxury hotels in many countries. Because of him, the Oberoi hotels are placed and rated among the international line-up of luxury hotels today. Currently, he is the Chief Executive Officer, Director and Member of Investors Grievances Committee at EIH Ltd. Apart from this, he is the President and Chairman of Investors Grievances Committee at EIH Associated Hotels Ltd., Chairman of the Board at Mercury Travels Limited, Chairman of the Board at Mumtaz Hotels Limited, and Chairman and Managing Director at Indus Hotel Corporation Ltd. and the Chairman of the Oberoi Group.
Personal Life
In 1959, he married Goodie and had two sons. This year (2011) he declared Vikram as the heir of the Oberoi Empire. His nephew Arjun Oberoi also helps him to manage his vast hotel business spread worldwide.
Contributions
Bikki Oberoi has made a huge contribution to the hospitality industry, which has made India one of the best in the hotel business in the world.
Awards and Accolades
- Bikki Oberoi was given the Grand Officer of the Alalaoui Wissam award by the King Mohammed VI of Morocco for his contribution to tourism and Indo-Moroccan relations.
- He was conferred lifetime achievement award by the sixth International Hotels Investment Forum in Berlin in the year 2003.
- In the year 2004, a special award was conferred to him by the Department of Tourism, Government of India for his contribution in the tourism sector.
- He was given the lifetime achievement award at the CNBC TV 18 India Business Leader Awards in 2007.
- He received the Padma Vibhushan award in April 2008.
- Received lifetime achievement award at the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange in 2008.
- Won “Outstanding Business Leader Award” from the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Society of Indian Law Firms in September 2008.
- Got lifetime achievement award at Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year awards in November 2008.
- He was named businessman of the year by Business India Magazine in 2008.
- He was felicitated with 'Hall of Fame’ award at the Hotel Investment Forum India in 2009.
- Received Lifetime Achievement award at the first Economic Times TAAI travel awards in 2009.
- Was given Corporate Hotelier of the World award by HOTELS magazine in 2010.
