Yes, there will be multiple tributes and heartfelt prayers as mourners pay their respects to a lovely man, who had inherited a hotel empire from his father, and had grown it to its very impressive present. Among all Oberoi hotels people stayed in over decades, it is the Oberoi Grand in Kolkota that remains special. The 500-room property in the heart of Kolkata—shrewdly acquired by Biki’s father (Rai Bahadur Oberoi) as a distressing sale during the cholera epidemic—remains the grandest of all the Oberoi properties, with its old world charm and discreet opulence.
People adore The Oberoi Cecil in Shimla (built in 1884) for much the same reasons – it spells distinction and history in every corner and clearly held sentimental value for Biki’s, given the wonderful reopening of the heritage hotel in 1997 to which we were invited, along with a few of Biki’s friends from Delhi and overseas. Over a relaxed weekend, we saw the supremely considerate host in Biki, looking after his special guests as only a generous, thoughtful, lord of the manor does.
Each time we met Biki, his spontaneous warmth and signature style were on full display. Charming courteous, sometimes chomping on a cigar, at other times intrusting staff to pick up a piece of paper from the vast grounds, here was a man whose attention to detail was mind-boggling. Since the hotels were — and remain – personality-driven, these high standards were non-negotiable and diligently followed by well-trained teams, most of them from the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development (OCLD). Few girls had made it to the last round of this highly coveted, strictly merit-driven and frighteningly competitive pan-India programme.
It was time for the toughest part of the interview—the walk! This is where nervous aspirants enter a large hall and have to walk its entire length to meet the bossman himself. Biki was known to ask strange questions that had little to do with hospitality. The girls had mugged up every conceivable response to questions about hotel management, food, service…..what the girls hadn’t factored in was the curve ball Biki threw: “Hello, How are your parents? Do give my regards to your mother.” The girls candidly replied, “our parents are well ….. our mother is waiting for us in the coffee shop down stairs.” Biki chuckled and said, “I will come and said hello to her”. He also told girls how well they had done and I should be proud of them. He always imparted that sense of intimacy to everyone he met. (IPA Service)
BIKI OBEROI’S DEATH HAS LEFT A VOID IN INDIA’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
HE HAD THE DISTINCTION OF EXPANDING OBEROI GROUP OF HOTELS TO SEVEN COUNTRIES
Harihar Swarup - 2023-11-29 11:10
The news of passing away of Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi (Popularly known as Biki) has shocked all those who came in touch with him. He was 94. He had stepped down as executive chairman of the group that runs 32 hotels, with a presence in seven countries, after an astonishing career that had successfully refined the very meaning of hospitality in India. The word ‘Prithvi’ in his name is significant—Oberoi was known as the ultimate hotelier across the world, respected by peers and admired by those in the trade who wanted to be more like diminutive legend, impeccably dressed at all times in well cut Savile Row style suits, perfectly set off with elegant and pocket squares. Dashing and dynamic, alert and forward-thinking, he was a true bon vivant who recognised the best life had to offer — and was always striving to make that available to his guests at any of the Oberoi Hotels across continents.