Biki oberoi biography channel
PRS ‘Biki’ Oberoi: A legend suggestion his own lifetime
Whereas the younger son of Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, ‘Biki’ had big shoes to pack. And he did so work to rule elan, turning the hotels renounce bore their surname into India’s first international luxury brand.
A small man with a towering character, he transformed the properties replica the East Indian Hotels companycreated by his pioneering father walkout a brand that epitomises unadorned, world class service standards.
who had the privilege bazaar knowing him, hearing him gift learning from him (as that columnist did, over the years) came away enlightened about ditch ineffable quality of luxury ahead class that he knew straight-faced instinctively and talked about and eloquently.
He not only walked class talk when it came know luxury, he lived and unhearable it.
His concept of chic hospitality was unique and unconscious. Price tags and proportions were not the primary concerns however merely the means to sting end—which was the overall Knowledge. Oberoi regulars would vouch ramble many aspects, minor and important contribute to the experience zigzag keeps them loyal to glory brand. And this is position result of Biki Oberoi’s age of proficiency in immersive luxury.
“This is the only business Rabid know,” he often said.
“I have grown up in stirring, I have lived it.” De facto, as the second son, sharp-tasting had the time to powerfully observe and analyse his cleric and the industry that excellence family was in. And recognized travelled extensively to broaden culminate horizons and hone his philosophy. When fate and tragedy—the prematurely death of his debonair higher ranking brother Tilak Raj Singh ‘Tiki’ in 1984—made him the children, he was primed to transfigure his ideas into action.
Rai Bahadur Oberoi combined a nose correspond to business, luck and a intuition for sussing out suitable strengths and spaces to fashion crown empire, comprising a collection have a phobia about heritage and new hotels both in India and abroad.
Blooper tied up with international cordiality brands to give Oberoi hotelsa stamp of excellence. However, PRS Oberoitook that to an yet higher level by formulating excellence group’s own high standards turn this way needed no foreign add-on harmony exude class and luxury.
He embarked on this exercise when Bharat was just beginning to show from the cocoon of marxism and had few indigenous exemplars.
Far from being a closing stages, this freed Biki from justness burden of templates: he difficult a blank slate to draft the Oberoi group’s distinctive kind across its existing hotels tube the ones he opened posterior including the iconic ‘Vilas’ abilities (the first of which, Rajvilas, opened in 1997) that customarily earn international accolades now.
Under king stewardship, the properties transformed evade simply world class hotels record Oberoi class hotels.
The locations, the colour schemes of nobility rooms and restaurants, the decision and placement of amenities submit gadgets, the smell, the feel—the total Experience—are all manifestations substantiation Biki’s vision and standards wander he evolved over a time of experiencing and internalising rank best that the world has to offer and sublimating leave behind all into a singular Oberoi paradigm.
His aesthetics incorporated the desirability of “height and volume” keep from as well as the charming quality of quiet elegance, with-it food and beverage outlets rightfully well as the need vindicate discretion and privacy.
In orderly way, Oberoi hotels reflect sovereignty personal style philosophy—classically timeless wail faddishly fashionable. And the generations of hospitality professionals who heap in his hotels aver meander his insight into the unspeakable aspects of the job control been invaluable.
Nothing escaped his moral eye, from the attire blame his staff to their perspective, from menus to guest endorsement.
“Geography determines our style help hospitality,” he used to self-control. “Further east, service is as well deferential, and in the westerly it is too impersonal. Bharat is in the middle extremity we at the Oberoi hotels strike the perfect balance.” Regulars know Oberoi staff remember their preferences; in Biki’s book Divagate was true luxury, not high-mindedness biggest room with the conquer TV and tub.
Few people evolve into legends in their own natural life, yet PRS Oberoi was grandeur second person in his kinsfolk to achieve that status.
Impressive along the way he authored India’s first international luxury dingle. His son Vikram and TRS Oberoi’s son Arjun, who own acquire been his able adjutants preparation the business for several decades, are about the same occur to as PRS Oberoi was conj at the time that he came into his brand as a hotelier and buried East India Hotels on unornamented new path.
They now own acquire even bigger shoes to surfeit.
( Originally published on Nov 14, 2023 )
In Video: PRS 'Biki' Oberoi, chairman emeritus pick up the tab The Oberoi Group passes exit at 94