Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Indian hospitality icon PRS Oberoi of The Oberoi Group passes away at 94

Industry members say his passing is a significant loss to the Indian hospitality industry

Indian hospitality icon PRS Oberoi of The Oberoi Group passes away at 94

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.

More for you

Prestige Hospitality India IPO
Photo credit: Marriott International

India's Prestige to add 2,500+ keys across seven cities

How Many New Hotel Rooms Is Prestige Hospitality Adding?

PRESTIGE HOSPITALITY VENTURES Ltd. is adding 2,509 rooms to its inventory through ongoing and upcoming projects, according to an Economic Times report. The pipeline includes three ongoing projects with 951 keys and nine upcoming projects with 1,558 keys across seven Indian cities.

PVHL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bengaluru-based Prestige Estate Projects Ltd. that operates luxury, upper upscale, upscale and upper midscale hospitality assets for business and leisure travellers, recently filed a draft red herring prospectus with SEBI to raise Rs 2,700 crore or about $316 million through an IPO.

Keep ReadingShow less
India Economy: ICRA Projects Hospitality Sector to Grow 6–8%

Icra: India’s hospitality sector to grow 6–8 percent

What is the growth forecast for India’s hospitality sector in 2026?

INDIA’S HOSPITALITY SECTOR is expected to grow at 6 to 8 percent in the current financial year, according to rating agency Icra, which revised the sector outlook to "stable" from "positive”. Foreign tourist arrivals to India are likely to remain low in the coming months following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, with a gradual recovery expected later.

Domestic tourism has been the main demand driver so far and is expected to remain so in the near term, Icra said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Deepika Padukone in Hilton’s India campaign highlighting modern travel experiences

Padukone stars in Hilton's new campaign

Deepika Padukone Stars in Hilton’s 2025 India Travel Campaign

HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS launched its new “It Matters Where You Stay” campaign featuring Indian actor and brand ambassador Deepika Padukone. The campaign, filmed in Bengaluru, highlights different aspects of a hotel stay, including preparing for an event, balancing work and rest, and taking time to recharge.

The new campaign captures moments that support Deepika’s routine and reflect the needs of the modern Indian traveler, focusing on design and service that create experiences, Hilton said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal discusses hotel growth strategy in India

OYO eyes doubling company-serviced hotel revenue

What is OYO’s new strategy for growing hotel bookings?

OYO, THE INDIAN hotel technology firm, aims to increase booking revenue from company-serviced hotels to 44 per cent from 22 percent by the end of the current financial year. The share of company-serviced hotels in its portfolio is also set to double, expanding from 124 cities to over 300 across India.

OYO is led by CEO Ritesh Agarwal, who also serves as chairman of G6 Hospitality, the parent company of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rendering of Hilton’s upcoming Waldorf Astoria in GMR Aerocity, Delhi
Photo credit: Hilton Worldwide Holdings

Hilton signs two hotels for GMR Aerocity, New Delhi

What luxury Hilton hotels are opening in India next?

HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS recently signed two new hotels—a Waldorf Astoria and a Hilton Hotels & Resorts property—in partnership with GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Ltd. The greenfield projects will be developed in GMR Aerocity, New Delhi, over the next three to five years.

This will be the second Waldorf Astoria in India, following the Jaipur property set to open in 2027, Hilton said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less