Abstract

This case is about Mohan Singh Oberoi (Oberoi), the founder of the Oberoi chain of hotels who is considered to be the father of the hospitality industry in India. The case presents the rags-to-riches story of Oberoi, the entrepreneur. Oberoi was born in the late 19th century in a small village (now in Pakistan). From humble beginnings, Oberoi went on to build a hotel empire spread across many countries. The case discusses the rise of Oberoi and how vision, business acumen, leadership and management style played a role in his success. He steadily and strategically expanded his business and by the time he died in the year 2002, at age 103, his empire included not only a number of luxury hotels but also a travel company, airline catering and a business management school. Experts felt that he had left behind a legacy that his son, PRS Oberoi, and the third generation Oberois were trying to take forward.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand various issues and concepts in entrepreneurship
• Study how Oberoi build a hotel empire (a luxury brand) in the highly demanding hospitality industry
• Study Oberoi’s efforts to institutionalize service quality and how he established the quality segment of hospitality which did not exist in India
• Study the personal characteristics and traits of Oberoi that contributed to his success
• Study the leadership and management style of Oberoi

Keywords

Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Mission , Vision, Management style, Service quality, operations, Control systems, Personal characteristics and traits, Succession planning, Family business, Hospitality, Luxury brand, Exclusive hotelier, EIH, Oberoi group, Hotel