Talking Tigers, Carmex, and Wanderlust

A Q&A with Samantha Steckbeck of Oberoi

POE TRAVEL: Do you have a favorite Oberoi hotel?

SAMANTHA STECKBECK: My personal favorite is the Oberoi Vanyavilas in Ranthambhore National Park in India. Did you know that 90% of the guests have tiger sightings?! The elusive Royal Bengal tigers are the largest of the cat family, and the males are upwards of 500 lbs. The Oberoi Vanyavilas has 25 spacious permanent tents with the most incredible interiors; there are even handsewn tigers with gold leaf thread on the roof of the tent. “Luxury tent” is an understatement. And Lakshmi, our rescued elephant, greets guests upon arrival. If you’re adventurous, you can feed him and participate in his daily bathing ritual at 3:00 p.m. just after your game drive.

PT: What about the new Oberoi hotel in Marrakech?!

SS: We just opened the newly built Oberoi Marrakech on December 1, 2019. It’s on 27 acres of lush gardens in a former olive grove. It has 87 rooms and villas and is located just 20 minutes from the Medina and the Yves Saint Laurent museum, Majorelle. Morocco is on the rise from the luxury US client, and with American Airlines starting three times weekly service from Philadelphia to Casablanca on June 4th, we know that there will be even more clients wanting to experience its amazing, rich culture. I went to Marrakech in 1994, and it was there that I got my exotic travel bug; I credit that trip with me being in the world of luxury travel.

PT: Describe a typical Oberoi guest.

SS: An Oberoi guest is a well-travelled explorer who delights in the incredible personal/heart-felt service culture. We have our own hotel school in New Delhi India which opened in the 1970s. It’s a three-year, work-study program where the student learns every discipline in the hotel from front desk to room service, butler service, room reservations, housekeeping, front and back of the house. This training promotes teamwork and respect among all departments. Applicants must be at least 25 years old and college graduates; we have some 10,000 applicants for 100 spots per year. Harvard University completed a study on Oberoi Hotels on how a small 30 hotel company in India could win “Best Hotel Brand “ two years in a row.

PT: When you travel, where do you like to go?

SS: St Barth’s is my favorite. I love to rent a villa and check out all of the hotel restaurants and spas. The food is incredible, and nothing else in the Caribbean compares with this chic French island. It’s the St Tropez of the Caribbean.

PT: Most recent trip?

I was lucky enough to go on holiday to Egypt on the Oberoi Philae in mid-December and avoid the crowds. The Oberoi Philae sails on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor and is the most luxurious way to see this incredible country and its sights. My favorite was being in the tomb of Tutankhamun and seeing his mummy from 4000 BC with teeth and hair intact. In my opinion, nothing compares to Egyptian history.

PT: What is always in your carry-on?

SS: Uma face oil for a pick-me-up. The scent of this Ayurveda oil is euphoric. Carmex to ward off dry lips and Chanel Lip Glossimer—a bit of high/low. Most importantly, though, I pack clothes that don’t wrinkle.

Founded in 1934, The Oberoi Group operates 32 hotels, Nile Cruisers, and a Motor Vessel in the backwaters of Kerala.