Tony Matharu is a British entrepreneur, hotelier, and philanthropist born in London in 1960. He founded and chairs Integrity International Group, developed hospitality businesses including Grange Hotels and Blue Orchid Hospitality, and has held leadership roles in London business, charitable, sporting, and community organizations.
Background
Matharu was born in London, United Kingdom, in December 1960. He has described himself as a Londoner and has connected his personal and professional life with the capital's economic, cultural, and community development.
His parents came from Kenya, and he has spoken publicly about the influence of his mother and the values of integrity, enterprise, and service that she instilled in him. His early background combined a British upbringing with the experience of a family of Kenyan origin in London's Asian business community.
Education
Matharu graduated in law and economics. The combination of legal and economic education provided a foundation for his later work in entrepreneurship, property, hospitality, and business leadership.
He later received an honorary Doctorate of Letters and was made a Fellow of ESCP Europe Business School. ESCP, founded in 1819, is an international business school with campuses in several European cities and a long tradition of management education.
Career
Matharu began building businesses with his brothers Harpal and Raj in the 1980s, converting empty office spaces into hotels. Their work developed into Grange Hotels, a London luxury-hotel group that eventually operated a substantial portfolio of four- and five-star properties. Matharu served as the group's founder and managing director before key London properties were sold in 2019.
He founded Ayrtek, a specialist sports brand, and later sold the business. In 2008 he founded Global Hospitality Services, an international hospitality consultancy that developed technology solutions and spa and guest-amenity brands for the hotel sector.
Matharu founded and chairs Integrity International Group, an independent business group focused on property, hospitality, investment, and community development. Its hospitality arm, Blue Orchid Hospitality, was launched in 2019 as an independent London hotel collection. The group has acquired and repurposed significant London properties, including the 55 Broadway complex, and has developed hotels, serviced apartments, residences, and hospitality venues.
In 2020 Matharu helped establish Central London Alliance, a community interest company formed during the COVID-19 crisis to support the recovery of central London's business, hospitality, cultural, tourism, and retail sectors. He has also served as chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Asian Business Association and has participated in civic initiatives concerning London's economic and cultural life.
His professional activities have extended into charitable, sporting, and cultural work. He has chaired Integrity International Trust, served as a vice president and patron of Oracle Cancer Trust, held leadership roles with the Lord's Taverners, and supported sporting clubs, arts organizations, and London community initiatives.
Achievements
Matharu helped build Grange Hotels with his brothers into a major London luxury-hotel group, developing a portfolio of four- and five-star properties before key sites were sold in 2019.
He founded and sold Ayrtek, a specialist sports brand.
He founded Global Hospitality Services, which developed hospitality technology solutions and spa and guest-amenity brands.
Through Integrity International Group and Blue Orchid Hospitality, he led the acquisition, restoration, and repurposing of significant London properties for hospitality and mixed-use development.
He helped establish Central London Alliance in 2020 to support the recovery of central London's business, hospitality, cultural, tourism, and retail sectors.
Views
Matharu's stated business philosophy places integrity and moral consistency at the center of enterprise. He has argued that business should create value through partnerships and ultimately serve employees, communities, and the wider city rather than being measured only by financial results.
His public work reflects a belief in long-term investment, adaptive reuse of buildings, collaboration between sectors, and the contribution of private enterprise to social and cultural renewal. He has also emphasized the importance of London as an international city whose prosperity depends on hospitality, business, culture, sport, and community participation.
Membership
Matharu has participated in professional, charitable, sporting, and civic organizations connected with London's business and community life. His roles have included leadership in the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Asian Business Association, the Lord's Taverners, Oracle Cancer Trust, Integrity International Trust, and Central London Alliance.
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1882, represents businesses in the capital and provides policy advocacy and commercial support. The Lord's Taverners is a youth cricket and disability-sports charity, while Oracle Cancer Trust supports research into head and neck cancer. Integrity International Trust is a registered charity concerned with building positive futures for vulnerable people, and Central London Alliance was formed to coordinate London's post-pandemic economic and cultural recovery.
Chairman
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Asian Business Association
,
United Kingdom
Vice President and Patron
Oracle Cancer Trust
,
United Kingdom
London City Chairman
Lord's Taverners
,
United Kingdom
Founder and Chairman
Integrity International Trust
,
United Kingdom
2017 - present
Founding Director and Chairman
Central London Alliance
,
United Kingdom
2020 - present
Freeman
Company of Entrepreneurs
,
United Kingdom
Personality
Matharu has publicly emphasized integrity, long-term responsibility, partnership, and service as principles of business leadership. He has also described instinct as an important part of entrepreneurial decision-making when informed by observation, listening, and experience.
Quotes from others about the person
Matharu has described London as the city that provided his opportunities and has repeatedly emphasized the importance of giving back to the capital through business investment, community initiatives, philanthropy, sport, and cultural activity.
Interests
Philanthropy, London community development, hospitality, sport, arts, culture, and heritage-led property renewal.
Sport & Clubs
Cricket and hockey
Connections
Matharu worked with his brothers Harpal and Raj in developing the Grange Hotels business. The brothers began by converting vacant office premises into hotels and built the business into a major privately owned London hotel group.
His professional and charitable connections include the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oracle Cancer Trust, the Lord's Taverners, Integrity International Trust, Central London Alliance, and organizations in London's arts, sports, hospitality, and community sectors.
Brother:
Harpal Matharu
Worked with Tony Matharu in developing the Grange Hotels business.
Brother:
Raj Matharu
Worked with Tony Matharu in developing the Grange Hotels business.
References
Tony Matharu | Integrity International Group
Official biographical profile describing Matharu's businesses, hospitality career, awards, charitable roles, sporting activities, and education.
Tony Matharu | Integrity International Trust
Biographical profile describing Matharu's leadership of Integrity International Group, hospitality businesses, charitable activities, and London community engagement.
Central London Alliance media centre
Organizational history and press material documenting Matharu's role as founding director and chairman of Central London Alliance and its work supporting London's recovery.
