Accor appoints Amitabh Rai as Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, South Asia
Accor has announced the appointment of Amitabh Rai as Chief Operating Officer Luxury, Accor South Asia, which came into effect on January 15, 2026. In this strategic leadership role, Amitabh will spearhead the operational and strategic direction of Accor’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio across South Asia, with a clear focus on delivering distinctive luxury experiences, thoughtful brand curation, and sustained performance excellence for Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel brands.
A vibrant and award winning hospitality leader, Amitabh has nearly three decades of experience in India and Indonesia, spanning multiple leadership roles and a seven year entrepreneurial endeavour. Renowned for establishing empowered teams and driving high-impact performance, he has repeatedly delivered remarkable results while navigating complicated corporate contexts.
Amitabh began his hospitality journey at Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from The Oberoi School of Hotel Management, fast ascending to become one of the youngest General Managers of his time. In 2018, he joined Marriott International as General Manager of The Ritz Carlton, Bangalore, subsequently acquiring responsibility for handling Marriott’s whole Hyderabad area. Most recently, he served as Multi Property General Manager for The Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott, Jakarta, boosting his worldwide luxury hospitality credentials.
Commenting on the appointment, Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, Accor South Asia, stated, “Amitabh’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Accor’s luxury journey in South Asia. His extensive operational skills, people first leadership style and clear strategic view make him incredibly well suited to oversee our luxury and lifestyle portfolio. Amitabh has a remarkable ability to reconcile brand integrity with commercial excellence, and we are convinced he will play a defining role in designing the next phase of growth for our luxury brands in the region.”
In his new job, Amitabh will be responsible for establishing and executing Accor’s long-term strategy goal for luxury and lifestyle brands in South Asia, while providing strong operational leadership and strategic support throughout the portfolio. His mandate will include driving financial excellence, establishing brand distinction, and promoting a culture of learning, trust and innovation.”
Speaking on his appointment, Amitabh Rai, Chief Operating Officer Luxury, Accor South Asia, said, “It is a privilege to join Accor at such an exciting moment for luxury hospitality and Accor’s expansion plans in the region. My own beliefs are highly aligned with Accor’s dedication to people centric leadership, distinctive brands, and intentional growth. I look forward to working closely with our staff to develop exceptional guest experiences, foster talent and build future ready premium locations that are both meaningful and sustainable.”
