Mumbai: Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, has announced the appointment of Amitabh Rai as Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, Accor South Asia, effective January 15, 2026. In this strategic leadership role, Rai will spearhead the operational and strategic direction of Accor’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio across South Asia, with a focus on delivering distinctive luxury experiences, thoughtful brand curation, and sustained performance excellence for Raffles, Fairmont, and Sofitel.
A seasoned and award-winning hospitality professional, Rai brings nearly three decades of experience across India and Indonesia, encompassing senior leadership roles as well as a seven-year entrepreneurial venture. Known for building empowered teams and driving high-impact performance, he has consistently delivered strong results while navigating complex and dynamic business environments.
Rai began his hospitality career with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from The Oberoi School of Hotel Management, rising swiftly 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, and later took on responsibility for overseeing Marriott’s Hyderabad market. Most recently, he served as Multi-Property General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, Jakarta, further strengthening his global luxury hospitality credentials.
Commenting on the appointment, Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, Accor South Asia, said, “Amitabh’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Accor’s luxury journey in South Asia. His deep operational expertise, people-first leadership style and sharp strategic lens make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our luxury and lifestyle portfolio. Amitabh has a rare ability to balance brand integrity with commercial excellence, and we are confident he will play a defining role in shaping the next phase of growth for our luxury brands in the region.”
In his new role, Rai will be responsible for defining and executing Accor’s long-term strategic vision for its luxury and lifestyle brands in South Asia. His mandate includes driving financial excellence, strengthening brand differentiation, and fostering a culture of learning, trust, and innovation across the portfolio.
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. Accor’s commitment to purposeful growth, distinctive brands, and people-centric leadership strongly resonates with my own values. I look forward to working closely with our teams to craft memorable guest experiences, nurture talent and build future-ready luxury destinations that are both meaningful and sustainable.”
Known for leading with empathy, Rai places strong emphasis on team development, stakeholder collaboration, and long-term value creation. An avid golfer with a passion for curated experiences, he brings a holistic approach to luxury hospitality that blends operational rigour with experiential finesse.
