Amitabh Rai Appointed Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, Accor South Asia

Strengthening leadership for Accor’s luxury and lifestyle growth across the region

Accor has announced the appointment of Amitabh Rai as Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, Accor South Asia, effective January 2026. In his new role, Rai will lead the operational and strategic direction of Accor’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio across South Asia, overseeing the performance and brand positioning of Raffles, Fairmont, and Sofitel.

A seasoned leader in luxury hospitality

With close to three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Amitabh Rai brings extensive leadership exposure across India and Indonesia. His career spans senior management roles within global hotel companies as well as a seven-year entrepreneurial phase, giving him a balanced perspective on operations, people leadership, and business strategy.

Rai began his professional journey with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from The Oberoi School of Hotel Management. During his tenure, he rose rapidly through the ranks and became one of the youngest General Managers within the group, building a reputation for operational excellence and team development.

Global experience across marquee hotel brands

In 2018, Rai joined Marriott International as General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, later expanding his responsibilities to oversee Marriott’s broader Hyderabad market. His most recent role was that of Multi-Property General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott in Jakarta, where he managed complex luxury operations in an international market.

Accor leadership perspective

Commenting on the appointment, Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, Accor South Asia, said that Rai’s leadership comes at a critical phase in Accor’s luxury journey in the region. He highlighted Rai’s strong operational foundation, people-centric approach, and ability to balance brand integrity with commercial performance as key strengths that align with Accor’s long-term growth ambitions.

Strategic mandate going forward

As Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, Rai will be responsible for shaping Accor’s long-term strategy for its luxury and lifestyle brands in South Asia. His mandate includes driving operational consistency, strengthening brand differentiation, improving financial performance, and nurturing a culture of learning, innovation, and trust across hotel teams.

Vision for purposeful luxury growth

Speaking on his appointment, Rai expressed enthusiasm about joining Accor at a time of renewed focus on luxury hospitality in the region. He emphasised his commitment to creating meaningful guest experiences, developing future-ready talent, and building sustainable luxury destinations that reflect both brand values and regional sensibilities.