Accor appoints Amitabh Rai as COO – Luxury, South Asia

Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, has announced the appointment of Amitabh Rai as Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, Accor South Asia. 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 the Raffles, Fairmont, and Sofitel brands.

A dynamic and award-winning hospitality leader, Amitabh brings nearly three decades of experience across India and Indonesia, spanning multiple leadership roles and a seven-year entrepreneurial venture. Renowned for building empowered teams and inspiring high-impact performance, he has consistently delivered exceptional results while navigating complex business environments.

Amitabh began his hospitality journey with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from The Oberoi School of Hotel Management, swiftly rising to become one of the youngest General Managers of his time. Most recently, he served as Multi-Property General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott.

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.”

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. 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.”