Accor announces the appointment of Amitabh Rai as Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, Accor South Asia. In this strategic leadership role, Amitabh will lead the operational and strategic direction of Accor’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio across South Asia, with a strong focus on delivering distinctive luxury experiences, thoughtful brand curation, and sustained performance excellence across the Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel brands.
A dynamic and award-winning hospitality leader, Amitabh brings nearly three decades of experience across India and Indonesia, encompassing senior leadership roles as well as a seven-year entrepreneurial venture. Widely recognized for building empowered teams and driving high-impact performance, he has consistently delivered strong results while navigating complex and evolving business environments.
Amitabh began his hospitality journey with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from The Oberoi School of Hotel Management, quickly rising 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 assumed responsibility for overseeing Marriott’s entire 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. He brings 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, Amitabh will be responsible for defining and executing Accor’s long-term strategic vision for luxury and lifestyle brands in South Asia, while providing strong operational leadership and strategic support across the portfolio. His mandate includes driving financial excellence, strengthening brand differentiation, and fostering a culture of learning, trust, and innovation.
Speaking on his appointment, Amitabh Rai said, “It is a privilege to join Accor at such an exciting moment for luxury hospitality and the group’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, Amitabh places strong emphasis on team development, stakeholder collaboration, and long-term value creation. An avid golfer with a passion for unique experiences, he brings a holistic approach to luxury hospitality that blends operational rigour with experiential finesse.
