Accor has appointed Raheel Ahmad as Director – Food & Beverage, South Asia, reinforcing its focus on strengthening culinary positioning and guest engagement across the region. The appointment comes as hospitality companies continue investing in differentiated dining experiences, lifestyle-led offerings, and revenue diversification through weddings, social events, and experiential F&B concepts.
Accor announced the appointment of Raheel Ahmad as Director – Food & Beverage, South Asia. In his new role, Ahmad will lead the strategic direction and execution of Accor’s food and beverage operations across the region, with a focus on guest experience, operational excellence, and brand differentiation.
He will work closely with hotel teams and partners to optimise performance, streamline operations, and develop new revenue opportunities across segments including lifestyle dining, weddings, and social celebrations. His responsibilities will also include strengthening collaborations, nurturing talent, and maintaining service consistency across the portfolio while preserving the individual identity of each property.
With more than 25 years of experience spanning 650 hotels, 24 brands, and 22 countries, Ahmad brings expertise in culinary leadership and hospitality operations. Prior to joining Accor, he was part of the senior F&B regional leadership team at Marriott International. He has led the development of multiple dining concepts across markets including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, and India.
A recipient of the Marriott Global Chef of the Year award, Ahmad has also worked on collaborations with platforms such as the Michelin Guide and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. His experience includes partnerships with internationally acclaimed chefs and initiatives focused on sustainability, responsible sourcing, plant-based innovation, and food waste reduction.
Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Accor, said, “We are pleased to welcome Raheel Ahmad to Accor. His deep understanding of strategic planning, extensive expertise in the food and beverage space, and strong focus on financial performance make him a valuable addition to our leadership team.”
Alex added, “Raheel brings with him a proven track record of driving sustained revenue growth, improving margins, enhancing operational efficiencies, and creating differentiated guest experiences across diverse hospitality environments. His ability to balance innovation with commercial performance, while building high-performing teams and strengthening brand positioning, will be instrumental in further elevating our F&B ecosystem across South Asia.”
Accor said Ahmad will also focus on mentorship, culinary capability building, and promoting diversity and inclusion across teams as the group continues to expand its hospitality and lifestyle footprint in South Asia.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.