Global hospitality group Accor has appointed Raheel Ahmad as Director of Food & Beverage for South Asia, reinforcing the company’s growing focus on experience-led dining and lifestyle hospitality across the region.
The appointment comes at a time when hotel brands are increasingly treating food and beverage not as a support function, but as a standalone revenue engine and brand differentiator.
According to reports from The Economic Times Hospitality, Ahmad will oversee F&B strategy, operational excellence, culinary innovation, and guest experience initiatives across Accor’s South Asia portfolio.
He brings over two decades of hospitality experience spanning luxury hotels, restaurant operations, and multi-market F&B leadership. Before joining Accor in this expanded regional role, Ahmad held leadership positions across several international hospitality brands, building expertise in restaurant concepts, banquet operations, and premium dining experiences.
The timing of the appointment is significant for the broader hospitality industry.
Across India and South Asia, hotel operators are rapidly repositioning food and beverage offerings as destination experiences rather than secondary amenities. From chef-led concepts and cocktail programs to local collaborations and standalone restaurant brands, hotels are increasingly competing directly with independent restaurants for consumer attention.
For large hospitality chains, the opportunity is substantial.
Industry analysts have noted that post-pandemic travel behavior has shifted meaningfully toward “experience spending,” with guests placing greater value on dining, wellness, and lifestyle-led stays. This has pushed hotel groups to invest more aggressively in restaurant identity, local storytelling, and experiential dining formats rather than relying solely on room revenue.
Accor has been particularly active in this space globally.
The company has expanded several lifestyle and premium hospitality brands in recent years, including Ennismore, the lifestyle hospitality platform behind brands such as SLS, Mondrian, and Mama Shelter. Food and beverage experiences have become central to these brand identities, particularly among younger urban travelers and premium consumers.
In India, the shift is becoming increasingly visible across luxury and upscale hospitality.
Hotel restaurants are now competing on the same cultural playing field as standalone dining brands, hosting bar takeovers, chef residencies, curated tasting menus, and locally driven culinary collaborations. For operators, this means F&B leadership roles are evolving beyond kitchen management into strategic business functions tied directly to revenue growth, guest retention, and brand positioning.
Accor’s South Asia expansion plans further add context to the appointment.
The hospitality group has continued to strengthen its footprint across India with new signings and openings spanning luxury, premium, and economy segments. According to recent company announcements, India remains one of Accor’s key growth markets globally, supported by rising domestic travel demand, expanding business travel, and increasing consumer appetite for premium hospitality experiences.
