Optimism has been an elusive currency over the past 14 months, but one everyone has needed to somehow be able to get their hands on – especially working in travel and hospitality.
Remaining focused and motivated on new openings has certainly been a positive driver for Nicholas Clayton, chief executive of Capella Hotel Group, which launched two hotels in the past year. “As a team, we’ve remained positive, productive and motivated to fulfil our objectives of operational excellence and the growth of our brands,” he says.
October saw the arrival of Capella Bangkok with 101 rooms, suites and villas with views of the city’s Chao Phraya river, quickly followed in December by Capella Hanoi, a 47-room hotel designed by legendary architect Bill Bensley, also behind Capella Ubud in Bali.
“Bill is a creative genius who never fails to develop projects that surprise and delight,” says Clayton. “His designs are always unique and tell a story – which is very much aligned with Capella’s vision.”
Has local demand proved it was worth opening those hotels in Thailand and Vietnam during the pandemic? Clayton says so far so good: “We have supportive domestic markets eager to experience them. In addition to unique staycation packages, both hotels offer exceptional food and beverage experiences, which means we can further differentiate in such highly competitive markets. The teams have also hosted prestigious weddings and events for the likes of Saint Laurent and Vogue.”
Clayton says Capella was also able to keep its other hotels open in Singapore, Ubud, Shanghai and Sanya throughout the pandemic, with those in China and Singapore enjoying “record-setting levels” of local business, and he remains positive that wider travel will return, because it has become “such an integral part of our lives”.
“Travel allows us to be enriched through experiencing unique cultures and their people,” he says. “Once protocols have been established for safe and effective international travels, the pent-up demand will be unleashed and the industry can look forward to many years of successful growth.”
Next on the horizion is Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, opening on 18 May as the first hotel for Capella’s new sister brand, Patina Hotels and Resorts, one which Clayton says is “a sophisticated lifestyle experience designed for progressive travellers who have a deep appreciation for wellbeing, conscious living, and non-conventional experiences”.
Patina Maldives has 90 pool villas and 20 studios, and is one of three properties that make up the Fari Islands project, where a Ritz-Carlton opens in June, followed by Capella Maldives later in 2023. But before that debut will be Capella Sydney, opening towards the latter part of 2022.
Clayton has been a luxury hotelier for many years, working with brands such as Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and a pivotal role at Ritz-Carlton, as well as Viceroy and Jumeirah before starting with Capella in 2015. Understandably, he has seen many changes, most recently in the area of sustainability.
“We anticipate responsible tourism will be in high demand post-Covid and ethical brands that can nurture enriching engagements will be successful,” he says. When it comes to showing how Capella cares for the places in which it operates, he says a key focus is empowering underprivileged youth to create a sustainable future for themselves through mentorship programmes.
Via Capella Ubud, elementary school students in Keliki Village are given access to a three-month English programme, in exchange for a bag of collected plastic waste, which not only encourages them to take ownership of their education but nurture their respect and love for the environment.
Meanwhile in the Maldives, environmental stewardship is also key. Combining education and environment, the pioneering kids’ centre Footprints will foster awareness via ideas such as regular beach clean-ups with guests and team members, with the collected ocean plastics even being turned into models using 3D printing and laser cutting technology in the Footprints’ Fab Lab.
