Latest news with #hotelexpansion
Skift
4 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Capella's Break-Out Year: Four Openings, Two Brands, Cracking Luxury's Toughest Challenge
The Singapore-based hotel group expands its portfolio while expanding a second brand, demonstrating that growth and craft excellence aren't mutually exclusive. On Experience Colin Nagy is a marketing strategist and writes on customer-centric experiences and innovation across the luxury sector, hotels, aviation, and beyond. You can read all of his writing Colin Nagy is a marketing strategist and writes on customer-centric experiences and innovation across the luxury sector, hotels, aviation, and beyond. You can read all of his writing here Capella Hotels may be solving luxury hospitality's toughest equation: maintaining intimacy while scaling. The Singapore-based group is doubling its footprint in 2025, adding four properties across Asia while simultaneously developing Patina, their cultural-centric second brand, into urban markets. Rather than the blitzscaling approach of larger competitors, the expansion reads as craft-paced growth. Each new property targets underserved markets with distinct positioning, suggesting the group has found a sustainable way to grow without losing what makes them special. "Guests aren't collectors of luxury hotels, they're collectors of meaningful contexts," explains Cristiano Rinaldi, President of Capella, articulating a mindset that seems to be resonating with discerning travelers and addressing a key tension facing luxury hospitality. This intent is evident in Capella's newest properties. Capella Taipei, which opened in April as the city's first luxury hotel debut in several years, immediately filled a void in Taiwan's economic and cultural capital. The 86-key property, designed by Andre Fu, operates as a "modern mansion" with programming that includes calligraphy workshops and night-market expeditions through their "Capella Culturists" program. The execution feels sharp, and despite just opening, seems to be magnetic to the right crowd. During a recent visit, the hotel buzzed with a compelling mix of American tech executives, global business travelers, and affluent Taiwanese locals: a living moodboard that might have appeared in early concept drafts of the property. It felt inspired and different. Two-Brand Approach Similar intentionality appears across their 2025 openings: Capella Kyoto taps into strong interest in Japan's traditional heritage with an intimate 89-key property by Kengo Kuma & Associates, and perhaps most intriguingly, Capella is developing Patina as a parallel luxury brand targeting culturally curious travelers. Where Capella emphasizes heritage and craft, Patina positions itself as "pioneering transformative luxury" for guests seeking creative programming alongside high-touch service. Patina Osaka, their 221-key urban debut, showcases this through partnerships with local tastemakers like Verdy, the Japanese creative who styles for Blackpink and designs limited Nike editions. Verdy lives nearby in Osaka (and also runs a local pizza joint), and their collaborations evolved naturally over time, first at Patina Maldives, and then in his own backyard with the hotel's Listening Room by OJAS (aka Devon Turnbull) channels Japan's vinyl bar culture, while pop-up collaborations lend cultural cred that speak to next-gen luxury travelers. "With Patina, we're definitely not going to color within the lines," Rinaldi explains, describing an approach that allows for a bit of risk-taking while leveraging Capella's operational acumen. Rinaldi also says that some of the cultural dot connecting that Patina does well is also feeding into Capella's pipeline. By positioning Patina as "powered by Capella," they're creating a bit of space for both brands to develop distinct identities while sharing resources and expertise, and providing some necessary clarity to consumers. The group's most significant opportunity remains the United States, where Americans already account for nearly 30% of room nights across their Asian portfolio. Unlike competitors with established North American presence, Capella is building brand recognition through word-of-mouth, a slower but potentially more sustainable approach. The brand is also demonstrating operational execution. Their investment in general managers like Antonio Saponara (currently running Capella Bangkok after fine tuning Patina Maldives) ensures vision-based service that pulls through the front line staff, and the focus on genuine local partnerships, when done well, creates differentiation. Other brands find it hard to have the taste levels or the connections to truly make these feel real. Sydney's Capella (opened in 2023) has also become a gathering place for the international creative class rather than just another central business district hotel. Each property feels distinctly interesting with its own inherent energy. What Comes Next Capella's 2025 expansion represents luxury hospitality's most thoughtful scaling effort in recent memory. By combining disciplined growth with creative programming, they're demonstrating that a boutique and craft mindset and broader reach aren't incompatible, provided the execution remains meticulous. The two-brand strategy adds complexity and remains the biggest risk to watch, which will be interesting to follow. It takes a long time to introduce consumers to one brand, let alone two new ones. The real test comes in the next 18 months. Can Capella Kyoto maintain the cultural authenticity that defines the brand while opening in Japan's most tradition-conscious city? Will American travelers embrace Patina as a distinct experience, or will brand confusion occur? And perhaps most critically, can they secure that elusive U.S. foothold without compromising the patient, relationship-driven approach that got them here? If Capella succeeds on all fronts, they'll have cracked the code that has stymied luxury hospitality for decades. But it will be a strategic, marketing, and operational challenge that will take an unprecedented level of leadership cohesion. But early signs are promising.
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Jollibee Billionaire-Backed Hotel101 To Build 10,000 Rooms Worth $2.5 Billion In Saudi Arabia
Hotel101 Global—a unit of DoubleDragon, which is jointly owned by Philippine fast food giant Jollibee founder Tony Tan Caktiong and real estate tycoon Edgar Sia II—is expanding into Saudi Arabia with plans to build 10,000 rooms worth $2.5 billion amid a travel boom. In partnership with Saudi Arabia-based Horizon Group, Hotel101 has identified an initial five sites for its hotels with the first project to be built in Medina followed by Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha and Alula, Hotel101 said in a statement Thursday. Each Hotel101 site will have an average of 500 rooms, the company said. The joint venture comes ahead of Hotel101's planned listing in Nasdaq that DoubleDragon co-chairman Sia told Forbes Asia in February will be done by the first half of 2025. The Nasdaq listing has been on the table since Singapore-based Hotel101 completed a $2.3 billion merger with a Hong Kong-based special purpose acquisition company. 'We see tremendous opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia given the high growth in tourism both domestic and international,' Hotel101 CEO Hannah Yulo-Luccini said. 'We believe Saudi Arabia will be one of the most exciting markets for Hotel101 globally.' Saudi Arabia—one of the 25 countries initially identified for Hotel101's expansion—registered 27 million international tourists and 79 million domestic tourists in 2023 who spent about $67 billion, according to the company. Saudi Arabia is also a key market in the Middle East for overseas Filipino workers, whose remittances have supported consumer spending in the Philippines. Hotel101 aims to build a global chain by offering identical, standardized rooms in all its properties for efficiency and affordability. Adopting the 'condotel' concept that gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1980s, Hotel101's rooms, while under construction, are pre-sold at an average price of as much as $250,000 apiece to investors, who can get a 30% share of the gross hotel room revenues and can stay for free up to ten days every year. 'With Hotel101's rapid-build model and Horizon's local know-how, we will add 10,000 quality, affordable rooms across the Kingdom,' said Horizon Group CEO Abdulrahman Sharbatly. Saudi Arabia is the fourth destination outside of the Philippines for Hotel101, which has assets under construction in Japan's ski town of Niseko in Hokkaido, Madrid and Los Angeles. Hotel101 currently has over 1,100 rooms in two operating hotels in the Philippines where it's currently building nine more properties. It aims to have a million rooms by 2050. With a fortune of $340 million, Sia ranked No. 39 when the list of the Philippines' 50 Richest was published in August. Tan Caktiong, who has a net worth of $2.9 billion, is No. 6. Horizon Group has interests in real estate, trading, hospitality and transportation. It owns a stake in SAMACO, which distributes car brands such as Audi, Bentley, Porsche, and Bugatti in Saudi Arabia.
Trade Arabia
30-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
21,000 NEW ROOMS PLANNED Hilton set to hit 100 hotels milestone in Saudi Arabia
Hilton has announced that it is on track to operate and pipeline 100 hotels in Saudi Arabia by year-end as it accelerates its expansion in the kingdom. Multiple new signings are on the anvil with plans to add more than 21,000 rooms across the country.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Nepalese Billionaire Binod Chaudhary Deepens Marriott Partnership With Indian Hotels Venture
CG Hospitality—controlled by Nepalese billionaire Binod Chaudhary—is collaborating with Marriott International to expand its presence across India as it seeks to tap into the tourism boom across the country. Under the deal announced late Thursday, Marriott and CG Hospitality's Concept Hospitality, the hotel management company behind The Fern chain of hotels, have agreed to develop 380 new hotels and resorts across India over the next five years. The Fern currently operates over 120 properties in the country. 'With this partnership, we're aiming to grow The Fern to 500 hotels by 2030, potentially making it the largest brand in its segment in India, while expanding CG Hospitality's global footprint to 650 hotels,' said Rahul Chaudhary, managing director & CEO of CG Corp Global and CG Hospitality. The deal, which includes a reported $15 million investment by Marriott into Concept Hospitality, also marks the global debut of Marriott's new midscale and upscale lodging brand, Series by Marriott. The Fern's portfolio will also complement Marriott's existing 158 properties that it manages in India under various brands. 'This deal will significantly strengthen Marriott's leadership in India, a key growth market,' said Anthony Capuano, president and CEO of Marriott International. Marriott expects India to become its third-largest market after the U.S. and China within the next few years, up from fifth place currently. Chaudhary's CG Hospitality currently manages 195 hotels, resorts, and wellness destinations across 12 countries through brands such as Taj, Taj Safari, and Vivanta. The company also recently agreed to include The Farm at San Benito in Batangas, south of Manila, as part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. The 70-hectare rebranded luxury wellness resort aims to open in the third quarter of this year. Chaudhary also wants to replicate the wellness resort concept in India. Besides his interest in hotels, Chaudhary also holds stakes in Nepal-based privately owned Nabil Bank and CG Foods, maker of Wai Wai instant noodles. With a net worth of $2 billion, Chaudhary is Nepal's sole billionaire.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IHG's Candlewood Suites expands to Europe with Germany launch
IHG Hotels & Resorts' midscale long-stay brand Candlewood Suites has launched in Europe, with its first property opening in Germany. This expansion is a collaborative effort with Novum Hospitality, a private hotel operator based in Europe. Novum Hospitality CEO and owner David Etmenan said: 'As one of IHG's largest global franchise partners, we are proud to bring Candlewood Suites to Germany, a brand that embodies comfort, convenience, and a home-like experience for our guests." The property in Charlottenburg district, Franklinstraße, Berlin, marks the first Candlewood Suites establishment outside the Americas. This hotel is a component of a dual-brand project, sharing premises with the recently inaugurated Holiday Inn-the niu Flash. The Charlottenburg hotel becomes part of more than 395 existing Candlewood Suites hotels, a global portfolio that has been growing since IHG acquired the brand in 2004. Furthermore, Candlewood Suites is set to introduce an additional five hotels across Germany within this year, including locations in Fürth, Heidelberg, Düsseldorf and Augsburg. In addition, a new property is slated to open near Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Q3 to cater primarily to business and solo travellers. These new hotels are conversions from Novum Hospitality's acora Living the City and Novum hotel brands and are part of a larger agreement to introduce 13 Candlewood Suites hotels in Germany. Candlewood Suites is known for its aparthotel concept, providing guests with amenities such as a self-service laundry, gym access, and weekly housekeeping. IHG Hotels & Resorts Northern Europe managing director Mario Maxeiner said: "We are especially proud of the swift collaboration between IHG and our partners at Novum Hospitality, who have successfully signed, converted, and begun to open Candlewood Suites hotels across the country. 'With 13 additional Candlewood Suites set to open across Germany in the coming months, we are delighted to offer guests a new midscale aparthotel experience, underpinned by a reliable service and apartment-style amenities to maintain their independence and daily routines with confidence.' This agreement also includes collaborations for 50 Holiday Inn – the niu brand hotels and 56 Garner hotels. This European expansion follows IHG's growth in Latin America, where the Candlewood Suites and avid hotel brands were introduced in Guadalajara, Mexico, in November 2022. "IHG's Candlewood Suites expands to Europe with Germany launch" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
