In current occasions, I’ve been writing a sequence about a number of the world’s small luxurious lodge teams, together with Airelles, Aman, BVLGARI, Cheval Blanc, Oetker, One&Solely, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and many others. One model that I haven’t coated a lot is Capella Resorts & Resorts, so on this put up, I’d like to try that.
Whereas Capella has a small assortment of properties, they’re extremely prime quality, and usually symbolize among the many greatest accommodations of their locales. The model is closely centered on Asia-Pacific, however we’ll lastly see the model develop past that within the subsequent couple of years, and I can’t wait to see how that performs out. There’s additionally even an attention-grabbing loyalty program angle to Capella.
Fundamentals of what makes Capella Resorts & Resorts particular
With out the huge footprint or a long time of legacy that rivals possess, Capella Resorts & Resorts has managed to construct a powerful fame lately. Whereas I don’t precisely put a lot weight on these rankings, Capella as a model, plus the person properties, have earned a disproportionate variety of awards, they usually appear to be nicely deserved.
The backstory of Capella is attention-grabbing, because it was first based in 2001 by Horst Schulze. He was additionally the co-founder of Ritz-Carlton again in 1983, lengthy earlier than Marriott received concerned. Then in 2017, Schulze offered Capella to Singapore’s Kwee household, and it’s actually since then that the “fashionable” Capella model was born.
To develop on {that a} bit, nearly the entire preliminary Capella properties from a few a long time in the past have been rebranded. For instance, Breidenbacher Hof Dusseldorf, Cala de Mar Ixtapa, Rosewood Washington DC, Waldorf Astoria Pedregal Los Cabos, and many others., had been all former Capella properties.
In some ways, Capella’s new and boutique portfolio has allowed the corporate to stay closely centered on high quality. I like Capella’s said imaginative and prescient — “visionary design elevated with honest-to-heart hospitality” — and it’s fairly a distinction to so most of the different mass market lodge teams you’ll see on the market.
I additionally like the corporate’s imaginative and prescient, and I feel it paints a fairly correct image of the sort of expertise the model affords:
Our imaginative and prescient is to mix custom, discovery, individuality and a twist of the surprising, to create the proper keep for every visitor. Our locations are designed by world-renowned architects. Our eating places supply genuine flavours imaginatively reinvented. From the Auriga spas to every location’s devoted and private visitor companies, the Capella spirit is holistic, beneficiant and bespoke.
A technique I like to consider Capella is that it’s just like the early days of Aman, besides with extra of a concentrate on metropolis properties than rural retreats.
Capella Resorts & Resorts areas
Capella Resorts & Resorts at the moment has simply eight properties in its portfolio, so it’s among the many smallest lodge collections on the market, with all properties being in Asia-Pacific.
Nevertheless, the model ought to develop by 50% within the subsequent couple of years, with upcoming properties in Kyoto in 2026, and in Florence, Riyadh, and Shenzhen, in 2027. As you may see, we’ll lastly see Capella make its European debut. So whereas there’s a scarcity of geographic variety within the portfolio, Asia-Pacific is such a great area for hospitality, so that you’ve gotta recognize how this additionally permits the model to have stellar properties.
One different factor I ought to point out is that Capella additionally owns Patina Resorts & Resorts, which at the moment has properties in the Maldives and Osaka. It is a separate lodge group, but additionally very nicely regarded, so it’s value being conscious of.
With the above out of the best way, let’s go over the small print of Capella’s present properties.
Capella Singapore
Set on Sentosa Island simply off Singapore’s southern coast, Capella Singapore opened in 2009 because the model’s flagship. It was constructed first within the Eighties and offered army housing for the British Royal Artillery. In the present day, the resort has 112 rooms, suites, villas, and manors, unfold throughout 30 acres of gardens that mix British colonial buildings with fashionable structure. Capella Singapore is a standout within the metropolis, given its setting on Sentosa, and historic significance to Singapore.
It’s an amazing possibility for anybody who’s in search of a resort-style trip in Singapore. Whereas I don’t put a lot weight on this, in 2024 Capella Singapore was acknowledged as one of many World’s 50 Finest Resorts, rating thirty third on the listing.
Capella Bangkok
Capella Bangkok opened in 2020 on the Chao Phraya River, and affords 101 rooms, suites, and villas, all of which provide uninterrupted views of the water. The placement alongside Charoen Krung Street and subsequent door to the 4 Seasons Bangkok places friends inside Bangkok’s historic waterfront district. One of many distinctive options of the lodge are the Riverside Villa and Presidential Villa, which provide non-public riverfront swimming pools and gardens.
Capella Bangkok has rapidly established itself as among the finest in Asia and Bangkok. It debuted with a 1st place rating on the 2024 World’s 50 Finest Resorts listing, and adopted up with a third place rating in 2025.
Capella Ubud, Bali
Capella Ubud consists of simply 23 tents, every with a personal saltwater pool. The resort opened in 2018 and caters towards {couples}, with 22 tents having one bed room, and one tent having two bedrooms. Each construction on the resort is elevated inside the jungle cover and surrounded by vegetation, and is meant to supply a “glamping” expertise. The resort encompasses a tented gymnasium known as The Armory, an open-air spa, and a wonderful fundamental pool among the many jungle’s treetops.
Capella Shanghai
Capella Shanghai occupies a set of restored shikumen townhouses within the former French Concession. The property opened in 2017, and affords 55 villas and suites, every unfold throughout a number of ranges, with non-public courtyards and interiors that mix parts of China and Europe.
Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire affords French eating, and the Auriga Spa, together with the library lounge and serene courtyards, give friends loads of locations to unwind away from town. So the property actually looks like a resort inside a metropolis, one thing that Capella is nice at.
Capella Tufu Bay, Hainan
Capella Tufu Bay opened in 2019, as a recent beachfront escape on the southeastern coast of China’s Hainan Island. The resort has 190 rooms, suites, and villas, all of which face the South China Sea. The property emphasizes wellness, with yoga, tai chi, and holistic spa therapies, forming a key a part of the expertise.
Capella Hanoi
Opened in 2021, Capella Hanoi introduced the model to Vietnam’s capital, with 47 rooms and suites positioned within the metropolis’s French Quarter. Designed by Invoice Bensley, the property takes inspiration from the world of opera, with Artwork Nouveau interiors that distinction with Hanoi’s historic streets.
The small scale of the lodge creates an intimate and residential really feel. Koki, the lodge’s Japanese restaurant, has additionally develop into a neighborhood spotlight. Company have entry to the Auriga Spa, an indoor pool, and a set of artist-inspired suites, with interval antiques and customized art work. That is unarguably Hanoi’s greatest lodge.
Capella Sydney
Capella Sydney opened in 2023, reworking town’s former Division of Schooling constructing, an early Twentieth-century sandstone landmark, right into a lodge with 192 rooms and suites. The renovation took seven years and proceeded slowly to be able to retain a lot of the constructing’s heritage element, whereas making the interiors up to date.
Situated in Sydney’s central enterprise district, Capella Sydney is just some minutes stroll far the world well-known Opera Home, the Rocks, and Sydney Harbour. Whereas the Park Hyatt Sydney was thought to be town’s greatest lodge, many now suppose the Capella Sydney has taken over that title, particularly by way of service and facilities.
In 2025, Capella Sydney made its debut with a twelfth place rating on the World’s 50 Finest Resorts listing, incomes the excellence of being named “Finest Lodge in Oceania.”
Capella Taipei
Capella Taipei opened in April 2025, with 86 room and suites, and is the most recent addition to the portfolio. Designed by André Fu, the lodge is supposed to supply a “fashionable mansion” aesthetic. The property options an Auriga Spa, a small, serene indoor pool, a Cantonese restaurant, a European brasserie, and a patisserie with views of the lodge’s backyard.
That is no doubt Taipei’s greatest lodge, and has elevated the hospitality customary within the metropolis. It’s a property I actually wish to take a look at within the close to future.
Finest strategy to maximize worth with Capella Resorts & Resorts
Not like another small luxurious lodge teams, Capella does take part in a lodge loyalty program. Particularly, it’s a part of GHA Discovery, which is an usually neglected loyalty program. Not solely does GHA Discovery supply elite tiers, however this system additionally affords 4-7% again in your spending, within the type of credit you should utilize towards future GHA stays. So that you completely ought to make the most of this program is reserving a Capella property.
On prime of that, Capella properties take part in Virtuoso and related most well-liked associate and bank card packages. Reserving by these channels often consists of:
- Each day breakfast for 2
- A room improve, if out there
- A resort or spa credit score, usually $100 per keep
- Early check-in and late check-out, if out there
Given the charges, it’s value reserving by a program that gives these advantages. So whether or not you e-book by a premium bank card program or a journey advisor affiliated with Virtuoso, that is the easiest way to e-book these properties. The nice factor is that reserving by Virtuoso nonetheless makes you eligible for GHA Discovery rewards, so you may double dip.
Backside line
Capella is likely one of the world’s most nicely regarded luxurious boutique lodge manufacturers. Capella at the moment has eight properties in Asia-Pacific, and appears closely centered on high quality over amount. I’d nearly view Capella as being what Aman was in its early days, however with extra of a metropolis focus.
Particularly, in Bangkok, Hanoi, Shanghai, Sydney, and Taipei, Capella properties are thought of to be the most effective of their cities. I haven’t stayed at a Capella property in a really very long time, and I look ahead to testing a few these within the close to future.
When you do e-book a Capella property, ensure you e-book by Virtuoso or an analogous program, and double dip it with the GHA Discovery program.
When you’ve stayed at a Capella property, what was your expertise like?
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