Capella Hotel Group has appointed Feisal Jaffer as its new Chief Development Officer, strengthening its leadership team as the luxury hospitality company accelerates global expansion across its Capella and Patina brands.
The appointment comes as the Group enters a significant growth phase, with plans to double its global portfolio by 2030 through new luxury hotels, branded residences, and hospitality-focused real estate developments.
Supporting the next phase of global growth
Jaffer will oversee Capella Hotel Group’s worldwide development strategy, leading expansion across key markets while building long-term partnerships with owners and investors. His responsibilities will also include helping shape hospitality-focused real estate platforms that support the Group’s long-term ambitions.
The company is building on strong momentum across both of its luxury brands. Capella Hotels and Resorts has been recognised as Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotel Brand for three consecutive years, while Patina Hotels & Resorts recently expanded into Japan with Patina Osaka and is preparing to debut in China with Patina Tianjin.
Upcoming openings include Capella Nanjing later this year, followed by new properties in Riyadh and Florence, reflecting the Group’s continued international growth strategy.
A familiar face returns to Capella
Jaffer’s appointment marks a return to the Capella ecosystem. Between 2014 and 2019, he served as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Development at Pontiac Land Group, where he worked closely with Capella Hotel Group on several landmark projects.
Among his notable achievements were leading the development of the Fari Islands project in the Maldives, which became home to Patina Maldives, helping drive the redevelopment of Sydney Sandstones into the award-winning Capella Sydney, and contributing to the creation and launch of the Patina Hotels & Resorts brand.
Extensive luxury hospitality experience
Most recently, Jaffer served as Global Head of LXR Hotels & Resorts, Hilton’s independent luxury collection, where he expanded the luxury brand from a single hotel to more than 40 operating and pipeline properties across five continents. He also represented Hilton’s luxury portfolio—including Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, and LXR—throughout the Americas.
Earlier in his career, he held senior investment and development positions at Host Hotels & Resorts in partnership with GIC, as well as at Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. Across nearly three decades, he has structured and completed more than US$2.5 billion in hospitality transactions.
Leadership welcomes the appointment
Roland Fasel said Jaffer brings deep relationships across institutional and private capital, strong commercial expertise, and an in-depth understanding of the company’s brands. He added that Jaffer will play a key role in expanding Capella Hotel Group’s global portfolio and creating long-term value through strategic owner partnerships.
Evan Kwee, Vice Chairman of Capella Hotel Group, highlighted Jaffer’s contributions to several of the company’s defining projects, including Fari Islands, Capella Sydney, and the creation of the Patina brand. highlighted Jaffer’s contributions to several of the company’s defining projects, including Fari Islands, Capella Sydney, and the creation of the Patina brand. He praised Jaffer’s ability to combine entrepreneurial thinking with disciplined investment expertise as the company enters its next stage of growth.
Jaffer said returning to Capella Hotel Group at such an important point in its expansion was a privilege. He added that he looks forward to advancing the Group’s global development strategy while helping build the next generation of Capella and Patina destinations around the world.
Why it matters
As demand for luxury experiential travel continues to grow, Capella Hotel Group is investing in leadership capable of supporting its ambitious expansion plans. Bringing back an executive closely involved in some of the company’s most successful projects signals a focus on sustainable growth, strategic development, and strengthening the global presence of both the Capella and Patina brands.
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