Travel + Leisure readers have named Capella Hotels and Resorts the world’s best hotel brand for the fourth consecutive year, marking a milestone that reinforces the brand’s growing influence in luxury hospitality. The recognition carries particular weight because travellers worldwide voted across a portfolio of only ten properties, including the newly opened Capella Kyoto, which welcomed its first guests in March 2026.
The award also highlights a strong year for Capella and its sister brand Patina Hotels & Resorts, with individual properties recognised across Asia Pacific. Among the standout winners, Patina Osaka was voted both The World’s No. 1 Best Hotel and Best Hotel in Asia, becoming the first Japanese hotel in the history of the awards to receive the global honour.
A Different Approach to Luxury Hospitality
For Capella Hotels and Resorts, excellence is built on meaningful journeys rather than simply exceptional service. The brand’s appeal among travellers comes from its highly personalised approach, where each property is designed as a reflection of its destination’s heritage, traditions, and communities.
Rather than creating a standardised luxury experience, Capella focuses on helping guests connect with the culture and character of each location. This philosophy has become a defining element of the brand’s identity as luxury travellers increasingly seek authenticity, discovery, and deeper connections with the places they visit.
Capella Ubud: From Preservation to Community Connection
In Indonesia, Travel + Leisure readers named Capella Ubud Indonesia’s No. 1 Resort for the third time, following previous wins in 2020 and 2024.
The resort’s recognition reflects eight years of building relationships with Keliki Village, where local families — including multiple generations — are part of the property’s team. Beyond employment opportunities, Capella Ubud has supported community development through initiatives such as its English for Brighter Future programme, which has seen 85 young people graduate.
The resort has also contributed to environmental conservation, including the restoration of firefly habitats in neighbouring Taro Village through local partnerships.
Capella Ubud celebrates its eighth anniversary with a new chapter. The resort is moving from preservation towards cultivation. New experiences invite guests to participate more actively by planting, harvesting, and learning alongside the surrounding community.
Capella Sydney Continues Heritage-Led Success
Opened in 2023 within Sydney’s former Department of Education building, Capella Sydney has retained its position as Australia and New Zealand’s No. 1 City Hotel for the second consecutive year.
The transformation of the historic building took seven years, reflecting Capella’s commitment to restoring significant landmarks while preserving their original character.
Following this success, The Lands by Capella — located in the former Department of Lands building opposite Capella Sydney — continues the group’s heritage restoration approach, bringing the same attention to history, craftsmanship, and place-making.
Patina Osaka Signals a New Era for Luxury Travel
Patina Osaka, the second property under Patina Hotels & Resorts after Patina Maldives, has achieved a landmark victory by being voted both The World’s No. 1 Best Hotel and Best Hotel in Asia.
The recognition represents a major achievement for the emerging luxury brand and reflects changing expectations among high-end travellers. Increasingly, guests are looking beyond traditional luxury defined by exclusivity and are seeking experiences shaped by creativity, community, and cultural connection.
Patina Osaka represents this evolution through its focus on creative partnerships, wellness, and exploration, connecting guests with the local communities and creative energy that define Osaka.
Building Hotels That Reflect Their Destinations
Roland Fasel, President of Capella Hotel Group, said the recognition reflects the shared philosophy behind both Capella and Patina.
“Capella and Patina are brands with distinct identities built on the same belief: that a hotel should genuinely reflect the place it is in and the people who live there,” he said.
According to Fasel, Capella expresses this vision through cultural immersion, craftsmanship, and design rooted in place, while Patina focuses on creative connection, wellness, and exploration.
“Our vision has always been to build brands that are purposeful, and hotels that last,” he added.
For Capella Hotels and Resorts, the latest Travel + Leisure recognition represents more than another industry accolade. It reinforces a broader shift in luxury hospitality — where the most memorable stays are increasingly defined not only by where guests sleep, but by how deeply they connect with a destination.
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