Cristiano Rinaldi loves luxury hotels so much, he’s built an amazing career opening them (and famous ones at that). Even after more than four years at Capella Hotel Group—first as COO and later as President—he still relishes the experience.
“Opening a hotel is like bringing a unique vision to life,” says Rinaldi, who has also worked at The Ritz-Carlton, One&Only Resorts, and Edition. “After opening 40 hotels, I realised it is a journey that blends art and science, history and numbers. To stay relevant to audiences as they evolve, it takes years of meticulous planning and execution combined with a deep understanding of a place and its culture.”
With new Capella and Patina properties opening in Kyoto, Taipei, Macau, Riyadh, and South Korea over the next five years, Rinaldi sees his work going beyond creating beautiful spaces. Despite this, he is more passionate about building lasting relationships, describing how every
journey—a term he prefers over “hotel”—encapsulates the camaraderie, connection and zeal of Capella’s team.
Capella has earned a slew of awards, including World’s Best Hotel Brand, No. 1 Hotel in Singapore (Capella Singapore), and No. 1 Resort in Indonesia (Capella Ubud). How do you stay ahead of the curve?
Our colleagues are masters of hospitality, curating memorable experiences that connect guests with the destination. In particular, Gen Z guests value sustainability and cultural preservation, and we want to meet their needs.
Taking art lovers through Singapore’s street art laneways, Capella Singapore shows them this lesser-known side of the city. A Walk on the Art Side combines street art and culinary heritage with detours to local gastronomic gems unknown to tourists.
By contrast, guests at Capella Ubud can participate in a Balinese ritual called melukat (derived from “lukat”, an old Javanese word for “to cleanse or purify”). This ceremony is conducted by a local shaman in our resort’s lush jungle gardens.
Capella is opening new properties in Kyoto, Taipei, Macau, and Riyadh, among others. What factors do you consider when selecting destinations?
Our hotel designs are shaped by the local context, destination, surroundings, and the owner’s vision. In addition to considerations such as key count, density, and facilities, our hotel designs are never identical.
Projects are developed in collaboration with different architects and designers, including Norman Foster, Bill Bensley, André Fu, and Kengo Kuma. Our partners understand the significance of the hotel site and the destination. The goal is to deliver an experience that is truly immersive at each of our locations, ensuring our brands can maintain their reputation for quality.
Having lived in Japan for many years, I look forward to visiting Capella Kyoto. In Japan, hospitality (or “omotenashi”) is deeply rooted in the culture, so Capella Kyoto is a unique opportunity to combine our approach of crafted hospitality with revered hospitality traditions for an extraordinary experience.
What makes these experiences so unique?
Capella champions a life lived through meaningful discovery, and at the heart of that is a visionary curation of culture and experiences drawn from our destinations.
Aunty Margret Campbell is one of the exclusive experiences at Capella Sydney, which celebrated its first birthday in March. Devoted to preserving and sharing Indigenous Australian culture, she is a respected elder and guardian of her family’s Dreamtime Southern X legacy. Her stories reveal the rich tapestry of aboriginal life, enriching our understanding of a culture that reveres the land and its ancient customs.
Capella’s sustainability and impact programmes also benefit the community. Why is this important?
Positioning, staying true to what the brand stands for, and engaging with the local community are three factors that determine our success. Our guests, colleagues, and the community are at the centre of everything we do at the hotel.
Along with helping guests achieve the lifestyle they seek and creating a sense of belonging for our colleagues, we also support the communities with which we are intertwined. SolarBuddy, for example, is an organisation that alleviates energy poverty for children in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. We donate solar lights that are safe, reliable, and affordable.
As part of our efforts to increase contributions, we have implemented micro-donations on our website since 2022. Additionally, in collaboration with SolarBuddy last year, we presented Dandelights produced in partnership with Drift, the creators behind Capella Sydney’s publicart programme. Every Dandelight purchased—a fusion of art, nature, and tech made from real dandelions that sparks essential conversations about our planet’s future—results in a SolarBuddy donation.
Let’s bring the conversation home. What is your favourite spot at Capella Singapore?
I have a special place in my heart for Capella Manor. When I first joined Capella Hotel Group at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, this became more than a hotel room. For several weeks, it was a sanctuary for my family and me. We formed lasting memories and an emotional attachment to the brand.
Capella Manor recently underwent an extensive renovation, and I must say that it is now an absolute beauty. With its refreshed design, it takes on a whole new level of luxury and appeal. Its relaunch represents more than just a commercial milestone. It demonstrates Capella’s resilience, commitment to continuous improvement, and ability to transform spaces into part of our guests’ personal stories.
When you check in, what’s the first thing you do? And when you check out, what’s the last thing you do?
Since I have been a hotelier for many years, my check-in and check-out routines have almost become ritualistic! The first thing I do after checking into a hotel room is to unpack. I’m quite meticulous about it. I hang all my clothes with care, and my toiletries go in the bathroom.
I approach checking out in the same way. Because I believe in treating the space—and by extension, the staff—with respect, I always leave the room in a respectful condition. That means I do a final sweep to ensure that I haven’t forgotten anything, reflect on my experience, and note outstanding features or areas for improvement. In my travels, check-in and check-out routines are crucial as they help me settle in quickly, enjoy my stay, and depart with peace of mind, which is crucial considering hotels play a huge role in my life.
How many days of annual leave do you get as President of Capella Hotel Group?
My annual leave days are the same as those of my colleagues, and I spend them with my family or to carve out time for myself. However, in a role like mine, one never fully unplugs, so I remain available for urgent matters.
That said, it is vital that we all take time to refresh and rejuvenate, and I make this a point for the entire team. My most recent holiday took me to the vibrant country of Sri Lanka. This trip helped recharge my batteries and gave me new perspectives on what we do at Capella and Patina. I was reminded of the transformative power of travel and the importance of providing our guests with unforgettable experiences that will linger long after they have returned home
