Singapore-headquartered Capella Hotel Group has appointed Feisal Jaffer as chief development officer, leading the hospitality group’s global development and helping shape “hospitality-focused real estate platforms”, reads a June 25 announcement.
Jaffer’s appointment comes as the group furthers its global expansion across its Capella and Patina brands. Patina Hotels & Resorts entered Japan in May 2025 with the opening of Patina Osaka, and the brand is set to debut in China later this year with Patina Tianjin.
As a whole, Capella Hotel Group plans to double its portfolio by 2030, with Capella Nanjing anticipated to open by the end of the year, followed by new openings in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia; and Florence, Italy.
Jaffer joins from LXR Hotels & Resorts at Hilton Worldwide, where he served as global head. There, he led the brand’s strategic growth, scaling from a single property to over 40 hotels operating and in the pipeline across five continents. He also represented Hilton’s luxury brands — Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR — across the Americas.
The Kwee family of Singapore owns Capella Hotel Group through Pontiac Land Group, a privately held luxury developer based in Singapore.
Jaffer’s new role at Capella Hotel Group “marks a homecoming”, says the group, as he had served as senior vice president, acquisitions and development, at Pontiac Land from 2014 to 2019.
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During that time, Jaffer “worked closely alongside Capella Hotel Group” on several of its “most formative projects”, says the group. “He led the Fari Islands development in the Maldives, which gave rise to Patina Maldives; drove the Sydney Sandstones bid and subsequent development that became Capella Sydney, today ranked among the World’s 50 Best Hotels; and was part of the founding team that conceived and launched Patina Hotels & Resorts.”
Earlier, he held senior investment and development roles at Host Hotels & Resorts, in a joint venture with GIC Real Estate; and at Fairmont-Raffles Hotels International, structuring and closing more than US$2.5 billion in transactions over a career spanning nearly three decades.
Roland Fasel, president of Capella Hotel Group, says: “As we build the team to match our ambitions, Feisal brings deep relationships across institutional and private capital, a sharp commercial mind, and a genuine understanding of our brands. He will drive our global development strategy — expanding our portfolio in key markets, building lasting partnerships with owners, and creating enduring value across the business.”
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Evan Kwee, vice-chairman of Capella Hotel Group and third-generation scion of the Kwee family, says Jaffer has been “central to some of our most significant projects”. “Over the years I have come to trust his judgment across the full breadth of what we do: shaping a brand, designing a guest experience, structuring an investment and closing a complex international transaction. He thinks like an entrepreneur but operates with the discipline of an investor, and his passion for luxury, lifestyle and design is evident. As we enter our next phase of growth, there is no one better placed to lead it.”
Capella and Patina represent “industry-defining brands with genuine soul”, says Jaffer. “The years I spent working alongside Evan and the Kwee family taught me what luxury hospitality can be.”
Jaffer adds: “To return at such a pivotal moment — to help advance the group’s global development under Roland’s leadership and contribute to the family’s investment and real estate interests — is a tremendous privilege. I am truly excited to build the next generation of Capella and Patina destinations around the world.”
Across both brands, the group counts 14 hotels, resorts and residences across 12 destinations worldwide. The portfolio includes “wellness-integrated residences” Capella Residences Seoul, set to be completed in 2028; and Capella Residences Bangkok, which is expected to follow in 2030.
