Rinaldi Takes Over the Reins at Capella from Clayton
Cristiano Rinaldi. Photo: Capella Hotel Group
January 14, 2022
Cristiano Rinaldi has been promoted to president of Capella Hotel Group, taking over the reins at the Singapore-based luxury hotel group from Nicholas M. Clayton.
Clayton, who led Capella as CEO since 2015, has decided to reunite with family in North America, according to a statement.
Rinaldi joined Capella as chief operating officer in September 2020, from Marriott International where he was general manager leading the pre-opening of Edition hotels in Bangkok and Tokyo. Throughout his career, Rinaldi has opened more than 35 luxury hotels across the globe. He was also vice president operations of One&Only Resorts. He began his career in F&B with Hilton.
Capella’s vice chairman, Evan Kwee, lauded Rinaldi for his “refreshing creativity and remarkable dedication to the group’s philosophy and values”, having worked alongside Rinaldi for the past year in opening Capella hotels in Bangkok and Hanoi, and the Patina Maldives, Fari Islands. (See this Insider article on how the Fari Islands development, which comprises a Ritz-Carlton, a Patina and a Capella hotel, attempts to be a game-changer on staff welfare in the Maldives).
Capella and Patina are brands under Capella Hotel Group, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary Pontiac Land Singapore.
Rinaldi said he’s honored to have been chosen to lead the group on its next phase of growth.
Upcoming projects comprise four Capella hotels, in Diriyah Gate, Saudi Arabia; Sydney, Australia; Fari Islands, Maldives; and Yang Yang in Gangwon Province, South Korea.
The group has also launched Flow, a “high-tech perspective to wellness”, according to a statement. It also has a spa concept, Auriga.