A LUXURY VETERAN WILL OVERSEE CAPELLA AS IT ENTERS A PERIOD OF EXPANSION .
Contributed by MEGAN ROWE
been able to announce them mainly because of travel restrictions ; we ’ re waiting for the right time .
H : What areas are you targeting now ? CR : We are very Asian focused , and we remain strong in this part of the world . We ’ re seeing increasing interest in the Middle East and are working on a footprint in Europe and North America .
H : Do you see more opportunities for conversions ? CR : Of the next 10 projects , 75 % to 80 % are new build . The conversions are not hotels , but historic houses or registered buildings . In Sydney , for example , we are converting two historic buildings that were Lands and Education Buildings . Certainly , the number of properties in distress could open larger opportunities for us to rebrand with an existing or new owner . If the opportunity comes along , we would consider a conversion .
H : How has the group been performing in 2021 , and what ’ s the outlook for 2022 ? CR : 2021 has been a well-performing year for us . We have a relatively small portfolio , but in markets with a strong reliance on domestic travel , such as Singapore and China , along with the Maldives , we are doing well . We know once international travel resumes , we will see benefits . As a leisure hotel group , we know it ’ s very important to develop experiences for guests . We really focus on creating those experiences . That made the transition to a domestic audience relatively seamless . The outlook for 2022 is positive ; I think it will take time to ramp up during the first quarter , but as soon as leisure travel becomes
The Auriga Spa at the Capella in Hanoi easier , that will rebound , and resorts will be the first choice , followed by urban resorts . So , that puts us in a good place .
H : Do you think post-COVID travelers are even keener on the experience aspect ? CR : Absolutely . We craft experiences that connect with the local culture . We want guests to access experiences and places that only locals would know about . It ’ s traveling with purpose . I think there is a bigger need . We ’ re also seeing that people might be traveling less throughout the year , but staying longer . And we realize we need to adjust the offering to provide spaces that allow for leisure and work as well , since many of us can work from anywhere . So , when we look at new projects , we consider new layouts that keep in mind what guests are looking for — a longer stay and also a better environment to conduct both their personal and business lives .
H : Many regions are facing labor shortages . How is that affecting your ability to keep service standards high ? CR : During 2020 , while were trying to retain jobs and making sure we were taking care of our colleagues , we decided to dedicate this time to additional training and learning . One of our pillars is continuous improvement / learning . We have made available a number of online training modules . Also , we ’ re about to launch a vocational training
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