Capella Hotel Group Appoints Roland Fasel as President Amidst Global Expansion Plans

Capella Hotel Group, managing the Capella and Patina Hotels & Resorts brands, has announced the appointment of Roland Fasel as its new President. This transition, effective April 6, 2026, marks a pivotal moment for the group as it embarks on a strategic initiative to significantly expand its global footprint, aiming to double its property count by 2030.

Somudranil Sarkar of Travel And Tour World reports that Fasel brings over three decades of experience in luxury hospitality to this role, having held leadership positions with some of the world's most distinguished hotel collections. Most recently, he served as Group Chief Operating Officer at Maybourne Hotel Group, where he oversaw iconic properties such as Claridge's, The Connaught, and The Berkeley. Prior to Maybourne, Somudranil Sarkar notes that Fasel was Chief Operating Officer at Aman Resorts from 2017 to 2023, during which time he contributed to the brand's expansion with notable openings including Amanyangyun in China, Aman Kyoto in Japan, and Aman New York.

The Travel And Tour World piece further details Fasel's earlier career, which commenced at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. He also held the General Manager position at Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, where he orchestrated an $80 million repositioning effort. According to Somudranil Sarkar, his background also includes leadership roles at The Dorchester in London and as Regional Director at Coworth Park and 45 Park Lane.

As President, Fasel's principal focus will be on maintaining Capella's operational excellence and brand integrity across both its Capella and Patina portfolios. Somudranil Sarkar highlights that a key objective will be to expand into new markets, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, while simultaneously enhancing the guest experience. The group currently operates twelve hotels, six of which hold a Forbes Five-Star rating, and is preparing for significant openings in locations such as Hanoi, Maldives, Sydney, and Chiang Mai.

Our take: The appointment of Roland Fasel, an individual with a distinguished tenure at Aman and Maybourne, is a clear signal of intent from Capella Hotel Group. His expertise in steering high-end, design-led properties through periods of growth and market expansion aligns precisely with the group's stated ambitions. This strategic hire suggests Capella is not merely expanding, but is deliberately positioning itself to deepen its presence in key luxury markets, leveraging Fasel's proven ability to cultivate exceptional guest experiences while scaling operations. This move could reshape the competitive landscape for ultra-luxury brands over the next decade.