Former CEO of Six Senses Neil Jacobs has been appointed as senior strategic advisor to Capella Hotels and resorts.
The appointment of Neil Jacobs as Senior Strategic Advisor to Capella Hotels and Resorts marks a pivotal moment for the luxury hospitality group. Through his creative collective, Wild Origins, Jacobs will collaborate with Capella to guide its strategic direction during an era of significant expansion. This partnership is built on a shared philosophy of creating hotels that honor their destinations and provide guests with deeply immersive experiences.
Jacobs’ extensive background, including his tenure as CEO of Six Senses, has established him as a key figure in the realm of sustainable and soulful hospitality. His new venture, Wild Origins, focuses on bringing purposeful projects to life, aligning seamlessly with Capella’s established ethos. Jacobs, a name synonymous with soulful, sustainable, and experiential travel, brings with him a legacy that has profoundly shaped the luxury segment.
The timing of this partnership is nothing short of serendipitous. Capella Hotels and Resorts has been on a remarkable winning streak, securing the title of the #1 Hotel Brand in the World by Travel + Leisure for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025.
This prestigious recognition is a testament to the brand’s unwavering commitment to its core values: honoring the unique soul of each destination, delivering personalized service, and creating spaces that push the boundaries of what luxury can be. With such a strong foundation, the brand is ready to embark on its most ambitious expansion yet.
The collaboration between Neil Jacobs and Capella Hotels and Resorts feels less like a typical new appointment and more like a homecoming of shared ideals. His philosophy of “creating spaces that honor their destinations while pushing the boundaries of what luxury can be” is not just a personal belief but the very blueprint of Capella’s success. The collective’s mission, “waste less, wonder more,” is a mantra that could easily serve as a tagline for the Capella brand itself.
According to a recent press release from Capella Hotel Group, the company is aiming to double its “constellation” of hotels and resorts by 2030. This ambitious plan will see the brand’s footprint expand from its current ten Capella and Patina destinations to twenty, a strategic move that reflects both the brand’s growing appeal and a shrewd understanding of the evolving luxury market.
The group’s dual-brand architecture, featuring the bespoke luxury of Capella and the transformative, creative energy of Patina, allows it to capture different segments of the market while maintaining the intimacy and purpose that define its properties.
Industry articles and company announcements paint a vivid picture of this expansion. The pipeline of new properties is both geographically diverse and architecturally significant. Next on the horizon is the opening of Capella Galaxy Macau, a project that promises to bring the brand’s art-filled retreat concept to one of Asia’s most vibrant destinations.
This will be followed by the highly anticipated Capella Kyoto, a property nestled in the historic Miyagawa-chō district. Its design, a collaboration between Kengo Kuma & Associates and Brewin Design Office, is set to be a masterpiece of cultural preservation and modern luxury. The company’s expansion into Japan also includes a Patina property in Osaka, demonstrating their strategic approach to introducing their two brands to key markets.
But Capella’s ambitions are not confined to Asia. The company is set to make a bold move into Europe, with the opening of Capella Florence in 2027. This marks the beginning of a new chapter, bringing the Capella philosophy of “cultural immersion” to a continent rich with history and artistry.
Further projects are planned for Tianjin, China, and a residential development in Seoul, South Korea, alongside a presence in the Middle East with a property in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, all reinforcing the brand’s global vision.
The partnership with Neil Jacobs feels like the final, perfect piece of this intricate puzzle. His philosophy of “creating spaces that honour their destinations while pushing the boundaries of what luxury can be” is not just a personal belief but the very blueprint of Capella’s success.
He brings with him a deep understanding of sustainability, wellness, and experiential travel—the very pillars that have elevated Capella to its current standing. In a recent press release, the company expressed its excitement to collaborate with Jacobs through Wild Origins, emphasizing how his philosophy resonates with their mission to create properties that awaken guests’ sense of wonder.
This collaboration suggests a future where Capella’s growth is not just about building more hotels, but about deepening its commitment to its foundational principles. With Jacobs’ guidance, the brand can further refine its approach to sustainability, develop innovative wellness offerings, and create even more immersive and authentic experiences for its guests.
The blend of Capella’s existing award-winning expertise and Jacobs’ visionary leadership promises to create something truly extraordinary. It’s a journey not just of expansion, but of evolution. As the Capella constellation grows, so too will its reputation as a pioneer of soulful, intentional luxury—a reputation that Neil Jacobs, and his collective Wild Origins, will undoubtedly help to polish to an even brighter shine.
His influence will extend beyond individual properties, shaping the very culture of the brand to ensure that every new hotel, whether a Capella or a Patina, upholds the same high standards of purpose-driven hospitality. This strategic alignment of vision and experience is set to propel Capella into a new era of global prominence, all while staying true to the intimate, purpose-driven philosophy that has earned it its stellar reputation.
