PRESS RELEASE
Luxury has a new home: Capella Sydney is now open

Image credit: Timothy KayeEMBARGOED until 10:00am (AEST) March 15th 2023 – After a seven-year restoration and renovation process,Capella Sydney is now open. Occupying an entire city block just moments from Circular Quay, the Opera House
and Harbour Bridge, the hotel welcomes guests to a benchmark destination of luxury accommodation,
exceptional cuisine and unrivalled cultural immersion.
Capella Sydney is housed within the Department of Education building, originally designed in the 1900s by NSW
government architect George McRae. Forming part of the city’s prestigious Sandstone Precinct, the building has
been meticulously restored and reimagined by Pontiac Land.
"Pontiac Land has always been passionate about creating meaningful developments that contribute and help
shape their communities. Capella Sydney was an ideal opportunity for us to sensitively repurpose this culturally
significant landmark in the heart of downtown Sydney and transform it into a more public offering as a leading
luxury hotel for everyone to be able to experience. We are grateful for the support of the NSW government, andthe City of Sydney in the achievement of our shared vision for Capella Sydney's contribution towards a vibrantand rejuvenated Circular Quay precinct," says David Tsang, Chief Executive Officer, Pontiac Land Group.
Capella Sydney brings to the city 192 beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites, arranged across nine levels.
Representing the epitome of luxury, the guestrooms and suites are replete with deluxe textiles, standalone tubs
and Italian Frette linen, carrying a custom pantone and a bespoke collection of vegan, sustainable in-room
amenities designed in partnership with Haeckels.
Cristiano Rinaldi, President of Capella Hotel Group, is pleased to introduce the Capella brand to Australia for thevery first time. “The opening of Capella Sydney is a milestone moment in the company’s global expansion,” Rinaldisays.

He adds: “This launch represents a significant opportunity for Capella to showcase its refined and curated
offerings to Sydney and its visitors, and we look forward to amplifying the stories, culture and experiences of thecity through a uniquely Capella lens.”
Guests enter the hotel via the Farrer Place lobby where the arrival experience is heightened by the integrationof acquired and commissioned art. The ground-floor collection includes works by the likes of Australian artists
Judy Watson, Otis Hope Carey, Elise Cakebread and Georgia Bisley, culminating with a large robotic lighting
installation by Dutch art duo DRIFT.
Titled Meadow, the installation by DRIFT is suspended in the hotel’s central gathering space. This voluminous
lounge area, now known as Aperture, occupies the original courtyard of the old building – the fulcrum from which
all the hotel’s amenities are accessed. This includes two other drink-and-dine venues: the landmark restaurant
Brasserie 1930 and McRae Bar, both of which feature cuisine in collaboration with The Bentley Group.
Staying in-house at Capella Sydney opens the doors to an exclusive world of luxury and cultural connection. On
level six, guests are invited to indulge in rejuvenating treatments at Auriga Spa or swim in the 20-metre heatedindoor pool, designed to provide the ultimate wellness experience in the heart of the city.
The Living Room, a signature space of all Capella properties, is the private ground-floor retreat for in-houseguests. It’s also the place where the hotel’s culture and experience programs are conceptualised, facilitated byCulturists who are on-hand to shape the guest experience from pre-arrival to departure.
One such experience involves a spectacular two-hour storytelling tour of a bygone era. Guests who join thewalking tour, which travels from the hotel to the laneways of The Rocks, will hear fascinating stories about thehistory of the Department of Education building, now Capella Sydney, the Sandstone Precinct in which it resides
and the culture, crime and convicts that shaped the city.
To celebrate the opening, Capella Sydney is offering this experience as part of the Capella History Journey which
includes overnight accommodation in a deluxe guestroom for two guests priced at AUD $1500.
The Capella History Journey experience includes:
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Daily breakfast for up to two people in Brasserie 1930
Bespoke welcome amenity upon arrival
Capella Culturist experience
24-hour fitness centre
Complimentary access to the Living Room
Valet parking for one car

Capella History Journey is valid until 30th June 2023, subject to availability.
Capella Sydney is now open for reservations, via telephone +61 2 9071 5000 or online capellahotels.com/sydney
Instagram @capellasydney @brasserie.1930 @mcrae.bar_ENDS_Timothy Kaye imagery here.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Elysée Collective
Alice Moore, Director
alice@elyseecollective.com.au
Capella Sydney
Kate Dalton, Director of Marketing and Communications
kate.dalton@capellahotels.com

ABOUT CAPELLA HOTELS AND RESORTS
The Capella Hotels and Resorts constellation consists of properties located in Singapore, Ubud, Bangkok, Hanoi,Shanghai and Hainan. Capella Sydney will be the first one in the Australian market. Future openings include
exciting destinations such as Japan, Maldives and South Korea. The exceptional hospitality brand, taking its
name from the brightest star of the Auriga constellation, shines a spotlight on local heritage, culture andcommunity whilst crafting authentic guests’ experiences with the highest level of personalised service andcombining a legacy of thoughtful design. Capella Hotels and Resorts was named 2nd Best Hotel Brand in theworld in the Travel + Leisure ‘World’s Best Awards’ in both 2021 and 2020. Capella Hotels and Resorts is amember of DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme representing a collection of 40 independent hotel
brands in over 100 countries worldwide.
For more information, visit capellahotels.com
ABOUT PONTIAC LAND GROUP
Pontiac Land is a privately-held property developer, owner, and operator based in Singapore. The Group’s
collection of properties includes mixed-use developments with hospitality, commercial and residentialcomponents. Leveraging on sixty years of experience in luxury property development, Pontiac Land seeks tobetter the built environment through thoughtful architecture and design. Each development is curated with artand spaces are maintained by the Group’s in-house property management team to deliver hospitality to ourguests and tenants. The collection spans Singapore, New York, Sydney and the Maldives. In 2006, Pontiac Landco-founded Capella Hotel Group in Asia. The Group subsequently acquired Capella Hotel Group as a whollyowned subsidiary in 2017, extending Pontiac Land’s presence to over 20 destinations globally.
For more Information, visit pontiacland.com