Ned Capeleris: on the Timeless Formula of Success - Take Care of Your Associates

When I sat down with Ned Capeleris, General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, I already had a feeling this episode would be special. What I didn’t expect was how much it would move and inspire me. I asked Ned if he always knew hospitality was his calling. He smiled and shared a story about flipping Big Macs at McDonald’s as a teenager. Fast forward a few decades - he has led some of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotels and now oversees one of Europe’s most iconic: The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna. As we spoke, he took me on a journey through his incredible career. Ned has lived and worked in some of the most breathtaking places on the planet - Sydney, California, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Manama, Herzliya, San Sebastián, Mallorca, Astana, Rabat, Baku, Singapore, Sharm El Sheikh - and now Vienna. When I asked him what “home” means after so many moves, he paused for a moment and said, “Home is where the heart is. I feel like a global citizen.” We reflected on the most challenging chapter of his career, when he led a fully kosher Ritz-Carlton in Herzliya. He shared why the Ritz-Carlton brand keeps pulling him back, what it truly means to lead in luxury, and how powerful the influence of mentors has been throughout his journey. One sentence in particular stayed with me: “The success of a GM starts with walking your hotel and knowing your people by name.” And as Ned summed it up so simply and powerfully: “The formula hasn’t changed.” Of course, there were stories too - about Rafael Nadal, Sir Richard Branson and even a camel milk cappuccino in Dubai. But beyond the anecdotes what stood out most was Ned’s unwavering belief in people. This episode isn’t just a conversation about hotels. It’s about timeless values - people, passion, and purpose.