noa* @ Sleeper N°95

HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE & DESIGN

ZANNIER HOTELS BÃI SAN HÔ • TARA BERNERD • VOLKSHAUS – BASEL

SIPPING

A H E A D G LO B A L

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hotels, which makes judging AHEAD – the awards for hospitality experience and design – all the more difficult. But, thanks to a 60-strong panel of operators, developers, architects and designers, the very best projects have been revealed. Marking the culmination of eight regional awards schemes, AHEAD Global saw winners from 2019-2020 compete head-to-head in a series of new categories, with shortlisted projects presented live before a vote.

So, what makes a winner? We asked members of the judging panel to shed light on why winning projects stood out from the crowd, whether that be by elevating a neighbourhood or striking the perfect balance between sustainability and luxury.

Aliya Khan, Vice President of Design, Lifestyle Brands, at Marriott International summed it up

when she said: “Designers today do an excellent job of solving tactical problems; guestrooms are efficient, coffee is a push-button away and concepts are executed with craft and skill. But on top of all these calculated needs are the projects that make you dream; they inspire and make you, the traveller, aspire to more. They are decadent in their attention to detail, and always authentic in telling the story of their location in every sensory way possible. In a year where we have only been able to wander the world in our minds, I considered what each of the hotels can offer a global population who are starving for travel, and which ones provide a memorable experience that remind us why we seek to explore new destinations.”

The ceremony is available to watch online in full, where you can view winning presentations and hear how AHEAD brought the community together.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF AHEAD GLOBAL

www.aheadawards.com

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T H E S O C I A L S C E N E AWA R D

THE STANDARD – LONDON, UK Crosstree Real Estate Partners / Standard International / Orms / Archer Humphryes Architects Shawn Hausman Design Pulsating public spaces are the holy grail of hospitality, and Standard International’s London debut ticks all the boxes.

Having already won three awards at AHEAD Europe, the hotel was triumphant on the Global stage thanks to the success of rooftop restaurant Decimo, the Double Standard bar and a vibrant lobby lounge that’s as equally suited to co-working as it is cocktails.

So, what stood out at The Standard? For Sam Gelin, founder of Made Hotels and judge in this category, it was the variety of spaces on offer together with the distinct identity of each, resulting in a property he describes as “thoughtful, wellexecuted and original”. Anne Wilkinson, Principal at Bamo, adds: “They took a concept and knocked it out of the park.

Every bar, restaurant and lounge has swagger and personality; it’s perfectly edited and thoughtfully designed. You can picture yourself there at any time of day or night.”

T H E G A M E C H A N G E R AWA R D

WILD COAST TENTED LODGE – SRI LANKA Resplendent Ceylon / Nomadic Resorts / Bo Reudler Studio Gamechangers break the mould, challenging the established norms of the hotel world to create something refreshing and different. Nomadic Resorts’ 36-tent safari camp in Sri Lanka does just that, using prefabrication methods to minimise its environmental footprint while echoing the context of the site through local materials such as stone, quartz and mud brick.

How did it beat off the competition? For Stefan Rier, founder of Noa*, it was the “fluid combination of innovation and tradition, resulting in an organic architectural style designed in collaboration with local artisans.” Chris Webb, Vice President of Architecture & Design EMEA, Hilton, hails the “eco credentials and respectful fusion with the landscape”, calling it a “one-off luxury experience”. Jinou Park, founder of Normal, says: “As places of escape in remote locations become more popular in the post-Covid world, the sustainable creation and operation of these accommodation types are becoming all the more important.”

AHEAD

W H AT D O T H E J U D G E S L O O K F O R ?

With AHEAD’s regional awards programmes currently open for entries, we ask members of the judging panel what they look for in a winning project.

“An important aspect of any winning project is the story that is told through architecture, interior design, FF&E and service programming; how all the components are intrinsically linked by a common thread of culture and heritage, how they impact the customer experience and how they ultimately facilitate the commercial success of the project.”

“I look for a combination of interesting design that stands out while at the same time being functional in its usability. I take a holistic approach to looking at the whole picture of interior warmth, striking architecture and interesting food and beverage concepts that have strong identities of their own.”

NICHOLAS CLAYTON – CEO, CAPELLA HOTEL GROUP

SIX SENSES HOTELS RESORTS SPAS

“There’s so much homogenisation, commodification and recycled churn that I believe it important to consider how genuine innovation can create better experiences.

Hospitality is a fast-moving beast, so it is crucial to discern true ingenuity and gauge whether designs will stand the test of time.”

“While this is a design award, we are also looking for a philosophy and approach that resonates, creates interest and is in synchrony with the project’s surroundings geographically, culturally and historically.”

GUY HEYWOOD – CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,

LINDA BORONKAY – FOUNDER, LINDA BORONKAY DESIGN STUDIO

JINOU PARK – FOUNDER, NORMAL

“A winning project has a strong concept that is successfully integrated into every part of the design; combining ideas, functionality, emotions and aesthetics in a harmonious symphony that sparks feelings of curiosity, comfort, newness and nostalgia all at once.”

“AHEAD is far beyond just a head-to-head competition on how beautiful the design is; as judges we look at each project’s invisible and contextual messages.”

ED NG – PRINCIPAL, AB CONCEPT

STEFAN RIER – FOUNDER, NOA*

“The project needs to captivate our imagination to the point where I am inspired to travel to the destination. An award-winning project should combine architecture, interior design and landscaping to demonstrate that this is a concept that has been considered and completed in its entirety. Finally, it should have that unexpected touch, that intangible element that sets it apart from the others.”

“Cosmetic is only the icing on the cake.

Now more than ever, new hotel concepts must reactivate curiosity, cultural discovery and experiences – reinventing the terms of hospitality. Designing this means thinking the intangible and how to make it happen, creating unique scenarios and developing new ways to travel where the constructed may not be the core of the outcome.”

PAUL WISTE – PRINCIPAL, DESIGN ASSEMBLY

CONSTRUCTION, THE LANGHAM HOTELS

JENNYFER LACROIX – DIRECTOR OF DESIGN &

S AV E T H E DAT E F O R A H E A D 2 0 2 1

9 SEPTEMBER 2021

16 SEPTEMBER 2021

3 NOVEMBER 2021

19 NOVEMBER 2021

CAESARS BLUEWATERS – DUBAI

ANDAZ – SINGAPORE

FAENA FORUM – MIAMI

EVOLUTION – LONDON

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO AHEAD GLOBAL 2020 SPONSORS

ORGANISED BY

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POWERED BY

GLOBAL SPONSORS

www.aheadawards.com

TROPHY SPONSOR