Hendra Ismail
The prestigious 22nd annual Hospitality Design (HD) Awards has announced its distinguished list of finalists, recognizing exceptional achievements in design across 34 project and 15 product categories. This year’s nominations represent a significant showcase of innovation, creativity, and excellence within the global hospitality industry, drawing from a competitive pool of over 1,000 entries meticulously evaluated by two expert judging panels. The highly anticipated event, widely regarded as the pinnacle of design accolades in the sector, will culminate in the live unveiling of winners during a gala ceremony on May 5th in Las Vegas, coinciding with the renowned HD Expo + Conference.
A Legacy of Recognition and Innovation
For over two decades, the HD Awards have served as a vital platform for celebrating the groundbreaking designs that shape the guest experience worldwide. The awards program, established to acknowledge and inspire the architects, interior designers, and product manufacturers who push the boundaries of hospitality design, has consistently highlighted emerging trends and celebrated established masters. The sheer volume of submissions each year underscores the industry’s commitment to design innovation and the ongoing pursuit of creating memorable and functional spaces. This year’s finalists represent a diverse collection of projects and products that exemplify the evolving landscape of hospitality, from intimate boutique hotels to expansive resorts and cutting-edge product solutions.
Project Finalists: A Glimpse into the Future of Hospitality Design
The breadth of talent and vision is evident across all project categories. In the Lifestyle Hotel segment, contenders include the vibrant Hotel Daphne in Houston, designed by Bunkhouse Hotels with architecture by Blanchard A+D; Populus Seattle, a collaboration between interior designers Curioso and architects The Miller Hull Partnership; Hotel Albatross in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, envisioned by Mapa Mueller and Mark Alexander Pavliv; and The Standard, Brussels, a multifaceted project involving Bernard Dubois, Verena Haller and the Lifestyle Group, Hyatt Design Team, Jaspers-Eyers Architects, 51N4E, and l’AUC.
The Lifestyle Hotel Public Space category features Populus Seattle again, highlighting its communal areas, alongside The Atlas Hotel in Boston, a creation of INC Architecture & Design and Marlon Blackwell Architects, and The Standard, Brussels, showcasing its public gathering areas.
The Upscale Hotel category presents a global array of excellence, with Hyatt Centric Shanghai Zhongshan Park by Red Design and Sherman Kung & Associates Architects; A by Adina Vienna Danube by BWM Designers & Architects and project A01 architects; and Canal House of Georgetown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, designed by Saguez & Dash with architecture by Fillat + Architecture. For Upscale Hotel Public Space, finalists include Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas in Paradise Valley, Arizona, by Saguez & Dash and Allen + Philp Architects; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida, by BLUR Workshop; The Sanderling Resort in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, by Ward + Gray; and Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson by Suomi Design Works and DYAMI Architecture PC.
The Upper-Upscale Hotel category boasts compelling entries such as The Nickel Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, a joint effort by Morris Adjmi Architects and Method Studios; Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston, a Post Company and Bunkhouse Hotels collaboration with architecture by Lake|Flato Architects; Hotel Indigo Hainan Clear Water Bay by Yang & Associates Group and SIADR, YOSAAN Architects; TFT Chongqing, Vignette Collection, designed by WE Design; and OKU Andalusia, Spain, a testament to OKU Hotels’ in-house design team and dAAR.
In the realm of Luxury Hotel, the nominees are Fairmont Tokyo by BAR Studio and Maki and Associates; Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur by G.A Group and Fender Katsalidis Architects; and Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection, Florence, designed by ArchFlorence and Esteva i Esteva. The Luxury Hotel Public Space finalists include Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai by AvroKO and Killa Design; Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay in Morocco by Muza Lab and GCA Architects; Fairmont Tokyo making a repeat appearance; and Delphi Hotel Hangzhou by ShichaoDaniel and Hanjia Design Group Co., Ltd.
The Midscale Hotel category highlights ONTO Álvaro Obregón in Mexico City by Estudio M:A and CRB Arquitectos; The Compton in Bentonville, Arkansas, by CRÈME / Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design and BRR Architecture; Union Hotel in Toronto by Frank Architecture and KALP Architect Inc.; and Hotel Brookmere in Saratoga Springs, New York, by Sims Patrick Studio and Balzer & Tuck Architecture. For Midscale Hotel Public Space, the finalists are Hyatt Lobby Bar Union Square in New York by Legeard Studio; Spier Hotel in Stellenbosch, South Africa, by Fusion Design & Architecture; and M Social Hotel New York Downtown by Mazzarini & Co. and Nehmer.
The Budget/Select Service Hotel category recognizes AC Hotel by Marriott Bentonville, Arkansas, by INK + ORO and 5G Studio Collaborative; Tiller House, Laguna Hills, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, California, by Atwater Inc. and HMR Architecture; and Hyatt Place Springdale / Zion National Park, Utah, by STUDIO a28. Finalists for Budget/Select Service Hotel Public Space include AC Savannah Historic District by Design Continuum, Inc. and GM Shay Architecture; Hyatt Place Springdale / Zion National Park again; and TownePlace Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Paris, Texas, by Nuance Interiors and Type Six Architecture.
The Hotel Guestrooms category showcases innovation with Hotel Wren in Twentynine Palms, California, by Manola Studio; The Louie, a Davenport Hotel, Spokane, Washington, by Harken Interiors and Perkins Eastman; Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur’s guestrooms; and Desert Rock Resort, Saudi Arabia, by Studio Paolo Ferrari and Oppenheim Architecture. For Hotel Suites, the distinguished finalists are Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna by DesignAgency and Nopp Innenarchitektur; Shebara Resort and Desert Rock Resort, both in Saudi Arabia, by Studio Paolo Ferrari and Killa Design/Oppenheim Architecture respectively; and Four Seasons Hotel Milan by Pierre-Yves Rochon.
Restorations, Transformations + Conversions feature Red Cliffs Lodge Moab by Sormeh Rienne and Vanzeben Architecture; Songtsm Travel Hotel Jiuzhai, China, by Thinking Design and Lanting Design; and W Prague by AvroKO and Chapman Taylor. Amenity Spaces are represented by 300 Main Residential Tower in San Antonio, Texas, by Stantec; The Langham in Columbus, Ohio, by Crimson Design Group and Sullivan Bruck; Oxenfree Princeton, Texas, by Studio K Creative and Northworks; and The Wendy, Arlington, Virginia, by Edit at Streetsense and Cooper Carry.
The Student Housing category highlights forward-thinking designs with Rambler Atlanta by LV Collective and Archie Bolden; Hub Tucson First, Arizona, by Studio K Creative and Antunovich Associates; Hub Knoxville Upscale Collegiate Housing, Tennessee, by Parini and Dwell Design Studio; and Rambler Columbus, Ohio, by Variant Collaborative and OZ Architecture. In Transportation, Oceania Cruises Allura by Studio DADO and Fincantieri stands out.
Small Hotel finalists include Hotel Wren, California; Hotel Albatross, New Jersey; Belden House & Mews, Connecticut, by Champalimaud Design and PBDW Architects; Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach, California, by Palisociety; and Hotel Sevilla, Mexico, by Zeller y Moye. The Landscape + Outdoor Spaces category recognizes The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok by PIA Interior, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Architects 49 Limited, and Shma Company Limited; Frame Hotel – SoCo, Austin, by Frame Hospitality Group and Campbell Landscape Architecture; and The Standard, Pattaya Na Jomtien, Thailand, by Din Studio, Studio Lupine, Onion, and P Landscape Co. Ltd.
The Upscale Restaurant category features Mamani, Dallas, by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio and Fusion AE Texas; Remy’s Loose, Rhode Island, by Studio Valerius; Lucia, Los Angeles, by Preen Inc.; Carbone Riviera, Las Vegas, by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and Bergman, Walls & Associates; and C’LA VI London by Prospect Design International and RPBW. Casual Restaurant nominees are Testa Rossa, Pennsylvania, by Stokes Architecture + Design; Super Peach, Los Angeles, by INC Architecture & Design; Papa San, New York, by INC Architecture & Design; and Westmoreland, New York, by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio and Selldorf Architects.
Bar, Club + Lounge finalists include Swim Club, Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong by Steve Leung Hospitality; Peridot Bar, Hong Kong, by Studio Paolo Ferrari and Zaha Hadid Architects; Jo’s Bar, Miami, by Saladino Design Studios; Mimi, Edmonton, Canada, by Ste Marie; and Filthy Martini Bar, Phoenix, by PETERMAX Co. and AG Architectural Solutions. The Resort category showcases Lagen El Nido, Philippines, by Wimberly Interiors and WATG; ZOLAND·Emei, China, by Studio J. Bridgland; Rosewood Mandarina, Mexico, by Bando x Seidel Meersseman (BxSM) and Manuel Cervantes Estudio; and Desert Rock Resort, Saudi Arabia, by Studio Paolo Ferrari and Oppenheim Architecture.
New Brand Launch finalists are Appellation, Healdsburg, California, by EDG and Hart Howerton; and The River Electric, Guerneville, California, by Jessie Galloway Design and Boundary Works. Branded Residences include J.W. Marriott Reston Station, Virginia, by Michael Graves Architecture and EDG; and Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences, Costa Rica, by Gensler, BAMO, and 10 Design.
The Wellness + Wellbeing category highlights Bedrock Aquatics and Athletics at Moss, New York, by Charles & Co and Kohn Pedersen Fox; Smile House, New York, by SPAN Architecture; BASIN Glacial Waters, Banff, Canada, by Matteo Thun & Partners; Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay, Morocco, by Muza Lab and GCA Architects; and Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur’s wellness facilities. For Sustainable design, the finalists are Populus Seattle, Intercontinental the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, by Kristina Zanic Consultants and Foster+Partners; Renaissance Amsterdam by Bowler James Brindley and Stylt Trampoli; and 1 Hotel Melbourne by ODO and Fender Katsalidis.
Beyond Hospitality recognizes the crossover appeal of design with entries such as Avenir Creative’s Design Studio, Chicago; POP MART Bangkok ICONSIAM Flagship Store by X+Living; Korman Jewel House, Austin, by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture; Alice + Olivia Madison Avenue Flagship, New York, by Sugarhouse Design + Architecture; LucidWild Estate, Oregon, by L.J. Nicholas and Anacapa Architecture; and Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses, Kyiv, by YOD Group.
Hybrid Hospitality features The Willow Play Cafe, Toronto, by Denizens of Design Inc.; Ballers, Philadelphia, by Good City Studio; Everyman at the Whiteley, London, by Fusion Design & Architecture; and Manifest, Washington, DC, by INC Architecture & Design. Event Space nominees are The Loft at Lune, Canada, by Studio Author; Fairmont Tokyo; and J.W. Marriott Reston Station, Virginia.
Lodges + Camps include andBeyond Suyian Lodge, Kenya, by Fox Browne Creative and Nicholas Plewman Architects; AutoCamp Sequoia, California, by HVS Design and Waechter Architecture; Baines’ Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary, Botswana, by Luxury Frontiers; and Birch Cabins, Northern Ireland, by Crown Creative and 2020 Architects. Members Club finalists are Moss, New York, by Charles & Co and Kohn Pedersen Fox; Club 1902, Wisconsin, by Jay Franke Design and Groth Design Group; and The Camel Club, Kentucky, by Jenny Bukovec Studio and Gibson Taylor Thompson.
Visual Identity finalists showcase strong branding with Camp DeForest, Maine, by Might & Main and Joanne Palmisano Design; Mister Cheeks, Brooklyn, by Paperwhite Studio and Yakka Studio; ROW 34, Boston, by ROY Hospitality and Defy Architecture; and Uniforms at the Standard, Brussels, a collaboration involving Gresham Blake. The Student Project category, highlighting emerging talent, includes Mt. Shootao Hotpot Restaurant by Jessie Wang (School of Visual Arts), SENSA Hotel by Joy Xu (Marymount University), Mental Health Clinic Design – Bee Well by Monica Shemtov (Sheridan College), Hospitality Design – Vespera by Monica Shemtov + Carleigh Hobberlin (Sheridan College), and 361 Broadway – Adaptive Reuse Boutique Hotel by Nathan Beauchamp (Vancouver Island University).
Product Finalists: Innovation in Materials and Design
The Product Finalists represent a diverse range of innovative solutions and materials that enhance hospitality environments. In Accessories + Specialty Products, Nestable Luggage Cart from Forbes Industries, RS Folding Monochrome from RS Barcelona, and Toulon Shade Series from Summit Furniture are recognized. Architectural Solutions include R-WEAVE Retractable Fabric Pergola from Azenco Outdoor, Rubik from EzoBord, Neolith ARCHITECTURAL from Neolith, and Pantheon from Turf.
The Art categories highlight exceptional creative contributions. For Art: Individual Piece, Breaching and Diving: Suspended Sculpture from Local Language and Art Deco Paper Relief from Soho Art Consulting are nominated. Art: Program or Installation finalists are The Dearborn Inn from Farmboy Fine Arts, Chamonix Casino Hotel from Kevin Barry Art Advisory, and Miraval Arizona Spa from Local Language.
In Bath, Fireclay Bath Foundry from Fireclay Tile, Dearborn Universal Pop Down Sink Drain from Oatey Co., and Vue from Thermasol are recognized. Casegoods + Furniture finalists include Rhine from HBF, Vacia and Ballet from Punt Mobles, and Freda Dining Table from StyleNations.
Flooring innovations are represented by Armstrong Flooring TimberTones Densified Hardwood from Armstrong Flooring, Glassfall from Nourison Hospitality, Flow as Form from the Rug Company, and Pathstone from TileBar. Lighting finalists are Lido from Boheme by Ward + Gray, SkLO + AvroKO Collection: Perla Sconce from HOST on Howard, Crystal Links from Preciosa Lighting, and Yvette Pendant from dumae.
Outdoor Furnishings showcase the latest in exterior design with the Meridies Collection from Expormim, WRAP Outdoor Seating Collection from Gloster, and Saturno Planter from Stone Yard. Seating finalists include the Swage Collection from Design By Them and the Hiro Accent Chair from Workshop Collection.
Surfaces that capture attention are Musea from AKDO, Worn Clay Paver from ORCA, Opera Terracotta and Trevino from TileBar. Sustainable Solutions are celebrated with Xorel Luxe from Carnegie, DOWN to Earth Organic Collection from Down Inc., and Bioplates from Studioneves.
Technology advancements in hospitality are recognized with ALMA from Addition and Moorgen x Steve Leung – Salute from Moorgen Smart Home. Textiles + Fabrics that offer style and durability include Rodeo Leather from Demar Leather, Layered from HBF Textiles, and the Indulgence Collection from Mayer Fabrics.
Wallcoverings with unique aesthetics are represented by Bucolique from Arte, Eterna Nouveau from Astek, and the Studio Collection from Carnegie. A Special Judges’ Award has been bestowed upon the Stone Born Collection from Arto Brick.
The Road to Recognition and Future Implications
The announcement of the HD Awards finalists marks a significant milestone in the 2024 design calendar. The rigorous selection process ensures that only the most outstanding projects and products are recognized, setting a benchmark for the industry. The upcoming ceremony in Las Vegas will not only celebrate the winners but also provide a crucial networking opportunity for designers, manufacturers, and hospitality professionals.
The sheer diversity of locations and design approaches among the finalists—spanning from the bustling metropolises of Asia and Europe to the serene landscapes of North America and beyond—reflects the global nature of the hospitality industry. This year’s nominations demonstrate a continued focus on creating immersive experiences, integrating sustainable practices, and leveraging technology to enhance guest comfort and operational efficiency. The insights gained from these award-winning projects and products will undoubtedly influence future hospitality design trends, offering valuable lessons and inspiration for the creation of the next generation of hotels, restaurants, and public spaces. The anticipation for the May 5th ceremony is palpable, as the industry eagerly awaits the unveiling of the designers and creators who will be crowned this year’s champions.
Anjar Salim
Chandra Hamzah
Gabriela Annisa
Susilo Edi Turonggo
Tatiana Tantri Indah Sari