CINCINNATI—The finalists for the 35th Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design have been announced by HX: The Hotel Experience (formerly IHMRS). A panel of eight prominent judges considered more than 350 entries for these awards, which recognize outstanding design worldwide for hospitality projects that were completed or renovated from April 1, 2014 through May 30, 2015.
“It was a thrill to set a new record for the number of entries,” says Mary Scoviak, Executive Editor of Boutique Design. “It’s a testament to the health of the hospitality industry but also to the powerful role design plays in its success. But, equally importantly, this year’s entries set a new record for creativity and innovation. Projects from around the world, in every segment of the market, are pushing the definition of what ‘excellence’ means for hospitality design.”
Michelle Finn, President of Hospitality Media Group, said of the competition, “We are thrilled to recognize the accomplishments of this years’ Gold Key finalists; our industry’s thought leaders and up and coming talent, who are breaking down boundaries, exploring new directions and raising the bar on hospitality design…and are excited to announce the winners during our Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design Gala.”
“We’re seeing designers who aren’t afraid to step out of the box,” says Stacey Greene, Vice President, Design and Construction, Chesapeake Lodging Trust and 2015 Gold Key judge. “They’re not just putting a desk into a guestroom because that’s the expectation. They’re asking what the customer really wants, and they’re willing to do something different to meet that expectation.”
Awards Gala Set for Monday, November 9
Finalists will be recognized and winners will be revealed in each of this year’s 18 categories at the Gold Key Awards Gala, cocktail reception and dinner, on Monday, November 9, at the Waldorf Astoria New York. The ceremony will culminate with the presentation of the Designer of the Year.
Notably, finalists in the “Best Eco Conscious or Socially Consious Hotel” category include: Meyer Davis, New York, for the 1 Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach; and Fox Browne Creative, Johannesburg; Michaelis Boyd Associates, London; and Nicholas Plewman Architects, Johannesburg, for the Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, Okovango Delta, Botswana.
Finalists were selected based on excellence in: concept, execution, innovation and “wow factor.”
The 35th Gold Key Awards coincide with the sixth annual Boutique Design New York (BDNY) trade fair, serving hospitality design professionals, and HX: The Hotel Experience (formerly IHMRS), celebrating its 100 year anniversary, held concurrently at New York’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Tickets for the Gold Key Awards Gala (cocktail reception and dinner) are available now for $450 and can be purchased as part of HX/BDNY trade fair registration or as an event ticket only. More Gold Key information is available at bdny.com and thehotelexperience.us.
