Awards 2021Judges
Industry leading figures working across design, architecture, hospitality and lifestyle media
Aliya Khan
Vice President, Global Design Strategies - Marriott International
Design excellence
Design Excellence for me is ….…capturing soul. Making magic. Always provoking to engage differently. Why just eat, sleep and work – when you can savor, dream and inspire.
Bio
Aliya Khan, Vice President Global Design Strategies at Marriott International is the force behind the disruptive approach for Marriott’s Lifestyle portfolio. Aliya began her career in hospitality design with the iconic W Hotels in 2003. Always looking for a new challenge, she has launched brands (Aloft Hotels in 2008), lead award winning renovations (St Regis New York in 2012) and collaborated on several partnerships (Bentley Motors x St Regis Hotels). In 2015, Aliya took a break to lead the design and development of Neue House. Her love of design and travel brought her back to the hotel industry in 2017.
Website
https://www.marriott.com
Instagram@marriotthotels
Amanda Elder
CCO - Kempinski Hotels
Design excellence
Design excellence is an important balance between aesthetics, timeless beauty and creativity on one hand and functionality, sustainability and economic viability on the other hand, which is not easily achieved. I expect design to take me on a special journey to mesmerize my senses, I want to feel challenged and walk away feeling inspired!
Bio
Amanda Elder is responsible for driving the commercial strategy of Kempinski globally and leads a team of experts in marketing, sales, digital strategy,distribution, public relations, CRM and loyalty. An Australian national,she first joined Kempinski in 2014 as Vice-President Sales and Marketing for Kempinski in China. She has more than 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality, including senior positions covering Europe, Middle East, Africa and China. Prior to joining Kempinski, Amanda held leadership roles in business development and hotel operations with Fairmont Raffles Hotels, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland.
Website
www.kempinski.com
Instagram@kempinski
Anamika Butalia
Managing Editor - ELLE DECOR India
Design excellence
Design Excellence is all about achieving a balance of structure and style, functionality and aesthetics, and even durability and lightness. It is about creating ways of improving lifestyles. This means that good design must be both thoughtful, mindful and powerful. Thoughtful of what it offers people, mindful of limiting adverse effects on our ecology and powerful in its positive impact.
Bio
Between the time she read her first Reader's Digest (US) as a five-year-old and her first novel (shockingly, a James Hardley Chase) a couple of years later, Anamika had fallen in love with the written word. She followed this up with a degree in journalism and, over the past 15 years, has worked with some of the most renowned publications in the world such as ELLE DECOR, Condé Nast (GQ, Architectural Digest, Vogue and Condé Nast Traveller), ITP Media, India Today Group and The Times of India. Her interests include travel, wildlife conservation, scuba diving, learning new languages, and of course, reading!
Website
www.elledecor.in
Instagram@elledecorindia
Anthony Ross
CEO - JA Resorts & Hotels
Design excellence
Great design is about creating a welcoming environment, where the atmosphere builds along with the number of patrons. Using space, materials, lighting, artwork, and music- smart design invites patrons to feel comfortable and ready to indulge and spend. Meaningful design always begins with a deep understanding of the concept and location, alongside a focus on the interface between back and front of house, enabling service teams to best interact with guests.
Bio
Joining JA Resorts & Hotels in January 2018 as the company’s CEO, Ross leads a large multicultural team across 10 distinct properties in the UAE and Indian Ocean. A legacy brand, JA Resorts & Hotels was born in 1981 and has since thrived with many award-winning resorts and hotels. Ross’ vision for the brand has included a focus on driving expansion into China, making impactful changes to sustainability practices, and maintaining a brand promise of unique experiences and unforgettable memories. His hospitality career spans more than 30 years across Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Queenstown and now Dubai.
Website
www.jaresorts.com
Instagram@jaresorts
Ave Bradley
Creative Director and SVP, Design
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
(North America, Europe and Asia)
Ave Bradley
Creative Director and SVP, Design - Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Design excellence
Design excellence starts with clarity of vision, relentless conviction to hold to that vision and cleverly adapting with various stakeholders with their own ideas and preferences. One of the most important skills, in my opinion, is to be a great editor—to explore widely but then pull back and repeatedly edit to maintain the essence of the vision without anything extraneous or unnecessary remaining to confuse or dilute the intent.
Bio
Ave Bradley is responsible for the overall creative vision for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and is overseeing the brand’s design direction in the US and its international expansion. She works with the Development team in the evaluation of potential deals and establishes the high-level creative vision for projects by identifying niches and opportunities in each market. Overseeing day-to-day design management, she engages creative teams to bring these visions to life. Ave started her hospitality career with W Hotels as Director of Interiors & Brand Development during the launch and expansion of the brand, opening the first 22 properties for W.
Website
www.kimptonhotels.com
Instagram@kimpton
Charmaine Mok
Editorial Director, Dining - Tatler Asia
Design excellence
Design excellence is the ability to evoke emotions, defy expectations, and deliver masterful solutions. The best of design is layered in nature, revealing its most convincing statements not through grand gestures but through the most minute details. It’s cohesiveness in the chaos, and the iconoclasm in the everyday.
Bio
Charmaine is the Editorial Director of Dining for Tatler Asia, overseeing Tatler Dining, the Off Menu festivals and the annual Best Restaurants guide and awards. As well as penning the latest stories about the city’s newest restaurant openings, dining trends and food culture, she’s constantly searching for leads on new flavours, food personalities, and thrilling new culinary destinations.
Website
http://tatlerhongkong.com/
Instagram@tatlerasia
Christian Rijanto
Co-Founder - Ismaya Group
Design excellence
Design Excellence is about being able to enhance the value of a product or space using creativity, while also improving both the aesthetic and the business function. It provides a soul to the product & help us connect better to customers. In our company, Ismaya, our mission is: "creating the good life", where design excellence plays a pivotal role in everything that we do, because that’s what truly sets our concepts apart from our competitors.
Bio
Christian Rijanto is a Serial Entrepreneur and an insanely serious food & music lover. He has cemented his position as one of Indonesia’s leading creative entrepreneurs with his company ISMAYA, which has become one of Southeast Asia’s leading lifestyle companies with an array of over 90 restaurants & bars. Christian is in charge of the creation of business concepts, interior design, and branding of all Ismaya Group properties. Thanks to those stellar accomplishments, Christian has been featured on CNN Asia Hot List: People To Watch, Indonesia's Top 50 Creative Entrepreneur by SWA, Indonesia's Rising Entrepreneur by BBC World, and in Fortune’s Top 40 Under 40.
Website
https://www.ismaya.com/
Instagram@ismaya
Christopher Puffer
Co-Founder - Puffer Malarkey Collective
Design excellence
Design excellence is designing spaces that are authentic to our true selves. Finding harmony between form and function, weaving a story by pulling from the past while looking toward the future. Embracing color, the eclectic, the feminine and masculine, to create a work of art. One that complements the food, the chef, the drinks, the music, transporting all those who step through our door to a place far, far away.
Bio
Christopher Puffer brings his veteran expertise, larger than-life personality, and charm to every restaurant he operates. Working alongside Chef Brian Malarkey, the duo founded Puffer Malarkey Collective in 2016. In addition to his role as co-creator, Puffer also designed the interior of Herb & Wood to be a space that evokes both lavish sophistication and industrial simplicity utilizing a combination of azure walls, live greenery, and bespoke finishes. Puffer then worked closely with design team Bells & Whistles to bring his vision for Animae to life and most recently designed the east coast meets west coast Herb & Sea.
Website
herbandwood.com
Instagram@herbandwood
Dan Flannery
Managing Director - EDITION Hotels
Design excellence
Design excellence in a hospitality is about creating a physical space that evokes a strong, positive reaction from the public. It is a result of an inspiring idea and smart programming that considers how guests will flow through and use the spaces and an obsessive attention to the details that will stimulate the senses. Great design creates a sense of wonder and enchantment and makes people feel better.
Bio
In 2009, Dan was named Vice President and Managing Director for EDITION. In collaboration with Ian Schrager, Dan developed the team, culture, platform and systems for this new brand and launched the first hotels. In 2011, he joined Morgans Hotel Group as Chief Operating Officer, leading the company widely credited for introducing the first boutique hotels to the world. He was most recently Executive Vice President for North America for Langham Hospitality Group and provided Operations support for the company’s hotels Globally. In September 2015, Dan returned to EDITION as Senior Vice President and Managing Director.
Website
http://www.editionhotels.com/
Instagram@editionhotels
David Bowd
Co-Founder and Chief Executive - Salt Hotels
Design excellence
Design Excellence is creating a previously unseen experience that is appropriate and complimentary to its locale and stimulates the senses as it unfolds before you. Like a great piece of art, in my opinion design excellence is timeless, it has a point of view and shouldn’t necessarily appeal to everyone and may cause different reactions.
Bio
David has 35 years of experience having worked with Hilton, Marriott and Thistle before joining Ian Schrager as Regional General Manager of St Martins Lane and Sanderson hotels. Then moving to NY as SVP operations for Morgans Hotel Group before re-joining Ian as Managing Director at The Ian Schrager Company. Becoming Chief Operating Officer for Andre Balazs Properties supporting Andre, David oversaw the nine iconic hotels including the Standards, Mercer, Chateau Marmont and Chiltern Firehouse. David founded Salt Hotels in 2014 which has hotels in operation in Provincetown & New Jersey and several new hotels opening in 2021 & 2022.
Website
www.salthotels.com
Instagram@salt.hotels
David Yeo
Owner - Aqua Restaurant Group
Design excellence
Design Excellence is .........…. for me the old “function comes before form” cliche has to be the basis of all good design. For it to be excellent it has to not only meet the brief but transcend the expected. The icing is in its lighting.
Bio
In 2000, former lawyer David Yeo, launched aqua restaurant with a vision to bring the chic restaurant buzz of New York, Tokyo and London to Hong Kong. It proved such a phenomenal success that today Aqua Restaurant Group has grown to a formidable culinary empire of more than 20 ground-breaking outlets in London, New York, Miami, Beijing, Dubai and our home Hong Kong. Aqua Restaurant Group’s fundamental philosophy has remained unchanged; to prepare exquisite food in jaw-dropping stylish environments, featuring the best innovative Asian-inspired contemporary design, right down to the last small details, which has become the groups hallmark.
Website
aqua.com.hk
Instagram@aqua_restaurant_group
Doris Huang
Owner - The Deco Food + Drink
Design excellence
Design Excellence is when optimal function meets exceptional aesthetic beauty. The pleasure that we feel when we see outstanding design is not only visual, but it's also physical, spatial, and tactile, whether it's from a well-designed space, object, or experience.
Bio
Hailing originally from California, Doris learned how to create an elevated consumer experience while working in general business management for Godiva Chocolatier, where she focused on each layer of the brand from the product to the packaging to the retail store environment. Drawn to the real estate growth that she saw in Manhattan's underdeveloped Garment District, she left Godiva in 2016 to build a food hall from the ground up, fully renovating a space that was previously occupied by a row of fabric stores. The Deco Food + Drink opened in December 2019 with nine food vendors, a bar, and an Art Deco-inspired interior to celebrate one of New York City's most iconic time periods.
Website
www.thedeconewyork.com
Instagram@thedeconewyork
Eliza Williams
Editor - Creative Review
Design excellence
Design excellence is when innovative ideas that make life easier and more fun to navigate are presented in a way that surprises and delights.
Bio
Eliza Williams is Editor at Creative Review magazine, and a writer, critic and broadcaster on advertising and design. She also hosts the Creative Review Podcast. Eliza has published two books via Laurence King, titled This Is Advertising and How 30 Great Ads Were Made, and has contributed texts to several books published by Phaidon, including The 21st Century Art Book and The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design.
Website
creativereview.co.uk
Instagram@creativereview
Emma Banks
VP F&B Strategy and Development EMEA - Hilton
Design excellence
Design excellence is the space and physical embodiment that brings to life the original spirit, soul, intent and vision of the restaurant or bar concept.
Bio
Based at Hilton’s MEA Regional Office in Dubai, Emma Banks is responsible for F&B strategy and development across EMEA, supporting Hilton’s trading and future pipeline of hotels. Emma was appointed Vice President, F&B Strategy & Development, EMEA, Hilton in February 2019. Emma has a wealth of experience in the Food & Beverage sector. Prior to her role at Hilton, she was at Jumeirah Restaurant Group (JRG) - the dedicated restaurant division of the UAE based Jumeirah Group. Emma started her JRG career as Operations Director in 2013, progressing to Managing Director in 2018. Her earlier career included operations and business development roles in the UK and the Middle East.
Website
www.hilton.com
Instagram@hiltonhotels
Emma King
Head of Design - IHG
Design excellence
As a hotel designer for me design excellence is tailored to that location, brand and experience. If you can truly deliver above and beyond the guests expectation every time, you are achieving design excellence. You should feel comfortable, safe and above all inspired to be the best version of yourself wherever and whenever you travel.
Bio
Emma leads IHG’s Design team and is responsible for the design, development and product quality of all new openings and refurbishments. She is tasked with the integration of the innovation program at IHG, and has worked on the repositioning strategy and implementation of the new generation Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, the Crowne Plaza Brand and the creation of the new voco conversion brand. Recent focus has been developing new design handbooks for IHG's Luxury Brands with new design thinking for Regent and InterContinental hotels as well as working with development on new hotel signings for these brands in particular
Website
ihg.com
Instagram@ihg
Felicity Black-Roberts
Vice President Development Europe - Hyatt
Design excellence
What is Design Excellence? The impact of good design is often subjective. The impact of design excellence is not. Design excellence resonates widely and viscerally. When I walk into a space I want to feel that the design has captured the essence of the building, the view, an architectural feature or a location. Most of all I want to feel that the journey through the design is intuitive, pleasurable and begs to be relived.
Bio
Felicity Black-Roberts has nearly 30 years experience of working in the real estate side of the hospitality industry in a number of global organisations, experiencing the industry from many different perspectives. Her current role at Hyatt is to grow Hyatt’s presence in Europe across their range of luxury, upper upscale and upscale brands, primarily via management contracts and franchises. Hyatt’s focus on food and beverage is well known in the industry, each hotel is encouraged to create great food and beverage outlets not only for in house guests but also to serve the local community.
Website
http://www.hyatt.com/
Instagram@hyatt
Harsha L'Acqua
CEO & Founder - Saira Hospitality
Design excellence
Design excellence to me is a space that is extraordinary in its first impact upon entering, where design makes the best use of light, colors, dimensions and natural surroundings, without being ostentatious, to create a story that continues to unveil itself to you, as the guest, a story that excites you, that awakens you and inspires you, perhaps calms you, even unknowingly, throughout your experience.
Bio
Harsha L’Acqua began her career working for some of luxury hospitality’s most influential brands including Six Senses & Aman and went on to graduate from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. Having grown up immersed in her father’s philanthropic work alongside Mother Teresa, L’Acqua actively sought out a way to combine her deep-rooted dedication to philanthropy with her passion for luxury hospitality and so, in 2015, Saira Hospitality (SH), a non-profit organization, was created. SH has partnered with brands such as Rosewood, Virgin & Marriott, creating bespoke pop-up schools to educate and empower local communities for careers in luxury hospitality.
Website
http://www.sairahospitality.com/
Instagram@sairahospitality
Jana Hamman
Founder - Jana + Koos
Design excellence
Design Excellence is attention and care given to a client's brief, creating the trust to experiment and try new things, solving problems strategically and creatively, simplifying chaos, a pleasant surprise, and when done right, the ability to drive impact and change, be memorable or make people smile.
Bio
Jana Hamman is one part of the highly acclaimed South African design duo Jana + Koos, whose work spans across many creative fields including, but certainly not limited to, branding and graphic design, art, fashion, advertising and creative direction, photography and styling, art direction and illustration. Their extensive portfolio spans everything from concept spaces for big brands like Nike, to branding and creative direction/ curation for iconic restaurants and hotels (most notably Alice and Fifth, Restaurant and Bar Awards winner 2019 and Gorgeous George A-head winner 2019), fashion brands, shops, development companies and precincts, and recently even a powerful brand film for the progressive casting and creative management agency, Disco. As J+K, and in her personal capacity, Jana has had various successful group and solo exhibitions, locally and internationally. They’re a powerhouse conceptual consultancy who have the Midas touch when it comes to creating brands or experiences entrenched in culture and immediately embraced and loved by their communities.
Website
http://www.janaandkoos.studio/
Instagram@janaandkoos
Jayson H. Seidman
Founder & Managing Partner - Sandstone
Design excellence
Design Excellence is the ability to create an environment that is truly thoughtful, non-homogenous, and most importantly unique to it surrounding environment. It is the creation of objects and spaces that are not solely focused on aesthetics but at also the user and their emotional connection. Design Excellence is purity within the built environment. It is perfect imperfection. It is 90% design, 10% unknown.
Bio
Jayson Seidman is an acclaimed hotelier, designer, and the founder of Sandstone. He has developed ten boutique hotels which marry his passions for design, architecture, and travel - including The Boro Hotel (Long Island City), The Basic (Marfa), The Drifter (New Orleans), Columns (New Orleans) and the forthcoming St. Vincents Guest House in collaboration with Bunkhouse Hotels and Lambert McGuire. His passion and creativity are complimented by over a decade of experience working with Goldman Sachs, Starwood Capital, and Credit Suisse.
Website
sandstonedevelopments.com
Instagram@sandstonedevelopments
Jess Shirvington
Co-Owner & Managing Director - Bathers' Pavilion
Design excellence
Design Excellence is creating a sense of belonging and beauty for its inhabitants, and in unexpected ways. It is broadening and pushing boundaries of creative expectations, whilst speaking to unique functionality and longevity. In matters of restaurant design, playfulness and warmth have a role, generating intrigue and enticing the customer to stay and discover the layers of design not always apparent at first sight, enhancing the dining experience.
Bio
Jessica is co-owner and managing director of Bathers’ Pavilion, Sydney. Encompassing a fine dining restaurant, bistro, function space, outdoor terrace and kiosk. Jessica started her hospitality career working for Neil Perry’s Rockpool Group then Sydney’s MG Garage (SMH Restaurant of the Year, Conde Nast Hottest 50) and Fuel Bistro. In 2001 she founded fine foods import and distribution company, Stella Imports in London. Jessica is also an international bestselling author.
Website
www.batherspavilion.com.au
Instagram@batherspavilion
Julien Royer
Chef-Owner - Odette
Design excellence
Design excellence is more than building aesthetic spaces. It involves applying a holistic approach that considers the purpose and users of the space. By bridging functionality and thoughtful design with genuine hospitality, we can create spaces that are not only beautiful but also operational. As a chef and restaurateur, my goal is to deliver enjoyable experiences to guests, and design excellence plays a crucial role in creating seamless experiences.
Bio
Award-winning chef Julien Royer is Chef-Owner of Odette, a three Michelin-starred modern French restaurant located at the National Gallery Singapore, and founder of one Michelin-starred Louise, a French bistronomy-style restaurant in Hong Kong. Born into a family of 4th generation farmers in Cantal, France, Royer spent his childhood foraging and harvesting in his family’s backyards, which cultivated a deep respect for nature. These experiences continue to shape his culinary philosophy and inspire him to bring authenticity to the table, underpinned by the principles of French cuisine though his years in Asia have infused his approach with a sense of place.
Website
https://www.odetterestaurant.com/
Instagram@odetterestaurant
Kenneth Shoji
Founder and CEO - % ARABICA
Design excellence
Design Excellence is all about originality, timelessness, attention to detail, and execution. When I see an interior design, and I feel the designer's intent in every small part of the space, that's an excellent design for me. There should be close collaboration between designers and contractors as well to achieve this.
Bio
Kenneth is the founder, creative director, and CEO of a global specialty coffee brand from Kyoto, % Arabica. Kenneth started % Arabica (pronounced just Arabica) in 2013 and the brand has expanded non-stop since then, with 70 stores in 14 countries as of November 2020. Kenneth oversees the whole operation with a focus on location hunting, store designing, coffee sourcing, social media management, and business development.
Website
https://arabica.coffee/en/
Instagram@arabica.journal
Knut Wylde
General Manager - The Berkeley, London
Design excellence
Design Excellence means bringing together multiple influences to create spaces where guests feel comfortable and at ease, while maintaining a sense-of-place. Design is about storytelling that highlights the properties ethos, style and spirit. Spaces must appear welcoming, elegant and timeless with a focus on attention to detail and feature a personal touch. Well-designed space need to make guests feel great, confident and be able to have fun in them.
Bio
Knut is a well-respected hotelier with a career spanning the globe from Europe to the Caribbean, Middle East and Asia within the luxury sector. Before his appointment to General Manager of The Berkeley, Knut was Hotel Manager at Claridge’s and previously worked at some of the most iconic London properties such as The Lanesborough and The Savoy. Additionally, he has held senior roles with One&Only Resorts, Rosewood Hotels and the Dorchester Collection. With this wealth of experience and his commitment to the hospitality industry, Knut brings an energetic and fresh approach to hotel management as well as a true understanding of luxury in both product and service.
Website
www.the-berkeley.co.uk
Instagram@the_berkeley
Leonid Shutov
Restauranteur & Owner - Bob Bob Ricard & Bob Bob Cité
Design excellence
Design Excellence is originality of vision executed with perfect harmony between form and function. There is no excellence in design if it is predictable or impractical.
Bio
Leonid Shutov is a Russian entrepreneur turned British restaurateur, the man behind Bob Bob Ricard - one of London’s most celebrated restaurants. Leonid started his carrier in 1992 as Marketing Manager at a Cable & Wireless Plc subsidiary in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1997 he moved to Moscow to start the first advertising creative boutique in the country, which quickly became the most awarded agency in Russia. In 1999 the company became affiliated with Ogilvy & Mather, one of the top three global advertising agencies and part of WPP Plc. He became the CEO of Ogilvy Group Russia and Ukraine and remained in that position until the business was acquired by WPP Plc in 2007. Having moved with his family to the UK in 2007, Leonid opened Bob Bob Ricard in 2008. Leonid is widely considered an authority on champagne, vodka and restaurant interior design (as unlikely as that combination may sound), and is frequently interviewed and quoted by UK media in that capacity. He finds and outlet for his mild obsessive-compulsive disorder in food, fine wine and champagne, extravagant interiors and in trying to bring all of the above together in his restaurants.
Website
www.bobbobricard.com
Instagram@bobbobricard
Lynne Bellinger
Director Food & Beverage Design & Development EAME
Marriott International
(Europe, Middle East & Africa)
Lynne Bellinger
Director Food & Beverage Design & Development EAME - Marriott International
Design excellence
Design Excellence is achieving a space that is functional, durable and stimulates all five senses, creating moments of lasting memory; a design that stands out in your mind when you think back on your experience within the space. It needs to lift your spirits and tap into your inquisitive nature leaving you wanting to explore. The design needs to address the user experience, ease of functionality and reduce or streamlines operating costs.
Bio
Joining the Marriott family in 2017, Lynne drives the development projects for food and beverage, as well as overseeing the sourcing and management of third-party restaurant brand and operator relationships to support Marriott’s overall Food & Beverage strategy and add value and brand recognition to hotels across the Europe, Middle East & Africa region. A British national, Lynne has worked in the hospitality industry for 36 years and has been in the Middle East for 29 years. Prior to joining Marriott, Lynne founded and managed her own business, sourcing internationally renowned restaurant brands, celebrity chefs and unique bar and entertainment concepts for hotels and developers here in the UAE.
Website
https://www.marriott.com/default.mi
Instagram@marriotthotels
Mauro Governato
General Manager - Peninsula Paris
Design excellence
Design excellence is looking at something every day and every day have a smile and say this is just so beautiful!
Bio
Over 35 years of experience in the hotel and restaurant environment. I had the oppurtunity to learn different culture and worked in every part of the world with OneandOnly, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and now with Peninsula Hotels. Offering a passionate and enthusiastic service based on common sense and from the guest perspective, has always been my fundemental belief.
Website
www.peninsula.com
Instagram@thepeninsulaparis
Melanie Brandman
Founder & CEO - The Brandman Agency & TravelCurator.com
Design excellence
Design excellence is unaware. Any design that is self evident has already failed. Excellence in design is unobtrusive and intuitive. In the context of modern hotels it’s everything from a sumptuous lobby to a room that doesn’t need an instruction manual. Wonderful design whether for beauty or utility should wash over you rather that demand your attention.
Bio
As Founder and CEO of The Brandman Agency, Melanie’s clients are the who’s who of the luxury travel and lifestyle industries. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Sydney, Melanie is a trusted advisor to her global roster of clients as well as a resource for media and tastemakers. She is also the founder of Travel Curator, a digital publisher dedicated to luxury travel which now reaches more than 675,000 targeted affluent, forward-thinking global travelers. Melanie is the recipient of the HSMAI Winthrop W. Grice Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Relations.
Website
http://www.brandmanagency.comhttp://www.travelcurator.com
Instagram@brandmanagency
Patrick Abbattista
Founder - Design Wanted
Design excellence
Design excellence is the ability to interpret dreams, materials, shapes and processes, transforming an instinctive idea into a practical, functional and emotionally engaging solution. Good design is a natural extension of our needs and desires. An unexpected, original answer, which we missed.
Bio
Patrick Abbattista is a marketer in love with Design. With a multifaceted experience in digital marketing for creative businesses and a vision for helping designers realise their creative and commercial potential, Patrick launched DesignWanted, a leading online design resource based in Milan, in 2015. Under his guidance, DesignWanted provides creative entrepreneurs and companies with an integrated eco-system of marketing tools and practical business contents to help them reach the relevant audience, to see and to be seen by those who matter. His mission is celebrating Design as a way of thinking, of approaching business, societies and the environment.
Website
www.designwanted.com
Instagram@designwanted
Pinar Calimano
Director, Design EMEA - Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Design excellence
Design excellence is creating a sense of awe and wonder, that is built on a foundation of holistic experience design, operational understanding, sustainability and delivering a long term value for the patrons. Curating a design experience that goes against the sea of sameness, challenging boundaries, exploring the less travelled path, while creating a built environment that supports the operation team to deliver their best every day.
Bio
A passioned design leader with multifaceted background in Interior Design and Hotel Operations. As Director, Design EMEA at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Pinar oversees interior design of new hotels and renovations. She also worked for Hyatt Hotels International and IHG as Director Design, MEA managing design process of new hotels from development reviews to design through opening. In her 25-year career, she designed for leading hotel brands such has Ritz Carlton, Marriot, IHG , Hilton, Starwood and Millennium Hotels in US and GCC. Thanks to 8-years in hotel operations prior to her design education, she has in depth understanding of restaurant and bar operations.
Website
www.fourseasons.com
Instagram@fourseasons
Rika Lisslö
Vice President Development - Americas - Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Design excellence
Design Excellence is when form meets function – when the design helps those within it not only use the space but feel the space. When the beauty, structure, and ambiance of a space helps people be at their best, that’s Design Excellence.
Bio
Hyatt Vice President - Development - Americas - Hyatt Wellbeing Council member - Rika is responsible for origination and identifying new business opportunities for all Lifestyle, Luxury & Collection brands; Thompson, AlilA, Park Hyatt, Andaz, Unbound, JDV, Destination, Centric, Regency, & Grand Hyatt, as well as developing and maintaining client and capital partner relationships. Her broad-based real estate expertise and proven track record of success in mixed-use development, hospitality, leasing, capital markets, F&B, retail, and investments and sales has brought value to her notable clients and partners. Ms. Lisslö is heavily involved in project due diligence, market research and transaction execution.
Website
www.hyatt.com
Instagram@hyatt
Sarah Douglas
Editor in Chief - Wallpaper*
Design excellence
Design excellence is a problem solved if that problem is precisely defined but of the highest ambition. It should engage the senses and be generous of spirt, be properly human shaped. It should be intuitive but also surprise and open up possibility. It should play with formal language but steer clear of pointless novelty. And, of course, it should explore new materials and manufacturing processes that are less wasteful of energy and resources.
Bio
Sarah Douglas is Editor-in-Chief at Wallpaper*, where she is responsible for its print magazine, digital platforms, in-house creative agency Bespoke, interior design service Composed, and brand partnerships and events, including Wallpaper's annual Handmade (soon to be Re-Made) exhibition at Salone del Mobile. Douglas joined Wallpaper* in 2007 as Art Editor, becoming Creative Director in 2012, before being named Editor-in-Chief in 2017. During this time, Douglas has commissioned a wealth of illustrious artists and designers, including Jean Nouvel, Tom Sachs, Jenny Holzer, and Hussein Chalayan, championed next generation talents, such as Bethan Laura Wood, and Philippe Malouin, and created partnerships and collaborations with prestigious brands, such as Rolex, B&B Italia, Bentley and Prada. Douglas is also a member of the judging panel for the London Design Medal, and regularly judges for international design competitions, including D&AD.
Website
http://www.wallpaper.com/
Instagram@wallpapermag
Sarah Klymson
Vice President of Product & Brand Development - Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Design excellence
Design excellence is using the power of design to impact people’s overall wellbeing and engagement in a space. An engagement and experience that considers first and foremost the full human experience. Design should inspire and shift one’s mindset by offering a new perspective that opens up one mind to new possibilities.
Bio
Combining her background in both interior design and architecture, Sarah Klymson is the Global Vice President of Product and Brand Development for Hyatt Hotels & Resort. In this role Sarah focuses on the development of both branded design experiences, and creation of new product for the full range of Hyatt’s portfolio. Sarah is also responsible for leading Hyatt’s integration into adjacent spaces in the health and wellness industry with the acquisition of both Miraval and Exhale. During her time at Hyatt, Sarah has also overseen the Design Services Studio in the American region, responsible for implementing the brand tenants on all new hotel construction, conversion, and renovation projects.
Website
www.hyatt.com
Instagram@hyatt
Stacy Shoemaker Rauen
Editor in Chief - Hospitality Design magazine
Design excellence
Design excellence is the ability to honor the past while also rethinking the norm. It is hard to put into words, but when it is achieved, a space just feels meant to be.
Bio
Stacy Shoemaker Rauen is the senior vice president of the Design Group at Emerald, a leading events and media company. There she oversees multiple brands in the healthcare, hospitality, commercial, and residential design spheres, including Hospitality Design magazine and HD Expo; ICFF; Boutique Design magazine and BDNY; Environments for Aging magazine and EFA Expo & Conference; and Healthcare Design magazine and HCD Expo & Conference. Shoemaker Rauen is a well-respected and talented editor and writer, and also is the editor in chief of Hospitality Design magazine, the leading publication for the industry. Shoemaker Rauen - who has been with the company for 18 years—is a noted speaker at industry events, and as an avid tracker of trends, places, projects, and people, and has been quoted in various respected media outlets including CNBC and the Washington Post.
Website
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com/
Instagram@hospitalitydesign
Syed Asim Hussain
Founder - Black Sheep Restaurants
Design excellence
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Bio
Syed Asim Hussain founded Black Sheep Restaurants in 2012, becoming one of the most prolific innovators at the forefront of Hong Kong’s ever-evolving culinary scene. In December 2018, Hussain became the world’s youngest restaurateur to hold two Michelin stars when BELON and New Punjab Club were honoured with one Michelin star each. His family first ethos and belief in the power of thoughtful, sincere hospitality has seen his stable grow to thirty restaurants in eight years. In 2020 Hussain made public the Black Sheep Restaurants COVID Playbook; a free online resource for an industry devastated by the pandemic to start to rebuild.
Website
blacksheeprestaurants.com
Instagram@blacksheeprestaurants
Thomas Harlander
Managing Director - Rosewood Bangkok
Design excellence
Design excellence has many elements and aspects to it. I believe that in great design the planning, conceptualizing and execution have to incorporate space, culture and passion without neglecting durability, functionality and technical innovation. The design must reflect the location in which it is created and unite all stakeholders from the very beginning to deliver the same goal. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a few pre-openings and from my experience, the most successful designs stem from a passion for creating something spectacular that we can be proud of throughout generations.
Bio
With more than 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Thomas Harlander is the Managing Director of Rosewood Bangkok, an ultra-luxury hotel in Bangkok's prime location within an enclave encompassing embassies, new residential towers, offices and upscale retail. Born and raised in Germany, Harlander’s successful career has taken him around the world. He brings with him a wealth of luxury hospitality experience from many different locations, including Washington DC, Cologne, London, Los Angeles, Buenos Aries, Tokyo and Seoul. Mr. Harlander began his career after graduating from Simon-Knoll-School in Munich, Germany, with a Bachelor of Arts in Hotel Management.
Website
https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/bangkok
Instagram@rosewoodbangkok
Victor Lugger
Co-Founder - Big Mamma Group, Napoli Gang
Design excellence
Design excellence is the subtle mariage balance between genuine and simple authenticity and unique and spectacular experience.
Bio
Victor Lugger, originally from Strasbourg, France, co-founded Big Mamma Group with Tigrane Seydoux in 2013, aiming to share authentic Italian food in amazing places. Since then, the crew has opened 13 trattorias across France, the UK and Spain, a 4,500sq.m. food market in Paris, France, and an online delivery restaurant Napoli Gang, offering authentic generous Italian food at home. He was former head of the record label and crowdfunding platform My Major Company. Married and a happy father of 3, he lives in London where he enjoys cooking, boxing, baroque music and occasional swim in the ponds during winter.
Website
https://www.bigmammagroup.com
Instagram@bigmammagroup
Yoko Choy
China Editor - Wallpaper*
Design excellence
Design excellence is an expression of humanity. Creations should show vision and responsibility; concepts that advocate the diversity of cultures, ethnicity, traditions, arts and aesthetics; ideas that transcend mere representations of commerce to address the wellbeing of society; and experiences that connect the man-made and the natural worlds.
Bio
Born in Hong Kong, China, Yoko Choy is the China editor for Wallpaper* magazine. Her work to date has been published in numerous international titles. Choy is also a creative consultant currently based in Hong Kong and Amsterdam. Her mission, as a multilingual and multicultural creative commentator and communicator, is to translate the knowledge and insights from both worlds into a common creative language and to raise awareness of the importance of cross-cultural exchange in the creative industry and businesses.
Website
www.wallpaper.com
Instagram@wallpaperchina
Zahra Khan
Owner & Founder - Dyce London & Feya Cafe
Design excellence
Design Excellence is when you walk into a space and you are transported to this immersive world that captivates you visually and is emotionally mesmerising. A space must have character, be creative, unique and ignite a spark of curiosity and emotions, as well as being designed to be multi-functional, sustainable and timeless.
Bio
Zahra Khan is 29-year-old mother of two, entrepreneur and founder of London hotspots Feya and DYCE. Zahra’s extraordinary talents earned her several awards and collaborations with various fashion and lifestyle brands including global recognition receiving numerous franchise applications. A passionate advocate of female equality. Zahra is proud of producing food that makes people feel good and creating a space for unwinding and dining on colourful, artistic dishes in enchanting settings. Zahra strongly believes in giving back and 10% of the profits from the retail line go to Feya Cares – an initiative aimed to empower young people.
Website
http://www.feya.co.uk/
Instagram@dyceldn
