Hospitality Design - October 2020 - 12

from the editor

Photo by KATE PREVITE

top honors
Welcome to the annual HD Awards issue. When
we started the awards submission process in December,
as we do every year, we were excited to see who would
enter. But as the deadline loomed, the industry as a whole
came to a screeching halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not knowing how long this would last, we debated what to
do with the awards and the celebratory event that usually
takes place in June in New York. Judging moved to a
series of Zoom calls, and the gala got postponed to October
22nd. Ultimately, we made the decision to go virtual.
The process and ceremony may look a whole lot
different this year, but one thing remains true: The
need to celebrate this industry and the people behind its
showstopping work feels more important than ever. A
big thank you to our committed and unwavering judges (meet them on page 18) who were
game to do their deliberating remotely. It was no small task. Between approximately 350
products and 750 projects, the two panels thoughtfully reviewed and debated more than
1,000 entries. The end result is an incredible range of work that shows how our industry
continues to reinvent and push the envelope.
As our associate editor Matt Dougherty says of the product awards, "From architectural
acoustic solutions to seating with gorgeous, sumptuous lines, and everything in between, it
was a tough call who should be recognized in each category, but the judges rewarded some
truly amazing, innovative products here. I hope industry veterans and newcomers alike
can find inspiration in the product design shown on these pages."
Adds Alissa Ponchione, HD's executive editor: "These awards are meant to showcase
our ever-evolving industry. But this year, above all else, they have become a critical
reminder of how integral hospitality is to our world. We've always been a champion of
good design because we believe it begets thoughtful experiences-the best of which can
create long-lasting memories. In some of these darker moments over the past few months,
it's been a welcome change to shine a light on the creative minds behind these projects.
The finalists and winners in these pages are storytellers, and we are grateful to go on this
journey with them. Congrats to all!"
On another note, I have mentioned in previous edit letters that in June we committed
to look at how we could better showcase and champion Black voices in the hospitality
industry. To that end, we have created a Diversity Action Council to guide us on how
to create real actionable items that will lead to greater diversity in our industry. The
powerhouse group includes Aaron Anderson, principal managing partner, Merit
Hospitality; Julien Albertini, founding partner, Asthetíque; Angela Clarke, vice president
of global design procurement, Select Brands Marriott International; Kona Gray, principal,
EDSA; Sequoyah Hunter-Cuyjet, design advocate, Determined by Design, and senior
designer, Floss Barber; Kimberly Jackson, managing director, AvroKO; Kenya JonesLowell, interior designer; Damon Lawrence, founder, Homage Hospitality; Vaki Mawema,
managing director and principal, Gensler; Ming Thompson, cofounder, Atelier Cho
Thompson; Bashar Wali, founder and CEO, This Assemby; and Meridith Zimmerman,
vice president of design, RLJ Lodging Trust. We have already had two enlightening and
inspiring brainstorming meetings about how to not only better highlight Black industry
members, but also how to bring the community together, create a pipeline of talent through
mentorships and internships, honor Black leaders, provide scholarships, and gather
Black-driven resources for the industry. I can't wait to share more, but the passion and
commitment from this group is already apparent. I am honored to be part of it.
Stacy Shoemaker Rauen
Editor in Chief/Senior Vice President, Design Group
Follow me on Instagram: @StacyRauen

100 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10005
STACY SHOEMAKER RAUEN < Editor in Chief
sshoemaker@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3751
JONATHAN MARSLAND < Creative Director
jmarsland@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3733
ALISSA PONCHIONE < Executive Editor
aponchione@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3749
KATIE KERVIN < Senior Managing Editor
kkervin@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3743
MATT DOUGHERTY < Associate Editor
mdougherty@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3728
WILL SPEROS < Associate Editor
wsperos@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3771
CAITLIN ST JOHN < Digital Editor
cstjohn@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3725
PAULINA GLOZMAN < Editorial Events Manager
pglozman@hospitalitydesign.com
646.668.3691
JENNIFER YARBER < Marketing Director
jennifer.yarber@emeraldx.com
770.291.5459
GRACE CASEY < Production Manager
grace.casey@emeraldx.com
646.668.3706
KARA KOBRZYCKI < Conference Director
kara.kobrzycki@emeraldx.com
770.291.5513
GANNON BROUSSEAU < Executive Vice President

advertising
PAUL BIENKOWSKI < Publisher
860.655.3134 paul.bienkowski@hospitalitydesign.com
LILIANA CONNOLLY < East/Midwest Brand Strategy Manager
781.492.1509 liliana.connolly@hospitalitydesign.com
GERRY KREGER < Western Brand Strategy Manager
323.999.0991 gerry.kreger@hospitalitydesign.com
NEIL HOCHMAN < Brand Strategy Manager, NY-CT-NJ-PA
917.434.5663 neil.hochman@hospitalitydesign.com
SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES/BACK COPIES
Subscriptions@cds1976.com
630.739.0900
For Advertising/Editorial Reprints
The YGS Group
reprints@theygsgroup.com
800.290.5460
www.theygsgroup.com
List Rental < PAUL BIENKOWSKI
paul.bienkowski@hospitalitydesign.com; 860.655.3134
http://www.theygsgroup.com
Hospitality Design - October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - October 2020
