Sleeper announces AHEAD launch

Sleeper, the global magazine for hotel design, today announced the launch of AHEAD, the Awards for Hospitality Experience and Design.

Building on the success of the European Hotel Design Awards (EHDA) and Asia Hotel Design Awards (AHDA), AHEAD celebrates design in all its forms and the guest experience it creates in hospitality projects worldwide.

The new platform will cover the four regions ­of Asia, Americas, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Europe, with winners announced at a series of awards ceremonies around the world, with Grohe as Headline Sponsor:

AHEAD Asia – 7 March 2017, The Capitol Theatre Singapore

AHEAD Americas – 28 June 2017, PAMM (Pérez Art Museum Miami)

AHEAD MEA – 15 November 2017, W Hotel Al Habtoor City Dubai

AHEAD Europe – 20 November 2017, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

AHEAD will roll-out four annual awards schemes throughout 2017 and 2018, culminating with a Global Biennale in January 2019. The Global Biennale will see the winners of the eight regional heats compete head-to-head to decide a worldwide winner in each category.

The award categories are: Bar, Club & Lounge; Event Spaces; Guestrooms; Hotel Renovation & Restoration; Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces; Lobby & Public Spaces; Resort Hotel; Restaurant; Spa & Wellness; Suite; Urban Hotel – Conversion; Urban Hotel – Newbuild; Visual Identity of the Year; New Concept of the Year; Outstanding Contribution.

Regional panels of judges, comprising hoteliers, architects, interior designers and industry commentators, will assess entries on their aesthetic excellence, guest experience and commercial viability, via a rigorous process established over fifteen years of the European Hotel Design Awards.

Awards Director Matt Turner comments: “We are delighted to be building on the success of our existing awards schemes with the global expansion of AHEAD. We look forward to celebrating the fabulous guest experiences that architects and designers create for owners, operators and developers in hotel projects across the world.”

The shortlist for AHEAD Asia has been announced, and can be found here. Further, entries for AHEAD Americas are now open. Apply here.

www.aheadawards.com