An esteemed panel of judges meet in the English countryside to discuss the merits of new hotels around the world, before voting for their winner of the Ultimate Accolade.
Over the past 12 months, AHEAD has named its best new hotels in four global regions, with the winners spanning city, coast and countryside, and representing every sub-sector of the hospitality market, from branded and independent, to luxury and lifestyle, to newbuild and conversion. From a record 700+ entries, accolades were presented for Guestrooms, Lobby, Restaurant and Spa, as well as special categories such as Sustainability, Accessibility and New Concept, culminating in a Hotel of the Year for each region. In Asia, Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park in Tokyo took the prestigious prize. In the Americas, it was Rosewood’s Kona Village in Hawaii. In the Middle East and Africa, Six Senses Southern Dunes in Saudi Arabia came out on top. And in Europe, the landmark conversion of Raffles London at The OWO was triumphant.
Following ceremonies in Singapore, New York, Dubai and London, the awards programme culminated in AHEAD Global, a celebration of the best new hotels around the world and all those involved in their creation. In December, the AHEAD 100 was announced to reveal the hotels that accumulated the most votes within their respective regions, and earlier this year, the top 20 projects went head-to-head to be crowned best-of the-best. The task of selecting the top 10 and Ultimate Accolade winner fell to a panel of 25 judges from the regional panels, with developers, owners, operators, architects and interior designers all in the mix. There were senior representatives from Accor, Marriott International and IHG, as well as Kerzner, SH Hotels & Resorts and Ennismore; studio leaders from Rockwell Group, AvroKo, Pierre-Yves Rochon and Tristan Auer; and major players such as Red Sea Global, CTF Development and Design Hotels.
The 25-strong panel participated in a special event held in collaboration with Global Headline Sponsor RH Contract, with a two-night stay at Estelle Manor in the Oxfordshire countryside. Proceedings began with a social dinner at The Armoury, where a menu of sushi and robata classics served alongside champagne and cocktails. Some judges spent time wandering the grounds of the 85-acre estate, others took a bracing dip in the outdoor swimming pool or wallowed in the healing waters of the Roman-inspired Eynsham Baths, plus, there was an exclusive look at Fallow House, the resort’s new events space.
Judging took place in the verdant surrounds of The Glasshouse, with each project showcased via video and photography, followed by an in-depth look at everything from the architecture, interior design and FF&E specification to spatial layout, sense of place and the all-important guest experience. Each judge then cast their vote independently, ranking their top ten projects based on the above criteria.
With the hard work over, judges were treated to an afternoon at RH England – ‘A Celebration of History, Design, Food & Wine’. Designed by Sir John Soane with gardens by Capability Brown, the 400-year-old estate is set within the grounds of Aynho Park, and serves as a showcase for all that RH has to offer. After welcome drinks in The Wine Bar, there was an opportunity to view the rare books of the Architecture & Design Library and watch the herd of deer grazing on the pasture; to scale the Stairway To Heaven and explore the meticulously designed roomsets; or simply relax by the fireplace in sumptuous surrounds of The Salon. A traditional afternoon tea of sandwiches and scones in the new Conservatory also brought ample opportunity for socialising in the beautiful setting.
Back at Estelle Manor, the AHEAD Global gathering concluded with dinner at The Billiards Room, with plenty of speculation over which hotel might win the Ultimate Accolade. With votes counted, the top 10 was announced online at the end of January. Amongst the winners were a secluded sanctuary in the mountains, a sensitive conversion steeped in heritage and a richly layered city centre secret. Though all are markedly different, they share commonalities such as storytelling, a sense of place and attention to detail – qualities that all those in hospitality design strive for. In the end, it was Scorpios Bodrum that emerged as the Ultimate Accolade winner, having successfully made the transition from beach club to boutique hotel. The judging panel described the property as well-executed, in which every element has been considered; ultimately, it was the creative design, authentic F&B programming and palpable sense of community that proved the winning combination.
