AHEAD MEA, the awards programme celebrating the best in hospitality experience and design, has announced its shortlist for 2019. Featuring independent boutiques alongside landmark properties from leading hospitality brands, the awards will recognise the achievements of designer, architect and operator alike, across categories including Guestrooms, Hotel Renovation & Restoration and Event Spaces, amongst others.
Tickets for the ceremony, taking place on 13 November at Caesars Resort Bluewaters, Dubai are available here. Winners will go on to join previous international AHEAD winners to compete in a Global Biennale in 2021.
You can find a rundown of the 2018 winners here.
BAR, CLUB or LOUNGE
- Alice & Fifth at Sandton Sun Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa
Milk & Honey Group / Sandton Sun Hotel / Tristan Plessis Studio - Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, UAE
Ward Holdings / Hilton Worldwide / RMJM / Arif & Bintoak / SRSS Interior Design Studio - Toro Toro at Grosvenor House, Dubai, UAE
Grosvenor House / Marriott International / LW Design - Wavehouse at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, UAE
Atlantis the Palm / Solutions Leisure Group / WATG / Bishop Design
EVENT SPACES
- Aloft Hotel City Centre Deira, Dubai, UAE
Majid Al Futtaim / Aloft Hotels / Brewer Smith Brewer Group / Pascall+Watson / HBA - Caesars Forum at Caesars Bluewaters Dubai, UAE
Meraas Holdings / Caesars Entertainment Corporation / Jonathan Adler - Grand Plaza by Mövenpick Media City, Dubai, UAE
Thalia Real Estate / Mirage Leisure & Development / Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts / dsgn Design - Mandarin Oriental, Doha, Qatar
Msheireb Properties / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / John McAslan + Partners / David Collins Studio
GUESTROOMS
- Al Faya Lodge & Spa, Sharjah, UAE
Shurooq / The Sharjah Collection by Mysk / ANARCHITECT - One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwumba, Rwanda
Kerzer International / One&Only Resorts - Studio One Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Vice Versa Facilities / Roya International / Hazel Wong / Bishop Design - Omaanda, Windhoek East, Namibia
Zannier Hotels / Zannier Hotels Interior
HOTEL NEWBUILD
- Al Manara, Saraya Aqaba, Jordan
Eagle Hills Properties / Marriott International / P&T Architects & Engineers / MMAC Design Associates - Mandarin Oriental, Doha, Qatar
Msheireb Properties / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / John McAslan + Partners / David Collins Studio - Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE
wasl Hospitality & Leisure / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Design & ARchitecture Bureau / Design Wilkes - Studio One Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Vice Versa Facilities / Roya International / Hazel Wong / Bishop Design
LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES
- Al Bait Sharjah, UAE
Shurooq / GHM Hotels / Godwin Austen Johnson - Caesars Bluewaters Dubai, UAE
Meraas Holdings / Caesars Entertainment Corporation / Jonathan Adler - Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, Seyshelles
Albwardy Investment / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / One Degree North / Eco-ID Consulting - W Dubai, The Palm, UAE
Al Sharq Investment / Marriott International / RMJM / dwp I design worldwide partnership
LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES
- Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE
wasl Hospitality & Leisure / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Design & ARchitecture Bureau / Design Wilkes - The Merchant House, Manama, Bahrain
The Merchant House / Campbell Gray Hotels / Gulf House Engineering / Summit Interior Design - Zabeel House by Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Jumeriah / LW Design - Omaanda, Windhoek East, Namibia
Zannier Hotels / Zannier Hotels Interior
LODGES, CABINS & TENTED CAMPS
- Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, Chobe National Park, Botswana
Belmond / Luxury Frontiers / Muza Lab - One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwumba, Rwanda
Kerzer International / One&Only Resorts - Shipwreck Lodge, Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Journeys Namibia / Natural Selection / Trip Travel / Nina Maritz Architects / Women Unleashed - Omaanda, Windhoek East, Namibia
Zannier Hotels / Zannier Hotels Interior
RENOVATION, RESTORATION & CONVERSION
- Al Faya Lodge & Spa, Sharjah, UAE
Shurooq / The Sharjah Collection by Mysk / ANARCHITECT - Gorgeous George, Cape Town, South Africa
Urban Citizen Architecture / Tristan Plessis Studio - Zabeel House by Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Jumeriah Group / LW Design
RESORT
- Four Seasons Hotel Tunis, Tunisia
Mabrouk Group / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / HKS / BraytonHughes Design Studios - Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, Seyshelles
Albwardy Investment / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Eco-ID Consulting - Jumeirah Royal Saray Hotel, Seef, Bahrain
Jumeirah Group / DSA Architects / WA International - Zuri Zanzibar, Tanzania
RSJ Investment / Zuri Zanzibar / Jestico + Whiles
RESTAURANT
- Indya by Vineet at Le Royal Meridien, Dubai, UAE
Marriott International / LW Design - Lah Lah at Zabeel House by Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Jumeriah Group / LW Design - Netsu at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE
wasl Hospitality & Leisure / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Design & ARchitecture Bureau / Silverfox Studios - Tasca by José Avillez at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE
wasl Hospitality & Leisure / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Design & ARchitecture Bureau / Silverfox Studios
SPA & WELLNESS
- Four Seasons Hotel Tunis, Tunisia
Mabrouk Group / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / HKS / BraytonHughes Design Studios / Blu Spas - Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, Seyshelles
Albwardy Investment / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Eco-ID Consulting - The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE
wasl Hospitality & Leisure / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Design & ARchitecture Bureau / Silverfox Studios - Away Spa at W Dubai, The Palm, UAE
Al Sharq Investment / Marriot International / RMJM / dwp I design worldwide partnership
SUITE
- Gorgeous George, Cape Town, South Africa
Urban Citizen Architecture / Tristan Plessis Studio - Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE
wasl Hospitality & Leisure / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Design & ARchitecture Bureau / Design Wilkes - One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwumba, Rwanda
Kerzer International / One&Only Resorts - Zuri Zanzibar, Tanzania
RSJ Investment / Zuri Zanzibar / Jestico + Whiles
