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Suite

Casa La Siesta

Tiles are more than just a surfacecovering at Casa La Siesta in Andalusia, where their presence within a new suite captures the rustic charm of the surroundings. Created by Bert & May founder Lee Thornley in partnership with London-based interiors studio Kitesgrove, the suite showcases a passion for craftsmanship and natural materials, fusing an earthy palette with organic finishes. The bedroom features reclaimed tiles from Bert & May on the floor, together with Quad tiles from the Irregular Collection, which Kitesgrove designed exclusively for Bert & May. The tiles continue into the bathroom, where their uneven, dance-like quality aligns with the perfectly imperfect design of the suite. “The Andalusian landscape informed many of our design choices, with a focus on deep earthy colours and natural, tactile textures,” says Katie Lion, Senior Interior Designer at Kitesgrove. “It was therefore important not to overshadow the warmth of the reclaimed woods and tiles, so our palette is subtle with accents of rich colour.”

Leading lights from across the Middle East & Africa descend on The Palm Jumeirah to discover the fate of an illustrious shortlist, with a Hamburgborn hotel brand scooping the ultimate prize for its Dubai debut.

Following another stellar year of openings across the Middle East & Africa, the region’s leading hoteliers, architects and interior designers came together in Dubai to celebrate the projects that have got the industry talking, with the best and the brightest going head-tohead for a range of highly coveted awards.

After mingling with their peers over champagne and canapes in the glamorous surrounds of W Dubai The Palm, attendees were encouraged to take their seats for a pre-dinner presentation from hospitality consultant Nick van Marken, who gave an overview of the promising pipeline across the region, from the UAE’s soaring skyscrapers to Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects.

One of Saudi Arabia’s new hotspots came up trumps for the first category of the night, Sustainability, which was introduced by AHEAD in 2022 as a means of recognising hotel projects that demonstrably follow sustainable principles in both their development and delivery. Described by the judges as an “exquisite intervention in nature’s amphitheatre”, Habitas AlUla was praised for its low-impact integration with the surrounding environment, made possible through the use of ethically sourced materials and modular construction methods. “There is a purity in the way the resort is designed, constructed, laid out and programmed with an edited simplicity,” said one judge. “It remains subservient to the nature that envelops it and in turn heightens the guest experience.”

Similarly conscious credentials were possessed by the New Concept winner – a community-focused development in Africa. Comprising a series of traditional dwellings made using local materials and traditions, The Capanne Huts Project on Rwanda’s Nkombo Island offers a more ethical form of tourism that aspires to preserve the area’s natural balance. The project is entirely funded by Sextantio members in the form of an NGO, which has helped provide health insurance to local Rwandan communities since 2008. “A remarkably empathetic concept,” said Sleeper’s Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich, who was joined on stage by Dubai-based designer and co-host for the evening, Pallavi Dean.

Rwanda wasn’t the only African nation to take home a trophy on the night, with four other countries heralded for hotels that pushed the boundaries of architecture and design. Fairmont Taghazout Bay in Morocco was first to hit the mark, scooping the Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces award for its “thoughtful use of indigenous plant species” and a “real sense of softness” offered by Scape’s design, while Zambia’s Lolebezi Safari Lodge saw victory in a tightly contested Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps category, standing out from the rest for its “balance between luxury and integration with the landscape”. In the city, South African designer Tristan du Plessis was lauded for his interiors at The Penthouse Suite at Hallmark House Hotel in Johannesburg, which one judge billed as “beautiful, unique and relevant to its setting”, while AM Studio Paris bagged the Visual Identity prize for developing a comprehensive brand experience at La Maison Palmier, Abidjan’s first boutique hotel.

Though the wider region fared well across the board, Dubai proved why it is regarded as one of the hospitality heavyweights in MEA, picking up a total of eight awards including the sought-after Hotel of the Year. Leon at The Dubai Edition was named best Bar, Club or Lounge for its “intimate and cosy” atmosphere that juxtaposes the rest of the hotel using dark walnut wood walls and black Marquina marble countertops. Bushra at Grosvenor House was labelled best Restaurant for creating “a thoughtful character that pairs with the culinary experience”. And W Dubai Mina Seyahi was handed best Guestrooms, with Blink Design Group commended for “incredible detailing and materiality” that captures the spirit of its location. Having narrowly missed out on a prize for its work on the ground floor of W Dubai Mina Seyahi, Stickman Tribe came out on top in the Hotel Renovation & Restoration category, in which The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina secured the accolade for achieving a sense of timeless luxury through a combination of Art Deco elements and lush greenery. “A game changer for the brand,” in the words of the judges.

Stealing the show for The City of Gold however was 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central, which scooped four awards on the evening: Event Spaces, Hotel Newbuild, Lobby & Public Spaces, and the AHEAD MEA Hotel of the Year. Marking the group’s first property outside Europe, the project was described as “a fresh take on the region’s hospitality scene” by the judging panel, who were overawed by the “pockets of unique experiences” created by Hopkins Architects and Woods Bagot. Having congratulated the winners, those in attendance were invited to an afterparty hosted at SoBe, the hotel’s rooftop bar, where celebrations continued into the night.

BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE

Event Spaces

Guestrooms

SPA & WELLNESS

Newbuild

HOTEL RENOVATION & RESTORATION

LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES

LODGES, CABINS & TENTED CAMPS

Hotel Of The Year

Blowing a Balearic breeze over Battersea, AHEAD Europe returned to Evolution London in November for an Ibiza-inspired awards ceremony held in collaboration with Global Sponsor RH Contract. In keeping with the signature ‘Black Tie with a Twist’ dress code, the community of owners, operators, designers and architects in attendance decked themselves out in their finest attire, taking cues from the laid-back luxury of the islands and the bohemian lifestyle they evoke. Having reunited with their industry peers over a drinks reception, guests were invited into the ballroom, where Awards Director Matt Turner welcomed attendees before Sleeper’s Managing Editor and AHEAD Europe Judge Catherine Martin shared opening remarks on the difficulty in judging such a high calibre of entries. The awards kicked off with the Outstanding Contribution accolade, presented by hotel consultant David Bailey to architect and designer Dexter Moren, founding director of Studio Moren. Since establishing his studio in 1992 with a team of three, Moren now has a 70-strong team focusing on both architecture and interior design. With a people-first approach – both in his projects and the way in which he runs his studio – Moren has built a vast portfolio of hotels that not only look good but operate efficiently too.

In the category awards, Madrid came up trumps this year with two different hotels receiving recognition from the judging panel. The Madrid Edition impressed on various fronts, from Hotel Conversion to the hotly contested Lobby & Public Spaces category. “Accomplished and bold, each area is considered with a clear identity and intention of use,” said one judge, while another praised the “punchy injections of contemporary interventions that create a memorable and striking experience”. Madrid produced another winner in Rosewood Villa Magna, which collected the Hotel Renovation & Restoration prize. “It is often difficult to undertake a soft refurbishment as elegantly as the designers have done so on this project,” stated one judge. “The colour choices are impactful and the design is homogeneous throughout.”

Variety reigned supreme, particularly in the F&B categories. “This will be a space that stays in my memory having enlivened the senses” were the words of one judge when praising the Punch Room at The Madrid Edition, a contemporary reimagining of the brand’s signature bar. Described as “bold, brave and incredibly atmospheric”, the panel attributed the venue’s success to its ability to build anticipation. In London meanwhile, Mandarin Oriental was successful in the Restaurant category with The Aubrey’s Hyde Park outpost. Judges praised London-based interior design studio Brady Williams for its “exquisite use of materials and detailing”, declaring the Japanese izakaya as “a lesson in seductive design”.

Grecian resorts also fared well on the night, with Mykonos hideaway Kálesma celebrated for its suite design by Studio Bonarchi: “The attention to detail and understated design features have been beautifully executed,” said the panel. “Every single furniture and decor piece has its place and purpose.” On the island of Corfu meanwhile, Grecotel Corfu Imperial was credited for its impressive landscaping and outdoor spaces, as one judge stated: “The landscape and hardscape work in harmony with the building architecture, placing a clear emphasis on vistas.”

This year’s Europe ceremony saw the return of the Transport award too, which went to Venice Simplon-Orient Express. With three new suites designed by Wimberly Interiors in collaboration with Belmond, the interiors of the iconic locomotive were described by the judges as “timeless luxury that harks back to a bygone era of luxury travel”, evoking a “real sense of wanderlust and exquisite escapism”.

Ultimately, London dominated the winners list, particularly amongst the special awards. 100% net zero property Room2 Chiswick took home the inaugural Sustainability prize, while Inhabit Hotels received the New Concept trophy. The big winner of the night however was The Londoner, scooping three awards in total including the most coveted of them all –the AHEAD Europe Hotel of the Year.

Standing 30m tall and 32m below street level in the heart of Leicester Square, the 16-storey hotel was “the most impressive architectural and engineering feat” according to the panel, which explains why the urban resort was handed the prize for Newbuild. Breathing new life into the Event Spaces category, the super boutique’s subterranean, West End-inspired “wonderland of event spaces” wowed the judges with a design characterised by mirrored ceilings, plus velvet drapery and artworks operated by a pulley system that “sets a new bar”. And as to why The Londoner was named Hotel of the Year, the panel said it best: “A visionary project, well executed and setting new standards in the West End – one of a kind and a worthy winner.”