AHEAD

AHEAD AMERICAS

AHEAD Americas revealed the region’s best new hospitality projects on 10 June, as part of an online ceremony held in association with Global Founder Sponsor Grohe. Taking the form of a four-part ceremony broadcast throughout the day, featuring the reveal of winners along with a series of headto-head conversation pieces between judges, the programme recognised outstanding experiences and designs across 14 categories including those for Resort, Restaurant, Conversion and the prestigious AHEAD Americas Hotel of the Year accolade.

Santa Monica Proper Hotel was this year’s big winner, taking home the Hotel of the Year prize as well as the Guestroom and Lobby & Public Spaces trophies. “Every furnishing is a piece of art – it is truly out of the ordinary,” commented one judge on the Kelly Wearstler-designed property.

Elsewhere, Hawaii’s Mauna Lani – part of a US$100 million revitalisation project – was triumphant in the Renovation & Restoration category; the charming 16- key Menhaden – a riverside boutique in Greenport – was named best Newbuild; and Grupo Habita’s Escondido Oaxaca – a reimagined 19 th century Mexican residence fused with an adjacent brutalist tower – beat of stiff competition in the Conversion category, with judges praising the project’s “simplicity and warmth”, proclaiming it “a breath of fresh air for the hospitality world”.

All four sections of the AHEAD Americas 2020 ceremony are available to watch online, where you can view the head-to-head panels in full, and hear what judges thought about the wider shortlist, the trends that defined the year, and what the hospitality industry might look like in a post-Covid world.

BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE

Little Sister Lounge at Moxy NYC East Village, USA

Lightstone Group / Marriott International / Tao Group Stonehill Taylor / Rockwell Group

EVENT SPACES

Bode, Nashville, USA TMC Group / DAAD

GUESTROOMS

Santa Monica Proper Hotel, USA

The Kor Group / Proper Hospitality Howard Laks Architects / Kelly Wearstler

HOTEL CONVERSION

Escondido Oaxaca, Mexico

Grupo Habita / Taller de Arquitectura X / Década / Carlos Couturier

HOTEL NEWBUILD

The Menhaden, Greenport, USA

Tellus Capital / Studio Pedrazzi Architecture + Design

HOTEL RENOVATION & RESTORATION

Mauna Lani, Hawaii, USA

Prospect Hill Group / Auberge Resorts Collection RIM Architects / Hart Howerton / Meyer Davis

LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES

Aurea, Nicaragua

Aurea / Carlos Ayala + Partners / Rutciel Cabrera

LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES

Santa Monica Proper Hotel, USA

The Kor Group / Proper Hospitality Howard Laks Architects / Kelly Wearstler

LODGES, CABINS AND TENTED CAMPS

Islas Secas, Chiriqui, Panama

Belvedere Property Management / Hart Howerton Tom Scheerer Incorporated / The Life Group of Companies

RESORT

Asbury Ocean Club, Asbury Park, USA

iStar / Salt Hotels / Handel Architects / Anda Andrei Design BonettiKozerski Architects / Madison Cox Associates

RESTAURANT

San Morello at Shinola Hotel, Detroit, USA

Bedrock / Kraemer Design Group / Gachot Studios

SPA & WELLNESS

Equinox Hudson Yards Club & Spa, New York, USA

The Related Companies / Equinox Hotel / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill / Joyce Wang Studio / TLee Spas

SUITE

Su Casa Dorado Beach – A Ritz Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico

Dorado Beach Resort / CPG Real Estate / The Ritz-Carlton Reserve / Champalimaud Design

TRANSPORT

Celebrity Flora

Islas Galapagos Turismo / Celebrity Cruises DeHoop Shipyards / BG Studio International

VISUAL IDENTITY

Sister City, New York, USA

Omnia Group / Northwind Group / Atelier Ace

NEW CONCEPT

Nayara Tented Camp, San Carlos, Costa Rica

Nayara Resorts / Luxury Frontiers

HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Santa Monica Proper Hotel, USA