Last week, AHEAD - the awards for hospitality experience and design - announced the AHEAD Asia 2023 judging panel.
It's now time to get to know the newest additions to the panel, comprising leading hospitality architects, interior designers and hoteliers of the APAC region.
Enter now to present your project to the panel before the entry deadline on 28 April.
Alvaro Paredes | Principal | DesignLab
Alvaro began his career in his native Spain and London, before moving to Asia to work with a prestigious hospitality design firm. With nearly 15 years of design expertise in residential and hospitality projects, Alvaro has cultivated a flexible style, combined with an interest in the local culture and architecture of the different countries that DesignLab operates within. His portfolio includes prestigious brands such as Aman Resorts, Park Hyatt and Mandarin Oriental in different locations from Europe and Asia to the Middle East.
What is one hotel project that's had an impact on you?
Kandalama by Geoffrey Bawa. Geoffrey was a pioneer on things that we now consider “normal” in hospitality design, such as an integration with nature, bringing the outside into the building and a humble approach to the landscape. He and that building in particular established, in my opinion, the guidelines of modern tropical design.
What are you looking for from this year’s AHEAD entries?
New trends in hospitality design.
What is one emerging trend in hospitality design that you're excited about?
Turning hospitality venues into remote working spaces for both locals and travellers.
Evan Kwee | Vice Chairman - Capella Hotel Group | Head of Design & Hospitality - Pontiac Land Group
Evan is the Head of Hospitality and Design for the Pontiac Land Group, a privately held property developer, owner and operator based in Singapore. He previously led the Group’s business development arm for 15 years but now focuses on all their new hospitality developments. Pontiac Land’s assets under management are in excess of SGD$13 billion. Evan is also the Vice Chairman of the Capella Hotel Group, where he oversees all product and brand innovation working closely with designers, architects, and engineers constantly seeking to improve hospitality design and experiences.
What is one hotel project that's had an impact on you?
Not a hotel but an expedition boat in Flores, Indonesia. It opened my eyes again to the spender of the world under the sea and the raw untouched beauty of Mother Earth. I slept in the cool ocean breeze for three nights, swam with manta rays and dived amongst the most vibrantly coloured corals I’ve ever seen. It made me want to protect our fragile earth and was one of the reasons why I created Patina Hotels and Resorts
What are you looking for from this year’s AHEAD entries?
Projects that push the boundaries with their construction methodology and use of finishes, while still realising a great aesthetic.
What is one emerging trend in hospitality design that you're excited about?
To explore removing all TVs from our resorts
Jon Kastl | Vice President, Interior Design | Marina Bay Sands
As LEED AP, Jon brings to his role of Vice President of Interior Design at Marina Bay Sands over 25 years of experience in hospitality, restaurant and residential design. Since joining MBS in 2020, Jon has been focused on the repositioning of the integrated resort through the implementation of the Las Vegas Sands corporate initiative of “Design Excellence”. Additionally, Jon is engaged on the design and development of Marina Bay Sands' expansion plans in Singapore. Prior to joining MBS in 2020, Jon was a Partner and Studio Director with Champalimaud Design where he worked on several signature projects including the historic renovation of Raffles Singapore, the relaunch of the iconic Hotel Bel Air, and the Halekulani Okinawa.
What is one hotel project that's had an impact on you?
As a designer, one leaves a bit of themselves with every project. I've been fortunate to work on many great projects, from the Peninsula Chicago early in my career, to the renovations of great icons like the Hotel Bel Air and Raffles Singapore to the repositioning of Marina Bay Sands. Each one presented unique opportunities and they all impacted me greatly.
What are you looking for from this year’s AHEAD entries?
Thoughtful, well intentioned design. Coming out of the pandemic, we've all learned the importance of perseverance. Design with meaning and clarity.
What is one emerging trend in hospitality design that you're excited about?
I'm not sure that it's an emerging trend but I would say a continued focus on providing unique guest experiences. We all need to be focused on delivering special and memorable experiences.
Paul Wiste | Vice President, Design & Construction | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Paul is the Vice President of Design and Construction at Four Seasons for the Asia Pacific region. He leads a team that is currently developing sixteen newbuild hotels and resorts across the region, as well as numerous CAPEX projects within the existing portfolio. Paul has presented keynote speeches and participated in panel discussions at various hospitality and architecture conferences within the Asia Pacific region and is active in researching and publishing future trends and theories in hospitality design, drawing upon the professional experience he has accumulated across the globe over the past 25 years.
What is one hotel project that's had an impact on you?
It has to be the Sanderson Hotel in London in 1996. It was my first hotel project and proved to be my introduction into hospitality design.
What are you looking for from this year’s AHEAD entries?
I'm always looking for those projects that weave the entire design throughout the project; seamlessly integrating all of the design consultants into one symphonic expression.
What is one emerging trend in hospitality design that you're excited about?
There are many but I'm excited to see the emerging design firms that are also focusing on sustainability as well as exceptionally creative design.
Stephen Luk | Regional Vice President, Design Services | Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Stephen is the Regional Vice President of Design Services for Hyatt’s ASPAC region. He is also specifically supporting the expanding Hyatt development in the Greater China and Australia portfolio. He and his team steer Hyatt’s design and brand concept, hotel planning and development, and hotel opening and transition across all Hyatt brands in the region. The goal is to realise brand-focused, creative and economic design solutions that enhance preference for guests, owner/developers, colleagues and associates, through a collaborative and inclusive process. Stephen spearheaded the first Hyatt Centric in Melbourne Australia. He is also currently bringing the first Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt House, JDV by Hyatt and Unbound Collections by Hyatt to Australia, while supervising the design and development across Hyatt’s 27 brands in the Asia Pacific region. Before spending six years at Hyatt Hotels, Stephen spent more than five years in Shanghai with another international hospitality brand. He also spent 13 years practicing hospitality architecture and interior design in New York.
What is one hotel project that's had an impact on you?
I love learning from every project and building on my experience. I'm very grateful for every opportunity and still curious to learn more. However, what left me with lasting memories was the environment. I'm still in awe from the Backwater in Kerala, the landscape of Bhutan, or just seeing a vast blue sky once in awhile.
What are you looking for from this year’s AHEAD entries
Thoughtfulness in translating the narrative into reality. I hope to see projects that can really tell a story through the design.
What is one emerging trend in hospitality design that you're excited about?
Attention to well-being and to the environment are not exactly emerging trends. I am, however, excited to see them continue to gain footings. I would love to see designers, developers, builders and operators continue to make an effort in these two areas.
Piya Thamchariyawat | Principal & Senior Creative Director | EDG
Piya is a Principal and Senior Creative Director for EDG Design based in Singapore. With over 20 years of experience with the firm, she is an industry maven who is involved in all facets of the design process, leading the design team through each phase of work from initial concept until project completion. As the creative lead for EDG’s hospitality and F&B projects in the region, Piya brings true international expertise and each project she embarks upon is conceptualised to create an evocative journey for the guest, told through the lens of a deeply rooted design narrative. Many of Piya’s projects have earned accolades from the design community including AHEAD, and her involvement has ensured that EDG is a preferred consultant for brands including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Accor and Alila, as well as scores of independent hoteliers and restaurateurs.
What is one hotel project that's had an impact on you?
The arrival experience at Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. The boat ride approximating an immaculate white marble palace in the middle of Lake Pichola gave me the feeling of entering a magical setting, a fairy tale of India in a bygone era. The rain of rose petals dropped from the roof at the arrival was also a memorable touch!
What are you looking for from this year’s AHEAD entries?
Innovation and memorable experience.
What is one emerging trend in hospitality design that you're excited about?
Re-imagining hospitality spaces.
