The 2024 Australasia-Pacific Hotel Design Awards

The Australasia-Pacific Hotel Design Awards celebrate excellence in hotel interior design for projects located in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific (including Hawaii) and completed and opened during 2023.

The four awards – for new-build properties, conversions, refurbishments and an overall winner, the Paul Davis Award – recognise exceptional projects that demonstrate design innovation, a commitment to sustainability design practices and deliver exceptional guest experience.

In 2024 we will be presenting four awards:

  • Hotel of the Year (new-build)
  • Hotel of the Year (conversion)
  • Hotel of the Year (refurbishment)
  • 2024 Paul Davis Award for the Australasia-Pacific Hotel of the Year

Nominations now closed.

Winners announced and awards bestowed at Design Inn, SkyCity, Adelaide on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

FAQs

Who can enter?

The awards are open to all market segments in the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific (including Hawaii) hotel industry. Properties of all sizes and in any location in the region can be entered. Entries are open to new-build properties, conversions and refurbishments.

NOTE: While designers, hotel representatives, and owners may enter a project, the designer’s input is required to ensure judges have all of the necessary information about a project.

Eligibility

N.B. Strict word limits are in place for each answer and must be adhered to. Projects may be deemed ineligible if the word limit is breached. 

New-build hotels and conversions must have opened in 2023 and refurbishment projects completed in 2023 to qualify.

How are projects assessed?

The Australasia-Pacific Hotel Design Awards celebrate design-focused hospitality projects from across Australasia and the Pacific that demonstrate innovation and provide exceptional guest experiences.

Judges will consider the following in each category:

Design Concept:

Provide a brief project summary for the jury. The statement will also be published in the online award gallery (word limit: 50).

Function:

Describe the hotel project (word limit 200). Your response should include information about significant elements of the project, such as brief, vision, planning and volumetric design, site, budget and programme considerations, opportunities and constraints.

Impact:

Describe why the project is an example of excellent hotel design (word limit 150). Your response should describe how the design contributes to the guest experience of the hotel, and how it has met or surpassed the client’s ambitions for the project.

Innovation:

What are the truly innovative aspects of the design of this project (word limit 100). This may include consultant or community collaboration/engagement, innovation in design and/or planning, utilisation of technology, etc.

Sustainability:

How has the hotel design achieved sustainable outcomes (word limit 200). This may include design methodology, procurement and construction, and operations.

Meet the Judges

Juliet Ashworth

Juliet Ashworth is a thought leader and design expert responsible for the creation of concepts for hospitality projects around the world.

As an owner of renowned interior architecture studio, CHADA, and with her earlier experience as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Juliet thinks holistically about new hotel brands, from naming through to opening.

CHADA has successfully completed 130 projects and the studio is recognised as a world leader in its field.

Juliet frequently appears on television and in print talking about hospitality trends.

Angela Biddle

With an unwavering objective to create unique brands and inspiring environments, Angela Biddle has over 20 years of experience in Interior Design, which has seen her work across leisure, residential, and commercial sectors Internationally.

Intent on applying her fascination with the ever-changing way people live, work and play, Angela’s expertise lies in strategically positioning projects; ensuring design expression maximises the commercial potential of a project.

Angela played a pivotal role in the development of two hotel brands for Yoo Hotels and Resorts, and as a result she brings a unique perspective to hotel design. Angela is driven to help clients envision, strategise and designers places with impact and longevity.

Callie van der Merwe

Callie van der Merwe is a registered Australian Architect and co-founder of COOOP Pty Ltd, an Architecture and Interior design agency focused on creating human-centered spaces that promote healthy social interaction and improve overall well-being. Operating from offices in Sydney and Dubai, they use an evidence-based design approach informed by empirical data to tailor built environments that elicit positive human responses. They term this process “EnviroHacking,” wherein they optimize environments for optimal human-centric solutions.

Their methodology is central to a new design documentary titled “Why we Dine: It’s not about the food,” currently in production. They are also planning a follow-up documentary focusing on Hotel Design, showcasing their innovative approach.

James Wilkinson

James is an award-winning TV show host, Editor-In-Chief and global travel expert.

For the last 20 years, James has been the Editor-In-Chief of the Asia-Pacific region’s highly respected hotel industry magazine, HM, and its online products. He Chairs the Content Committee for AHICE and is the Chief Judge of the HM Awards.

Ruth Hogan

An experienced editor and journalist in the B2B space,  Ruth is interested in the human side of business – what makes people successful, how they got to where they are, what unique offering they bring to their customers and why they do what they do.

At HM (Hotel Management) Magazine, Ruth is the editor of online and print, uncovering stories about hotel openings, tourism news, hotel design, technology and much more.

About Paul Davis

The award honours Paul Davis – renowned hotel architect and designer; a passionate and pivotal figure in hotel design in the Asia Pacific region.

An architect by trade, Paul was instrumental throughout his career in the planning, design and operational review of numerous international hotels throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Paul spent 18 years working for the Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (SPHC) and InterContinental Hotels Group across the Asia Pacific Region managing over 50 hotel and resort projects in 14 countries.

Paul also served as Chairperson of the Property Council’s NSW Tourism Committee and in 2012 founded his own company – Paul Robert Davis International.

AHICE and Design Inn APAC are proud to honour Paul Davis with this landmark industry design award. His love of design and excellence in his career which saw him involved in numerous hospitality projects across the globe has left a lasting impression on both the design and hotel industries.

Winner of the 2023 Paul Davis Award for the Australasia-Pacific Hotel of the Year – The Porter House Hotel Sydney – MGallery.