The LIV Hospitality Design Awards, one of the most significant events in the hospitality industry and part of the Swiss-based 3C Awards—a global platform dedicated to curating and promoting design—has announced its speaker lineup for the upcoming conference, taking place alongside the Hotel & Shop Plus Tradeshow at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. Scheduled for April 2, 2025, this event will gather industry leaders, insiders, and experts for engaging sessions that delve into the key trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the future of lifestyle hotels, boutique resorts, and hospitality experiences.
As Asia’s leading trade show, Hotel & Shop Plus will run from March 31 to April 3, 2025, catering to developers, investors, hoteliers, operators, and designers in the hospitality and commercial space markets across China and Asia. This annual mega event will showcase leading suppliers from the construction and operations sectors, presenting their latest products, services, and innovative developments for hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and other commercial facilities.
The LIV Hospitality Design Awards will feature Design Talks by LIV Awards, keynote presentations by esteemed LIV Awards Jury Members, and engaging panel discussions that address the latest trends and developments in hospitality design. The morning session, “Designing the Future – Opportunities in Lifestyle Hotels & Boutique Resorts,” will focus on the rising demand for unique, design-driven hotels and resorts. Industry experts will discuss market trends, regional dynamics, storytelling in design, adaptive reuse and sustainable practices. Keynote speaker Tina Norden (Partner and Principal at Conran and Partners, UK/Hong Kong), an interior designer and architect with a diverse portfolio spanning various contexts and continents, will share insights. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring industry leaders, including Chiara Calufetti-Lim (Principal & Studio Director of Architecture at WATG, Singapore), a seasoned architect with international experience on projects worldwide; Carl Wee (Vice President, Technical Services, Asia Pacific at Wyndham Hotels, Singapore), a passionate advocate for sustainability and technology in hospitality; and others, moderated by the renowned interior designer Tarek Hegazy (Principal & Creative Director at Living Design, Sweden), with over 34 years of experience in interior design. Joining the panel, Huan Zhu is the General Manager of the Architecture Department of Wanda Hotel Design & Research Institute since 2018.
The afternoon session, “Hospitality Design Trends – Reinvented by Social Megatrends & New F&B Experiences,” will explore how evolving social megatrends and food and beverage innovations shape hospitality design, wellness, zero-waste practices and discuss fostering social connections. Keynote speaker Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk (Founder at JOI-Design, Germany and India), a university lecturer and co-author of numerous design books, will provide insights. This will be followed by a panel featuring hospitality project manager and consultant Kristina Belyavskaya (Cospitality Founder, Spain); Marc Schicker (Founder & Managing Director at SCHICKER & Co., Indonesia), who brings over 30 years of experience in the design and construction industry across Asia, the Middle East, Australasia, Japan, and the UK; Eric Leong (Vice President – Design & Technical Services at Minor Hotels, Thailand), a passionate hospitality design and experience creator; and moderator Arturo Sim (Managing Partner at VHC Global, Hong Kong), who has played a key role in shaping the face of F&B throughout the Asia Pacific, participating in over 250 hotel projects and leading the development of hundreds of restaurants, bars, and catering venues. Topics will include sustainability, cultural immersion, experiential dining, and technology-driven personalization.
Astrid Hébert, Director of 3C Awards and Co-Founder of the LIV Hospitality Design Awards, shared her thoughts on this event, saying: “Celebrating our 5th edition in Shanghai feels like the perfect next step. Year after year, we see incredible projects coming from Asia, and the region is shaping the future of hospitality design in so many ways. Bringing our conference here, alongside such an inspiring lineup of speakers, is a wonderful opportunity for winners, jury members, and industry leaders to come together, connect on a deeper level, and exchange ideas that can enrich our industry.”
To mark its 5th anniversary, the LIV Hospitality Design Awards is partnering with the Asia Pacific Design Center and Hotel & Shop Plus to offer all 2023 and 2024 winners complimentary access to the four-day trade show. The celebrations will culminate in the LIV Hospitality Design Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Shangri-La Kerry Hotel in Pudong, Shanghai, on April 2, 2025. For more information, visit livawards.com.
TRADESHOW AND CONFERENCE – PROGRAM
Tradeshow: Hotel & Shop Plus tradeshow
Date: 31st of March till 3rd of April, 2025
Address: Shanghai New International Expo Center, No.2345 Longyang Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201204
As Asia’s leading trade show, Hotel & Shop Plus takes place from March 31 to April 3, 2025, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. It gathers architects, designers, hospitality leaders, and innovators from across the globe. With over 2,000 exhibitors, the show is a one-stop platform for cutting-edge solutions in Hospitality design and architecture, smart technologies, and operational tools. This event offers unparalleled opportunities for networking, inspiration, and collaboration in a rapidly evolving industry.
Complimentary access – Book your tickets HERE.
TRADESHOW AND CONFERENCE – DESIGN TALKS BY LIV AWARDS
Tradeshow: Hotel & Shop Plus tradeshow – Conference Hall “E”
Date: 2nd of April, 2025
Address: Shanghai New International Expo Center, No.2345 Longyang Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai;
Join us for insightful design talks, through keynote presentations of the LIV Awards Jury Members, engaging panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the conference inspires attendees to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in hospitality spaces.
Morning Session – 10am: Designing the Future – Opportunities in Lifestyle Hotels & Boutique Resorts
Afternoon Session – 1pm: Hospitality Design Trends – Reinvented by Social Megatrends & New F&B Experiences
Header: Sailing Palace – Bund Hyatt Hotel Renovation – Shanghai, China. GALA ARCHITECTS with L22.
