The hospitality design industry came together in Shanghai for the LIV Hospitality Design Awards, an event that highlighted some of the most innovative and inspiring projects in the field. Held at the beautiful Kerry Hotel Shanghai on April 2, the awards ceremony was a true celebration of creativity and innovation in hospitality design.
Earlier in the day, the LIV Hospitality Design Conference took place at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, hosted alongside the Hotel & Shop Plus Tradeshow. The morning session, “Designing the Future – Opportunities in Lifestyle Hotels & Boutique Resorts,” explored emerging market trends, the role of storytelling in design, and sustainability in hospitality. Keynote speaker Tina Norden, Partner and Principal at Conran and Partners, shared her expertise, followed by a panel discussion featuring Chiara Calufetti-Lim (WATG), Carl Wee (Wyndham Hotels), and Huan Zhu (Wanda Hotel Design & Research Institute), moderated by renowned interior designer Tarek Hegazy (Living Design). The afternoon session, “Hospitality Design Trends – Reinvented by Social Megatrends & New F&B Experiences,” examined how social trends shape hospitality spaces. Keynote speaker Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk (JOI-Design) led the session, followed by a panel discussion with Kristina Belyavskaya (Cospitality), Marc Schicker (SCHICKER & Co.), and Eric Leong (Minor Hotels), with Arturo Sim (VHC Global) moderating.
The evening ceremony brought together a distinguished gathering of architects, designers, and visionaries from around the globe. Guests were treated to a glamorous dinner, where inspiring conversations flowed freely, and new connections were forged in a sophisticated ambiance. The event was kicked off by Astrid Hebert and Hossein Farmani, Co-Founders of the LIV Hospitality Design Awards, who delivered uplifting speeches. Farmani expressed his pride in celebrating the 5th anniversary of the LIV Awards in Shanghai, emphasizing the importance of honoring exceptional hospitality design on a global stage. With participants hailing from 25 countries—including Comoros, South Africa, Singapore, France, Croatia, Spain, China, Dubai, Brazil, Hungary, the UK, Ecuador, Germany, Sweden, Argentina, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and India—the event underscored the LIV Hospitality Design Awards’ truly international scope and unwavering commitment to recognizing outstanding design from every corner of the world.
Notable winners of the evening included 2023 Interior Design of the Year – Eating Space: Audrey Green & Larry’s Bar at London’s National Theatre by Run For The Hills (Anna Burles, Philippe Bougué), 2023 Emerging Interior Designer of the Year – Living Space: Inter(Vo)ven- A Fashion Hotel by New York School of Interior Design (Mihika Chatterjee), 2024 Architectural Design of the Year – Living Space: Dialogue with Nature – Commune STORE by Atelier Global Limited (Frankie Lui), 2024 Architectural Design of the Year – Eating Space: Canopy: A Treetop Dining Experience by Minor Hotels (Rock Venture Co), and 2024 Interior Design of the Year – Living Space: Nanjing Back To Yaxi Manor Resort by Yuqiang & Partners (Yu Qiang, Mao Hua). Other companies receiving the award on the stage included some of the biggest names in the industry: A1 Arquitectura Avanzada, FGMF Arquitetos, WATG, Eco-Id Architects Pte Ltd, Pham Huu Son Architects, Architectural Design & Research Institute of Scut, BBMichaels Studio, Wan Chen Design, Guangzhou Uniarch Decoration Design, Henderson Land Development Company Limited, Wimberly Interiors, Gala Architects, Gratitude Design, Living Design of Sweden, Vermilion Zhou Design Group, Wanda Hotel Design Institute, and more.
“Having so many esteemed jury members with us in Shanghai made these past few days truly unforgettable,” said Astrid Hebert, Co-Founder of the LIV Hospitality Design Awards. “The evening was filled with insightful conversations, new ideas, and valuable connections. It was incredibly inspiring to witness the winners engaging with other industry professionals. Celebrating the LIV Awards’ 5th anniversary in Shanghai added even greater meaning to the event. It’s exciting to think about the potential collaborations that could arise from this gathering. This is the power of uniting the global hospitality design community.”
The event was held in collaboration with the Asian Pacific Design Center (APDC) and supported by sponsors such as Hotel & Shop Plus and media partners like D5 MAG and v2com. The LIV Hospitality Design Awards continue to celebrate the quality and diversity of architectural ventures and interior design projects shaping the hospitality industry today. This year’s winners have been recognized for exceptional projects within living and eating spaces, from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to visionary restaurants and bars.
