Judging

AHEAD Global 2019

2019 Judging

Each finalist for AHEAD Global has already undergone a highly rigorous, thorough and professional process to win an AHEAD regional award. Once all regional awards have taken place, each regional AHEAD winner will submit a film demonstrating why it is worthy of the ultimate accolade: an AHEAD Global award. You will also have the opportunity to edit all material submitted for the original entry.

Public online voting will commence on Thursday 3 January, allowing anyone with a verified account to have their say. All votes will be anonymous. Further, the Global judging panel will also review all material and will convene on Monday 28 January to debate the merits of the finalists and cast their final votes.

The winners will be decided by aggregation of the public and judges votes.

Submission deadlines:

- Editing original material period: 5 October 2018 – 14 December 2018

- Film entry closing date: 14 December 2018

- Submit all films to Melanie Page (m.page@mondiale.co.uk)

Films will be published online for public voting from 3 January 2019. Voting closes at 5PM UTC on 23 January 2019.


Judges

Aliya Khan

Vice President of Design Strategies - Marriott International

Aliya Khan is Vice President of Design Strategies at Marriott International. Focusing on AC Hotels, Aloft, Element and Moxy projects, she drives the efforts to define the design strategy for these brands and positions each with a distinct personality. Prior to joining Marriott International, Khan worked in numerous roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. She holds degrees in both architecture and industrial design.

She was responsible for several award‐winning projects, including the opening of the W Montreal, renovations at the W Mexico City, and the Le Meridien properties in French Polynesia. She also lead the renovation of the iconic St. Regis New York and oversaw the design partnership efforts between St. Regis Hotels and Bentley Motors.

Most recently, before joining Marriot, Khan took a break from the hotel industry to lead Design and Development for NeueHouse, and was responsible for the opening of their award‐winning Hollywood location.

​Beat Fornaro

Area Director of Portfolio Development - Design Hotels

Beat Fornaro is Area Director of Portfolio Development for Design Hotels™. He is responsible for the curation of the hand-picked portfolio of one-of-a-kind properties across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With his multidisciplinary background of 15 years in hospitality and tourism. Beat held positions in the US, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. He is passionate about forward-thinking hotel concepts that engage local culture with international hotel standards to create exceptional guest experiences. In his role, he looks for hoteliers who act as elicitors for the guest’s personal enrichment.

Before joining Design Hotels™, Beat worked many years in Sub-Saharan Africa, where he has been responsible for creating and implementing hospitality related projects in challenging environments. Among others, in partnership with his alma mater, École hôtelière de Lausanne, he has built a hotel school in Angola.

Christopher Webb

Vice President - Architecture, Design and Construction, Hilton Worldwide

Isabel Pintado

Senior Vice President Design & Innovation - Four Seasons

A seasoned interior architecture professional, Isabel has invaluable familiarity with the region’s culture and business landscape, as well as an in-depth knowledge of the design industry.

She leads the brand’s Dubai design studio, overseeing the design direction for each project, and generating opportunities for Wilson’s global design studios. Much of her inspiration is drawn from her love for travelling, watching people on the street, and visiting exhibitions by an eclectic roster of artists and designers. Her style is one of harmonious natural and contemporary elements.

Julia Monk

Hospitality Thought Leader

Kenneth Villamil

Global VP: Product & Brand Development – Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Centric & The Unbound Collection Hotels

Combining his background in brand strategy and interior architecture, Kenneth Allen Villamil is responsible for the comprehensive global design strategy for Hyatt Hotel's Luxury, Premium, and Lifestyle brands. Providing thought leadership and creative direction to advance each brand, ensuring they translate into memorable guest experiences around the world.

Prior to his role at Hyatt, Kenneth specialised in creative solutions and strategies for retail, hospitality and luxury lifestyle brands. He has spent the last 16 years honing his skills at a number of branding and architecture firms, including Gensler's 'Lifestyle Design Studio' and most recently with Starwood Hotel's Luxury Brands Studio; overseeing St Regis, W Hotels Worldwide, Le Meridien and The Luxury Collection Hotels. Kenneth has been recognised for his accomplishments in both Interiors/Architecture ‘International Interior Design Association Award,’ "Gold Key Award" and in Branding/Communications ‘Silver International Broadcast Design Award.’ He has also been awarded Hospitality Design Magazine’s 2014 “Wave of the Future Award.”

Khirstie Myles

​Margaret McMahon

Senior Vice President — Wimberly Interiors

Margaret McMahon leads and manages the firm’s interior design practice. Margaret’s 30 years in the design industry have produced an impressive portfolio of projects and an equally impressive list of loyal clients.

Under her vision and leadership, Wimberly Interiors has grown, launching new studios in New York, Miami, Dubai, Shanghai and Los Angeles, alongside the established studios in London, Singapore and Honolulu.

Prior to joining WATG, Margaret was the managing director of Wilson Associates’ New York office and former president of the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH) New York chapter. Margaret is a frequent speaker at industry-related conferences and events. Her work can be seen frequently in international design publications such as 'Interior Design', 'Hospitality Design' and 'Boutique Design'.

Margaret was recently inducted into 'Hospitality Design’s' Platinum Circle for excellence in hospitality design, promoted to be the firm’s first female Senior Vice President, and elected to the Board of Directors of the employee-owned firm.

Margaret’s natural talent to pinpoint details, analyze conceptual designs, and integrate reality with emotion makes her a revolutionary and inspiring figure in the field of interior design.

Michael Goodman

Managing Director – EDG Design

Paul Wiste

Head of Design & Engineering, South East Asia and Korea – IHG

Vince Stroop

Principal — Stonehill & Taylor​ Architects

Vince Stroop joined Stonehill & Taylor as Principal in 2014, bringing with him over 20 years of experience leading the design of prominent public and private spaces, including hotels, libraries, luxury residences, wineries, and restaurants. He specialises in hospitality in New York, and has worked in a variety of destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Moscow, Hong Kong and London.

His projects include work for prominent hospitality brands like Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, MGM Resorts International, Kerzner International Resorts, and the Las Vegas Sands Corp. He believes that design is a highly interactive and collaborative process; the best projects are those that embrace a team approach to every challenge. His work extends beyond the art and science of architecture, and includes diverse interests such as urban planning, graphic identity, website design, and education, having served as studio instructor at the School of Architecture at Woodbury University.

Previously, Vince was the founding partner of A2 Studios, a multidisciplinary architecture firm in California. He then led architecture and interiors as Principal at BBG-BBGM, and was a Studio Leader at Jeffrey Beers International.