Dezeen promotion: a wabi-sabi-inspired hotel in a remote Chinese village and a luxury yacht that sails the seas of Indonesia are among the projects to be celebrated in the 2020 edition of the AHEAD Asia awards.
The AHEAD awards spotlight outstanding hospitality projects from four different regions of the world: Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
This year’s winners from the Asia region were announced via an online presentation, following the cancellation of the physical ceremony due to the global coronavirus outbreak.
Sunyata Hotel Meili, which lies in a remote part of China, won the Hotel Conversion category
China is home to several of AHEAD Asia’s winning projects. Among them is Sunyata Hotel Meili, which came first in the Hotel Conversion category.
It takes over one of the 23 households that populate the remote village of Wunongding, and features earth-tone interiors that draw upon the ancient philosophy of wabi-sabi.
China’s Grand Hyatt Xi’an was given the Guestrooms award
Other first-place Chinese projects include the Capella Sanya hotel, which scooped the Landscaping & Outdoor spaces award, and Grand Hyatt Xi’an, which won the Guestrooms category.
Champions from elsewhere in the Asia region include The Lindis, which topped the Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps category.
The five-bedroom boutique hotel hides amongst the mountains of New Zealand’s Ahuriri Valley and was commended by judges for its off-grid energy solutions.
The undulating roof of The Lindis, which topped the Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps category
Rosewood Bangkok’s Nan Bei eatery came first in the Restaurant category.
Judges were impressed with the number of decadent decor details that have been incorporated in the venue, which includes a seven-metre-high light installation and blue-lacquered ceilings.
The luxurious aesthetic of Rosewood Bangkok’s Nan Bei earned it first place in the Restaurant category
The Bar, Club or Lounge category was also won by Rosewood Bangkok’s Lennon’s – a speakeasy-like watering hole where guests are encouraged to bring their own vinyl records to be played by the in-house DJ.
The award for the Transport category was also given to The Oracle – a custom 35-metre-long yacht that traverses the seas of Indonesia.
Custom-built yacht The Oracle was the winner of the Transport category
The physical ceremony for the AHEAD Asia awards will now take place 7 September at the Andaz Singapore, where the Hotel of the Year will be announced.
Last year, the prestigious title was won by Amanyangyun Shanghai – a contemporary hotel that occupies a pair of Ming and Qing dynasty buildings in China.
See below for the full list of winners:
Bar, Club or Lounge
Lennon’s at Rosewood Bangkok, Thailand
Event Spaces
Grand Ballroom and Junior Ballroom at Rosewood Hong Kong, China
Guestroom
Grand Hyatt Xi’an, China
Hotel Conversion
Sunyata Hotel Meili, China
Hotel Newbuild
Rosewood Hong Kong, China
Hotel Renovation & Restoration
Raffles Singapore
Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces
Capella Sanya, China
Lobby & Public Spaces
Grand Hyatt Xi’an, China
Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps
The Lindis Ahuriri Valley, North Otago, New Zealand
Resort
Six Senses Bhutan
Restaurant
Nan Bei at Rosewood Bangkok, Thailand
Spa & Wellness
Hôtel de la Coupole, Vietnam
Suite
Grand Harbour Corner Suite at Rosewood Hong Kong, China
Transport
The Oracle
Visual Identity
Moss Hotel, Australia
New Concept
Hanare, Tokyo
Source: Rooms - dezeen.com
