WHITE PLAINS, NY, August 27, 2009…The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS) has named finalists for the prestigious Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, an honor bestowed annually to design firms representing the most innovative hospitality properties completed or renovated within the past 18 months. Finalists were selected by a panel of notable industry experts from more than 225 projects in 24 countries. Winners, finalists and "Designer of the Year" Alexandra Champalimaud will be honored at the Gold Key Awards Breakfast Ceremony on Monday, November 9, 2009, 7:30 – 9:30 am, at the Mandarin Oriental New York. The Awards are sponsored by Interior Design and HOTELS magazines and coincide with the 94th annual IH/M&RS, taking place November 7-10, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

The 2009 Gold Key Awards finalists are:

Best Hotel Design– Resort
-Courtyard House on Hillside (Hong Kong) by Ricky Wong Designers Ltd. (Hong Kong)
-Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora (Tahiti) by BAMO (San Francisco, CA) 
-Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya (Mixcoac, Mexico) by Baia and Henriksen Design Associates (Venice, CA)  

Best Hotel Design - Urban
-Andaz West Hollywood (West Hollywood, CA) by Janson Goldstein LLP (New York, NY) 
-InterContinental Chicago O’Hare (Rosemont, IL) by Anderson/Miller Ltd. (Chicago, IL) 
-Las Alcobas (Polanco, Mexico) by Yabu Pushelberg (New York, NY)

Guest Room 
-Lydmar Hotel (Stockholm, Sweden) by Stylt Trampoli AB (Göteborg, Sweden)
-Miraval Guestrooms (Catalina, Arizona) by Clodagh Design (New York, NY) 
-Mondrian Miami (Miami Beach, FL) by Marcel Wanders Studio (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Lobby/Reception 
-Banyan Tree Mayakoba (Mayakoba, Mexico) by Architrave, A Division of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts PTE Ltd. (Singapore) 
-Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (Tainan, Taiwan) by AB Concept (Hong Kong) 
-Smyth Hotel (New York, NY) by Yabu Pushelberg (New York, NY)

Lounge/Bar 
-Mondrian Miami (Miami Beach, FL) by Marcel Wanders Studio (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) 
-Punk Bar (Beijing, China) by NHDRO (Neri & Hu Design and Research Office) (Shanghai, China) 
-W Hotel Atlanta Downtown (Atlanta, GA) by Burdifilek (Toronto, Canada)

Restaurants – Casual Dining 
-Founding Farmers (Washington, DC) by CORE (Washington, DC) 
-Jen Café at Hotel Jen (Hong Kong) by AB Concept (Hong Kong) 
-Shiki (Shenzhen, China) by Joey Ho Design Limited (Hong Kong)

Restaurants – Fine Dining 
-Corton (New York, NY) by STEPHANIEGOTO (New York, NY) 
-Steel Bar & Grill (Sydney, Australia) by Dreamtime Australia Design (Sydney, Australia) 
-The Market – Beijing Whampoa Club (Beijing, China) by  NHDRO (Neri & Hu Design and Research Office)

Spa 
-Eau Spa at Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach (Manalapan, FL) by RTKL Associates Inc. (Miami, FL & Dallas, TX) 
-ESPA at The Europe Hotel & Restaurant (Co. Kerry, Ireland) by HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates (London, England) 
-Lapis at Fontaine Bleau Miami Beach (Miami Beach, FL) by Richardson Sadeki (New York, NY) 
-The Peninsula Spa by Espa (New York, NY) by Champalimaud (New York, NY) 
-The Spa at Four Seasons Bora Bora (Tahiti) by BAMO (San Francisco, CA)

Suite 
-@ Gallery Suite (Shanghai, China) by ISSI ID Studio (Shanghai, China) 
-Morgans (New York, NY) by Agence Andrée Putman (Paris, France) 
-Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora (Tahiti) by BAMO (San Francisco, CA) 
-Penthouse Eight at Tribeca Grand Hotel (New York, NY) by Studio Sofield (New York, NY)

"From the world’s most recognized new resorts and dining experiences, to urban hotels and casual restaurants, the firms being honored as 2009 Gold Key Awards finalists represent the most compelling yet functional hospitality designs," said Lynn White, IH/M&RS show manager. "This was an exceptional year for entries, from both a quality and numbers perspective."

Countries and territories represented among the more than 225 submissions were Australia, Bahrain, Canada, China, Croatia, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Macao, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Semarang, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Judges for the 2009 Gold Key Awards were Randy Gerner, Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, PC; D.B. Kim; Michael Silberstein, Crowne Plaza Times Square; and Michael Whiteman, Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co.  Finalists were selected based on aesthetic appeal, practicality and functionality of design. Highlighting the ceremony will be the presentation of the "Designer of the Year" Award by Jeff Weinstein, editor-in-chief of HOTELS, and Cindy Allen, editor-in-chief of Interior Design. Alexandra Champalimaud, president and principle designer of CHAMPALIMAUD, was selected for her hospitality designs of the highest caliber and seasoned understanding of the foundations and principles of classic design.

In addition, NEWH, Inc., the Hospitality Industry Network, will present its fourth Icon of Industry Award posthumously to Jerry Hruby-Holy, founder of Unilight and admired leader within the lighting industry. A $5,000 scholarship in Jerry’s name will be awarded to a student focusing on a career in the hospitality industry.

Tickets for the Gold Key Awards Breakfast are $75 each, and available online at www.ihmrs.com/show/goldkey.html, or by sending a check, payable to the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, to IH/M&RS Gold Key Awards, Attention Jessica Reiche, GLM®, a dmg world media business, 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604-3547. The purchase of a Gold Key Awards Breakfast ticket includes complimentary admission to the IH/M&RS. For additional information, contact Jessica Reiche, at (914) 421-3290. Complimentary shuttle transportation will be provided to the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show following the ceremony.

The 94th annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show will run Saturday, November 7, through Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Following a full-day of conference and networking activities on Saturday, November 7, the IH/M&RS will feature three full days of exhibits from Sunday, November 8, through Tuesday, November 10.

The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc., and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association; and is managed by GLM®, LLC.

For IH/M&RS exhibitor information, contact Lynn White, show manager, at GLM, 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604-3547. Telephone (914) 421-3249. Fax (914) 948-6197. E-mail: lynn_white@glmshows.com. For attendee information, contact GLM Customer Relations at (914) 421-3237, or by email, at customer_relations@glmshows.com. Additional information and registration is available online, at www.ihmrs.com.

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