Some of the veterans and rising stars who spoke were Neil
Jacobs, Six Senses; Clodagh, Clodagh Design; Calvin Tsao and
Zack McKown, TsAO & McKOWN; Brad Wilson, Ace Hotels; Mari
Balestrazzi, Hyatt Hotels; Huxley Hogeboom, Equinox Hotels;
Alessandro Munge, Studio Munge; Margaret McMahon, Wimberly
Interiors; Nate Siehr, Marriott; Allison Reid, Kimpton Hotels &
Restaurants; Christina Zimmer, Highgate Hotels; Molly Swyers,
21c Museum Hotels; Mike Fuerstman, Pendry Hotels; and Kfir
Levy, Habitas.
The Box Design Challenge continued the conversation by
challenging 11 top design firms to design and create the next best
in lifestyle guestrooms. On the heels of last year's success,
Hospitality Design magazine once again partnered with Hilton to
host this exciting competition onsite, eventually naming Urban
Robot the winner after a grueling 24-hour design period. Other
impressive design firms such as Curioso, Gulla Jonsdottir
Architecture and Design, HBA, OfficeUntitled and Stonehill Taylor
took part in the fast-paced design challenge. The winning design –
an indoor-outdoor abode decided upon by Bobby Berk, star of
Queer Eye; Anthony Melchiorri, Ageo Hospitality and former star of
Hotel Impossible; Larry Traxler, Hilton; and Daniel Wade, Plaza LV –
will be built out and revealed at HD Expo 2020, with exclusive
behind-the-scenes content featured throughout the year on the HD
Expo's website.