Seven distinguished industry professionals were inducted into Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle hall of fame Tuesday, November 12th at a gala celebration at the Conrad New York Downtown. The honor is bestowed on those who have dedicated their careers to enhancing the design, architecture, ownership/management, purchasing, and other disciplines in the hospitality industry.
More than 400 people attended the black-tie event, with each honoree introduced by a peer or collaborator. TV personality and magazine editor Nilou Motamed introduced Grupo Habita; Robin Standefer of Roman and Williams (also an honoree) welcomed Andrew Zobler; Neil Jacobs of Six Senses accepted Anouska Hempel’s award on her behalf; and the iconic Ian Schrager celebrated Roman and Williams’ career achievements.
The 2019 honorees are:
Working across multiple fields including interiors, product design, fashion, and landscapes, celebrated actress-turned-British designer Anouska Hempel is known for bringing her dramatic sensibility to the design world. From the elegant Blakes hotel in London to the lavish Six Senses Duxton in Singapore, each showcases her eclectic and vibrant style.
Led by Carlos Couturier and Rafael and Moisés Micha, Grupo Habita opened its first boutique property Habita Hotel in its hometown Mexico City in 2000. Today, their portfolio boasts more than a dozen hotels across Mexico and the U.S., with a handful more on the boards, including a third U.S. property set to open in Downtown Los Angeles.
Since founding Roman and Williams in 2002, principals Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch have been blending old and the new with a well-balanced romanticism in such notable projects as the Ace Hotel New Orleans, Le Coucou restaurant in New York, and their very own retail-restaurant-showroom hybrid RW Guild, home to French café La Mercerie, Emily Thompson Flowers, and the duo’s product growing product line.
Sydell Group founder and CEO Andrew Zobler is one of the most influential names in hospitality. He’s revolutionized the lifestyle hotel with the NoMad, LINE, and Freehand brands, and, as a pioneer in the industry, he is creating a new type of hotel—one that is design-forward and deeply rooted in its location.
The Parker Company will also be recognized for 50 years of contributions to the industry.
