The 8th Annual Radical Innovation Competition, the only global award that honors innovative hotel concepts, is now open for entries. Submissions are due February 3rd.
Co-founded by the John Hardy Group and Hospitality Design (HD) magazine, the competition is open to all individuals, firms, and brands. Students do not require an entry fee and are also encouraged to enter. Concepts must include check-in capabilities, guestrooms, and public areas, and food and beverage facilities or other amenities are highly encouraged but not required. All entries are scored on concept, design creativity, immediate impact on industry, narrative, graphics, and viability.
“Last year, we received a groundbreaking number of submissions from 25 countries with nearly 75 new concepts for hotels,” says John Hardy, CEO of the John Hardy Group. “In 2014, we’re looking for more immediately implementable innovations for incubation.”

The Radical Innovation jury-a group of hotel industry insiders-will select their favorite hotel concept entries based on a narrative and renderings. These finalists will be flown to Las Vegas to present their ideas in front of the jury and a live audience at the Hospitality Design Expo on May 15th. The audience will rate the contestants at the event, following the concept pitches.
The Radical Innovation grand prize winner receives $10,000, with $5,000 for the runner up, $1,500 to an honoree, and $1,500 to an outstanding student project. To heat up the competition, the updated judging process “Radical 8” will break the jury into teams designed to support the contestants prior to and during the presentation pitches. Early mentoring will prepare the finalists to make a strong defense for their concepts during the live competition and raise the stakes for the teams. 

This year’s jury includes Michael Medzigian, CEO and director of Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated; Jena Thornton, managing director of Eagle Rock Ventures; Simon Turner, president, global development of Starwood Hotels; James Woods, COO of the Bowls; and Wing T. Chao of Wing T. Chao Architect. Claude Amar, managing director of the John Hardy Group International, will moderate the event.
Enter at RadicalInnovationAward.com.
