The Judges

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Jeremy Blake - Purcell Miller Tritton

Jeremy Blake, Head of Hospitality, is a Rome Scholar and founding secretary of the RIBA Traditional Architecture Group. He combines historic buildings expertise with a much sought-after specialism in hotel and spa design and is currently Chairman of the European Hotel Design Awards’ judging panel for the second year running. Passionate about sustainable
design, Jeremy has been delivering pioneering BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated buildings for over 15 years and has spoken about eco-hotels and environmentally responsible design at conferences in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Ahmed Akudi - Grohe 

Ahmed Akudi heads up the global project business at GROHE.
With over a decade of liaising and working closely with International Architects, Designers, Operators and Developers Globally. Ahmed embraces a pragmatic outlook for design after countless dealings with classic, contemporary and leading Avant-garde projects. This allows Ahmed to offer an invaluable insight into the building design sector.

Ahmed’s background in Procurement, Manufacturing, Sales and Design has allowed him to cultivate his ability to understand challenges within projects whilst retaining essential design factors and innovation. Currently living in Yorkshire, England, Ahmed’s role continues to see him build international connections whilst extensive travel has allowed him to experience global cultures, design movement and identify new ideas at a very early stage all of which contribute towards innovation for GROHE and its valued clients.

Robert Cook - Malmaison / Hotel du Vin

A graduate of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Robert spent four years as MD of Columbus and Dakota Hotel Group, Monte Carlo prior to rejoining Malmaison.  Awarded the Catey for Manager of the Year in 2006 and the same year Malmaison awarded AA Group of the Year, which Hotel du Vin have won for six consecutive years.

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James Dilley - Jestico & Whiles

James runs the hotel and the interior design studios at Jestico + Whiles. Projects completed  this year include Andels Berlin, a 580 key hotel in eastern Berlin’s resurgent Prenzlauer Berg, converted from the redundant shell of an Aldo Rossi building, and Andels Lodz, which regenerates one of the largest Victorian textile factories in Europe. Other projects include the “ultraluxe” Yas Hotel on the new F1 race track in Abu Dhabi.

Guy Dittrich - Journalist and Marketing Consultant

A freelance writer and independent commentator on hotels, travel and design Guy Dittrich frequently moderates at hotel conferences including the Sleep Event, HI Design EMEA, HI Design Asia and the Hotel Investment Conference.  Writing for Wallpaper*, Condé Nast Traveller, Business Traveller, various UK and European newspapers and travel websites Guy also regularly contributes detailed hotel reviews to Sleeper, the specialist hotel design magazine.  In the course of his work he gets to see and experience many of the hotels entering the awards and brings this first-hand knowledge into the judging process.  Additionally Guy provides a wide range of hotel marketing consultancy advice helping hotels get to market.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe and having lived in both London and Munich, Guy now works from Brussels.

Simon Ford - InterContinental Hotels Group

Simon Ford is a qualified Architect and has been with IHG for 12 years.  He led the Technical Services team for EMEA and played an active role in the development of new brands, brand standards, model room development and design. Recently he has taken on responsibility for Innovation and Design within the Global Brand Management function.

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Richard Garland / Fiona Thompson - Richmond Design

Celia Geyer - WATG

Celia Geyer is an Architect and Associate Vice President. She has been involved in the design and management of major urban and resort destinations, from master planning through to construction. Prior to joining WATG in 1997, Geyer was in private practice with a focus on residential and commercial design. Her experience with WATG includes a variety of projects including hotels, resorts and residential developments that include: Le Meridien Pyramids (Cairo, Egypt); Sasakwa Hill Lodge (Serengeti, Tanzania); the Emirates Palace (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates); and Vale do Lobo (Algarve, Portugal).

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Michael Levie - CitizenM

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Gordon McKinnon - The Rezidor Hotel Group

Dexter Moren - Dexter Moren Architects

Dexter is recognized as an industry leader in the hotel & leisure sector. He is the founding director of Dexter Moren Associates, London and Moren Williams Lotter Forsythe, South Africa. He is a graduate of London’s Architectural Association and New York’s Columbia University.
 
With over 20 years experience, Dexter has worked with the majority of leading brands in the UK, Europe, Africa, Middle East and more recently in Asia. He is currently leading the design for a new Intercontinental resort along the coastline in Zanzibar, three Aldar hotels on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and two projects for Amari Hotels & Resorts in Thailand.
 
Dexter has been invited to speak on design and sustainability at key industry events such as Property Week Hotels UK, the NLA’s Away from Home exhibition, the Sleep Hotel conference, and the World Budget & Economy Hotel Conferences. His approach to design has also been profiled in the Architects’ Journal and Hotel Report.
 
He is driven by the principles of design excellence and sustainability whilst maintaining the joy of a creative working experience for his team, consultants and clients.

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Khirstie Myles - Marriott International

Tim Mutton - Blacksheep

Tim Mutton co-founded Blacksheep with Jo Sampson in 2002, creating stylish and aspirational interiors with a real point of difference.  The company's portfolio includes award-winning private members clubs such as the Cuckoo Club, Whisky Mist at Zeta and Molton House.  Hotel clients include The Hilton, Ibis, Novotel, Mercure and Park Hotels.
www.blacksheepweb.com

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Andrew Onraet - Von Essen Hotels

AEON Architects headed by Andrew Onraet have been behind some of the most innovative hotel and Spa developments in the UK. Some of the Spa projects to date include the Bath House Spa at New Park Manor in the New Forest, a child friendly Spa at The Elms in Worcestershire and the famous The Bath House at The Royal Crescent hotel in Bath.
 
A major project that AEON have been involved in since 2008 is the development of the new luxury hotel forming part of the only Heliport Hotel solution in Europe- Hotel Verta in Battersea. The project is leading the regeneration of The Vertical Gateway, the part of London now amongst the most exciting in building activity; Battersea SW11.
 
AEON are also currently involved in the development of a formulation of a unique Spa solution by Culpeper who were established in 1927.
 
Andrew Onraet continues his work as group architect and creative director for von Essen hotels- he has been instrumental in the growth from 2 to 28 hotels over the past decade, oversees the positioning, development and style to cover all the portfolio across the UK and France. His role within von Essen has resulted in the group receiving numerous awards, both within the design and hotel industry.

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Claus Sendlinger - Design Hotels

Matt Turner - Sleeper Magazine

Matt Turner, 35, is the editor of Sleeper, the leading international magazine for hotel design, development and architecture. He is also an adviser to The Sleep Event, helping to shape the content of the conference, exhibition and European Hotel Design Awards.

In his spare time, he writes occasional freelance pieces, and comments on the hotel industry, for media including the BBC, The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Wallpaper* and Mr & Mrs Smith.