The 13 June saw the first annual LE Miami Awards in Miami Beach, created to recognise the rebels pushing the boundaries of high-end travel in inventive categories ranging from Most Original Campaign to Best Renovation/Reinvention. The edgiest brands in contemporary luxury travel met at The James Royal Palm for an Awards ceremony supported by Travel + Leisure and DEPARTURES, before heading out to the Official After Party at Pearl, DJed by Chelsea Leyland and hosted by A Hotel Life.
Following applications from members of the LE Miami Collective, the winner was chosen from a final shortlist of five or six nominees in each category by a panel of creative pioneers. The only exception to this was the Most Influential Person in Contemporary Travel, which was voted for by every attendee during registration.
The full list of categories and winners is as follows:
1. GREATEST INNOVATION/DISRUPTION:
An invention that shatters the status quo and reframes the way we see travel. From pop-ups and new web concepts to innovative transport – this is where we embrace the unexpected.
WINNER: ACE HOTEL
Ace Hotel reinvents hospitality to make something fresh, energised and human. The brand is emphatic about art and creation — collaborating with and celebrating people whose work inspires them. They embrace and re-imagine classic buildings and interesting opportunities, creating a sense of history and place that pairs the pragmatic with the romantic. Ace Hotels are inspired by an affinity for the soulful and fuelled by localised and handmade culture. They look for creative ways to be resourceful and sustainable and believe in a better way of doing things, no matter the scale.
2. MOST ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN:
Marvellous marketing that offers a new way to connect with clients and takes a brand to the next level, whether it’s the clever use of social media or a game-changing series of events.
WINNER: DESIGN HOTELS™, FINDING INFINITY
Design Hotels™ embarked on a full-speed initiative into the arena of corporate responsibility, teaming up with Finding Infinity, an organisation employing creative, grass-roots activists to set the path to a future based on infinite resources. The programme was launched in March with an extended road trip and event series throughout Europe to inspire both hotels and the wider community. Member hotels benefit from EarthCheck, the leading eco-management and certification programme within the industry.
3. BEST PARTNERSHIP:
A surprising, seamless and successful collaboration between a travel brand and the creative community, generating something spectacular.
WINNER: ANDAZ GLOBAL, WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
This multi-year collaboration with Women for Women International (WfWI), a non-profit organisation that helps female survivors of war move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, is integrated across Andaz hotels globally. It provides skills training and income opportunities for women in Iraq participating in the WfWI graduate program, teaching sewing and silk screening to produce laundry bags at a fair wage. Each hotel also sponsors the WfWI Life-Skills Training Program, which supplies school fees, access to food and water and start-up funds for women to open their own businesses.
4. BEST INTERACTION WITH NEIGHBOURHOOD:
Insightful and inspiring integration with the local cultural landscape, creating community and raising the profile of the neighbourhood.
WINNER: MATUETÈ, THE MORRINHO PROJECT
The Morrinho Project started in the early 2000s in Rio’s slums, when the children who played there started to build a model of the favelas using bricks and discarded materials. When Matueté discovered this treasure they began taking travellers to see it as an alternative, non-voyeuristic way of understanding how people live in Rio’s slums. The revenue from this tourism, plus English classes sponsored by Matueté and support for aeroplane tickets, has allowed the boys to travel the world visiting art fairs like the Venice Art Bienalle in 2007 and holding exhibitions at London’s Southbank Centre and in New York.
5. MOST UP-AND-COMING JOURNALIST/BLOGGER:
An original voice that reframes our expectations by telling stories about new and inspiring experiences in travel and lifestyle.
WINNER: BEN PUNDOLE
Ben has worked in the lifestyle hotel business for 20 years, focusing on events, bars, nightlife, promotions and marketing before launching A Hotel Life. He describes his travel review site as “your really cool friend who constantly travels the world and stays at the most interesting places”. Structured around the concept of travel editorial with a twist, the site covers a curated selection of the hippest hotels around the world. Each article gives a short, snappy and stylish lowdown of everything that is unique about these high-end hotels, written by creative contributors and industry insiders for fellow creatives and trendsetters.
6. BEST RENOVATION/REINVENTION:
Taking an existing building, brand or concept and transforming it into something unpredictable, stylish and contemporary.
WINNER: DOWNTOWN MEXICO
For each of their properties Grupo Habita uses a local team and integrates the local culture into the concept. This was the case when renovating the DOWNTOWN, one of the oldest residences in the area that maintained a Mexican vice regal style. The reinvented property blends elements of colonial style and local indigenous culture with contemporary design, resulting in a stripped-back, urban bohemian elegance. The new DOWNTOWN also innovatively integrates a rooftop bar, pool terrace and hostel.
7. SEXIEST HOTEL:
A magnetic, of-the-moment hangout for the cool, creative crowd, fusing design, people and personality.
WINNER: KENOA
Situated on the stunning northeast coast of Brazil, the 23 exclusive villas and suites that make up Kenoa bristle with unique features, from unparalleled views over the neighbouring sanctuary to private pools and outstanding interior design mingled with indigenous artwork. The hotel’s contemporary environments are seamlessly connected and engaged with its beautiful natural surroundings and it prizes eco-friendly solutions. Kenoa’s emphasis on wellbeing synchronised with Zen-like luxury dissolves the boundaries between man-made and natural to create an unearthly, lush haven.
8. MOST INNOVATIVE FOOD/BEVERAGE:
An unconventional idea in food, beverage or both — this could be up-and-coming chefs or mixologists, in-house speakeasies or imaginative culinary concepts.
WINNER: TOWN HALL HOTEL, VIAJANTE
Acclaimed Head Chef Nuno Mendes takes creativity to new heights, transporting guests on a journey across the maps of the food world whilst making them feel at home. Drawing inspiration from travelling and the sea, each intricately conceived and constructed dish is accompanied by thoughtful explanations from the staff, resulting in a revelatory dining experience.
9. BEST DESIGN:
From a teaspoon to the interior of a private jet, exercise your imagination for the most inventive and creative design revolutionising the aesthetic of contemporary travel.
WINNER: THE UPPER HOUSE
Hong Kong architect Andre Fu’s meticulous approach to design is translated in his vision for The Upper House. He seeks to redefine the concept of new luxury by creating ‘a haven of calm and quiet taste’. Natural materials, original sculpture installations and seamlessly proportioned spaces are integrated to create a sophisticated and modern Asian-influenced residence. British designer Thomas Heatherwick created the impressive Bedonia stone portico, while the public spaces feature a grand mix of limestone and bleached oak. In the bedrooms upwards from the 38th floors, Fu has dreamed up an eyrie of bamboo, shoji glass, lacquered paper panels and green tea and lilac-coloured upholstery.
10. BEST GUEST EXPERIENCE:
Service that goes beyond the expected to provide a bespoke, extraordinary experience that leaves a big impression.
WINNER: THE STANDARD HOTELS, STNDAIR
StndAIR is the only seaplane service offered from New York City to The Hamptons by any hotel in the business. The stylish eight-passenger plane flies regular flights between May and September and is available for both hotel guests and the public.
StndAIR’s Facebook booking experience offers friends reduced rates if all eight seats are filled. On board, flyers can enjoy a glass of rosé to get them in the summer mood.
11. MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN CONTEMPORARY TRAVEL:
The individual who has made a significant contribution to the shift in contemporary high-end travel.
Ian Schrager receiving his award from Serge Dive
WINNER: IAN SCHRAGER
Since co-founding the legendary Studio 54 and Palladium nightclubs, Ian has been a truly revolutionary force within the travel industry. Following the launch of Morgans Hotel in 1984, coining the term “boutique hotel”, he went on to create game-changing properties including Royalton, Paramount, Delano, Mondrian, St Martins Lane, Sanderson, Hudson, Clift and Shore Club, introducing the pioneering concepts of lobby socialising, the urban resort, cheap chic and the lifestyle hotel along the way. After selling MHG in 2005 he created Ian Schrager Company, which owns, develops and manages hotels, residential and mixed-use projects.
Since then, he has transformed the fabled Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City and created two successful, ground-breaking residential properties, 40 Bond and 50 Gramercy Park North. Ian is currently developing his Public brand as well as Edition Hotels, a partnership with Marriott International.
Editor’s Notes
Web: www.lemiami.com/Awards.html
Company: LE Miami — The first global event for the high-end contemporary travel industry, June 10-13.
Beyond Luxury Media Ltd is a handmade and innovative media company with a personal approach dedicated to providing superior marketplaces for the high-end travel industry, responsible for carving out the key industry-changing event for high-end Experiential Travel, PURE Life Experiences, and now for contemporary travel with LE Miami.
Contacts:
Sara Henrichs, Creative Editor and Special Projects Manager, sara.henrichs@beyondluxury.com
Cj Holden, Marketing Manager, cj@beyondluxury.com
Olivia Squire, Marketing Executive, olivia@beyondluxury.com, +44 203 716 6732
