ATLANTA, GA - Radical Innovation, an initiative that challenges creative thinkers and design visionaries at the professional and student level to pioneer compelling innovations in travel, hospitality, and architecture, is pleased to announce the finalists for the 16th annual competition. Progressive architects, designers, and students, representing over 20 countries, submitted their ground-breaking ideas to design the future of the hospitality and travel industries.

The three finalists in the Hospitality Concept & Design category are: AERA by OMB International, USA; Eco-Floating Hotel by Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio, Turkey; Hospitality Concept-Merani by Contesi Design Company. These firms will present their projects at the October 2022 Radical Innovation Awards and Dinner. A public vote combined with the voting by the live audience will be held to determine the $10,000 grand-prize winner and the $5,000 runner-up prize.

The finalists were selected by a prestigious jury of hospitality and design thought leaders. The jury based their decisions on the creativity of the submitter’s vision, the design, and the potential feasibility and ability to impact the industry.

The Hospitality Concept & Design jury includes: Claude Amar, Managing Director, The Hardy Group International; Ellen Brown, EVP, Fulcrum Hospitality; Mark Friesen, Principal, Beyer Brown & Assoc.; John Hardy, President/CEO, The Hardy Group; Michael Medzigian, Chairman & Managing Partner, Watermark Lodging Trust; Jena Thornton, Managing Director, Magnetic ERV; Simon Turner, Managing Director, Alpha Lodging Partners; and James Woods, WeWork Capital Advisors.

In addition to the three professional finalists, the jury listed above awards a student winner for their Concept & Design. The student winner will be awarded a $1,500 prize, and the opportunity for an Assistantship to The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Masters Architectural Program, or a Teaching Assistantship to the University of Illinois School of Architecture or a partial or full scholarship for a graduate degree from the NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality.

The competition also includes a Product Category. A separate Hospitality Product Jury awards a professional and student winner in this Category. Live voting will open on October 6th via the Radical website www.Radicalinnovation.io. All winners will be announced in late October 2022.

Radical Innovation is produced by The Hardy Group with support from sponsoring companies: Beyer Brown & Associates, Chartres Lodging Group, DFL Legal, Hospitality Logistics, Shawmut Design and Construction; Education Partners, UNLV School of Architecture, UNLV Black Fire Innovation, the University of Illinois School of Architecture and NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality; Media sponsor: SLEEPER Magazine; Creative Agency: Crown Creative. (List as of 8/31/22)

2022 PROFFESSIONAL DESIGN/CONCEPT FINALISTS:

AERA | OBM International | Timothy Peck | United States

To redefine luxury hospitality, OBMI's team of designers from across the globe created a revolutionary concept, a vertical resort, Aera. Innovating to develop a new model for urban tourism, the team reimagined the horizontal guest journey found in traditional resorts to create a vertical destination in the middle of a city.

Source: The Hardy GroupSource: The Hardy Group
Source: The Hardy Group

Eco-Floating Hotel | Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio | Hayri Atak | Turkey

The eco-floating hotel is inspired by the sea with which it is associated in the first degree in terms of form and design principle. At this point, it is worth to mention that the project will work efficiently in areas where there is a continuous and certain flow. However, the sea which gives the structure physical and tangible power and receives the return it needs in a mutualistic form also directs the shape of the structure with the idea of the vortex.

Source: The Hardy GroupSource: The Hardy Group
Source: The Hardy Group

Hospitality Concept-Merani | Contesi Design Company| Luca Contesi | Georgia

The Concept "Merani" is not Flying Tourism and neither a Flying hotel. A hotel can be easily removed without any ecological damage as a consequence of its presence, accompanying guests during their journey/stay - on Land, in the Air and on the Water.

The operation system of HC “Merani” is rather simple: a cargo airship, instead of ISO-containers, carries one detachable Mini Hotel. With an ability to take off and land anywhere an airship can carry the hotel, with guests to places that are really off the tourist beaten track.

Source: The Hardy GroupSource: The Hardy Group
Source: The Hardy Group

About Radical Innovation

and operations. Each year, submissions are received and reviewed by a jury of hotel insiders. Select finalists present their concepts in front of industry influencers and investors during a live event where the audience votes to determine the winner. Since its founding, Radical Innovation has awarded over $200,000 to progressive architectural and hospitality-minded thinkers. www.Radicalinnovation.io

About The Hardy Group

The Hardy Group is the hospitality industry's premier resource for the execution of development projects of any type or size. Through decades of experience, HARDY provides certainty in execution to owners and investors that reduces risk, exceeds expectations, and enables investment plans to be completed on-time and on-budget. HARDY strives to provide leadership, honesty, and excellence to every assignment.

For over 31 years HARDY has led projects throughout the USA and Caribbean hospitality industries. Featuring a robust portfolio, including but not limited to, full-service hotels, select service hotels, resorts, and adaptive reuse properties. Leveraging its expertise, HARDY works on individual deals and entire portfolios, delivering project management, construction management, owner's representation, brand negotiation, project accounting and more. Tapping its diverse team, using proprietary project research and in-house budgeting software propels HARDY to the forefront of the industry. www.jhgi.com

Leah S. Blank
Director of Marketing