Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay Wins Hospitality Design Award

BLINK Design Group designed Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay with a return to elegant classicism and French Riviera glamour. Judges of the Hospitality Design (HD) Awards 2012 were swept away by this song of sandstone poised upon the shimmering sands of Hainan Island's five star strip, and pronounced BLINK the world-wide winner of this year's best luxury hotel award.

The eighth annual Hospitality Design Awards (HD Awards), honouring the achievements of superior design and architecture in spaces around the globe, saw over 325 entries received in 17 categories, spanning Hotel (Luxury/Upscale), Fine Dining, Green/Sustainable Project, and Mid-Range/Economy Hotel.

BLINK founder and creative director Clint Nagata said he was happy to pick up what is regarded as one of the world's top two architectural accolades.

Presidential Suite living room

Conrad Sanya radiates old world luxury with a modern sensibility. "The architectural facade is clad in golden-hued imported Australian sandstone," said Mr. Nagata. "It's expensive stuff. But the results speak for themselves.

"Aside from the busy stone pattern and our careful juxtapositioning of grain, the design is simple yet elegant. Long lines, stone-arched walkways and fluted columns. Sweeping courtyards allow the outdoors to be brought into almost every room. And we have used a lot of water features to soften the stone's hard edges so at times you feel like you are living in a shimmering mirage.

"Upon entering the open-air lobby, the view to the ocean is framed by a pair of frangipani trees surrounded by a black tiled reflecting pool. The four suites of the Grand Spa are located around a central reflecting pool. Blue tiled private plunge pools that vanish into the deep blue ocean. The central landscape is unadorned green space."

Open-air lobby

'Wow' elements were deliberately underplayed, gauged to elicit appreciative whispers more than 'oohs and aahs'. A sunken restaurant bathed in the golden glow of a stone waterfall wonderwall. The Presidential Villa with an expansive pool and formal manicured gardens.

Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay takes pride of place in BLINK's design hall of fame, along with other impressive offerings including Jumeirah Dhevanafushi in the Maldives, and cutting-edge design for international five-star hospitality groups Conrad, Hilton, Langham Place, Le Meridien, Regent, Sheraton, Westin and The Luxury Collection by Starwood Hotels and Resorts worldwide.

Hospitality Design (HD) magazine, published 10 times a year, is the premier trade magazine serving the field of hospitality design. It connects owners, operators, purchasing agents, designers, and architects involved in the design of hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruise ships, nightclubs/lounges, spas, and all other hospitality-oriented projects. HD continues its 30-plus-year mission to publish the accomplishments of various design teams that collaborate to bring the most innovative examples of new construction and renovation to the industry.

The HD Awards were judged by a celebrated group of industry professionals: David Ashen, d-ash design; Jeffrey Beers, Jeffrey Beers International; Hans Galutera, BG Studio; Jon Kastl, Champalimaud; and Therese Virserius, Therese Virserius Design.

Hotel Profile, more photos: Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay