Surface Travel Awards
2018 Call for Entries
2018 Call for Entries
We are pleased to announce the second annual Surface Travel Awards, our tribute to the most thoughtfully conceived spaces and products at the intersection of travel and design.
Deadline: April 13, 2018
Deadline: April 13, 2018
About
About
At Surface, we explore the world through the lens of design. Great design has long been—and continues to be—a catalyst for creative journeys. These are the Surface Travel Awards: our annual tribute to the world’s best, most thoughtfully conceived spaces and products, including hotels, restaurants, airports, and luggage.
Celebrating the intersection of travel and design, the Surface Travel Awards recognize and honor architects, designers, and other innovators who inspire, empower, and connect us as we traverse the world. The program aims to raise global awareness of the crucial benefit of design as a means to improve our lives. Held in conjunction with the release of Surface’s Travel Issue, the awards ceremony will take place in July 2018.
For all questions related to the Surface Travel Awards, please contact travelawards@surfacemedia.com
For all questions related to the Surface Travel Awards, please contact travelawards@surfacemedia.com
Categories
Categories
Decided by a distinguished panel of jurors, the Travel Awards will honor hotels, restaurants, public spaces, transportation, travel products, and more—as well as the architects, designers, and other innovators who inspire, empower, and connect us as we traverse the world.
Small hotel — Domestic
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises in the United States with 100 rooms or fewer. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises in the United States with 100 rooms or fewer. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Small hotel — International
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises outside the United States with 100 rooms or fewer. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises outside the United States with 100 rooms or fewer. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Large hotel — Domestic
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises in the United States with more than 100 rooms. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises in the United States with more than 100 rooms. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Large hotel — International
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises outside the United States with more than 100 rooms. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Overall design and architecture for hotels, inns, B&Bs and similar enterprises outside the United States with more than 100 rooms. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Resort — Domestic
Overall design and architecture for self-contained resorts within the United States, offering a broader range of activities and facilities than hotels. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Overall design and architecture for self-contained resorts within the United States, offering a broader range of activities and facilities than hotels. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Resort — International
Overall design and architecture for self-contained resorts outside the United States, offering a broader range of activities and facilities than hotels. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Overall design and architecture for self-contained resorts outside the United States, offering a broader range of activities and facilities than hotels. Major refurbishments will be considered.
Micro hotel/hostel
Overall design and architecture for lodging concepts with compact and/or shared guest rooms and a strong emphasis on communal spaces.
Overall design and architecture for lodging concepts with compact and/or shared guest rooms and a strong emphasis on communal spaces.
Cruise ship or yacht
Overall design and architecture for a commercial cruise ship or yacht available for charter or private booking.
Overall design and architecture for a commercial cruise ship or yacht available for charter or private booking.
Spa
Overall design and architecture for destination spas, day spas, and spas that are part of a hotel, resort, or cruise ship.
Overall design and architecture for destination spas, day spas, and spas that are part of a hotel, resort, or cruise ship.
Retail space
Overall design and architecture for a commercial space devoted to retail sales.
Overall design and architecture for a commercial space devoted to retail sales.
Restaurant — Full-service
Overall design and architecture for a commercial space devoted to food service with table service. The restaurant may be part of a hotel or resort.
Overall design and architecture for a commercial space devoted to food service with table service. The restaurant may be part of a hotel or resort.
Restaurant — Limited service
Overall design and architecture for a commercial space devoted to food service with limited service, such as cafés, coffee shops, candy and ice cream stores, “fast casual” concepts, bakeries, or take-out operations. The restaurant may be part of a hotel or resort.
Overall design and architecture for a commercial space devoted to food service with limited service, such as cafés, coffee shops, candy and ice cream stores, “fast casual” concepts, bakeries, or take-out operations. The restaurant may be part of a hotel or resort.
Bar
Overall design and architecture for a commercial bar, tasting room, or nightlife space, including nightclubs and lounges. The space may be part of a hotel or resort.
Overall design and architecture for a commercial bar, tasting room, or nightlife space, including nightclubs and lounges. The space may be part of a hotel or resort.
Exhibition
Design, conceptualization and overall aesthetic impact of an exhibition (temporary or permanent) installed in a museum, gallery, cultural institution, or similar space. Exhibitions like MoMA’s “Rain Room” would fall into this category.
Design, conceptualization and overall aesthetic impact of an exhibition (temporary or permanent) installed in a museum, gallery, cultural institution, or similar space. Exhibitions like MoMA’s “Rain Room” would fall into this category.
Temporary space or installation
Overall design and architecture for a space designed for temporary use, whether retail, food service, arts/cultural, or other application. These include pop-ups, public art displays (for example, Christo’s Floating Piers on Lake Iseo), pavilions at design and art fairs, and the like.
Overall design and architecture for a space designed for temporary use, whether retail, food service, arts/cultural, or other application. These include pop-ups, public art displays (for example, Christo’s Floating Piers on Lake Iseo), pavilions at design and art fairs, and the like.
Transportation — Conveyance
Interior design for commercial airline cabins, railway cars, subway cars and the like.
Interior design for commercial airline cabins, railway cars, subway cars and the like.
Transportation — Stations & terminals
Interior design and architecture for airports, seaports, train and subway stations and other major transportation hubs.
Interior design and architecture for airports, seaports, train and subway stations and other major transportation hubs.
Transportation — Lounges
Interior design and architecture for passenger lounges in airports, train stations, and similar.
Interior design and architecture for passenger lounges in airports, train stations, and similar.
City or destination
Cities, towns, or regions whose embrace of design and built environments have benefited both residents and visitors. The entry must include specific improvements realized during the eligibility period (June 1, 2017 – April 1, 2018). Master plans and unrealized developments will not be considered.
Cities, towns, or regions whose embrace of design and built environments have benefited both residents and visitors. The entry must include specific improvements realized during the eligibility period (June 1, 2017 – April 1, 2018). Master plans and unrealized developments will not be considered.
Park or public space
Overall design and architecture (including landscape architecture) for a park, purpose-built district, or other environment intended for public use.
Overall design and architecture (including landscape architecture) for a park, purpose-built district, or other environment intended for public use.
Cultural institution
Design and architecture for museums, performance spaces, libraries, religious structures, monuments, memorials, and similar projects. New extensions or expansions of existing structures will be considered.
Design and architecture for museums, performance spaces, libraries, religious structures, monuments, memorials, and similar projects. New extensions or expansions of existing structures will be considered.
Mixed-use space
Design and architecture for developments and “entertainment districts” that combine a variety of functions intended for public use, including retail, culture, recreation, food & beverage, commercial, residential, educational and institutional.
Design and architecture for developments and “entertainment districts” that combine a variety of functions intended for public use, including retail, culture, recreation, food & beverage, commercial, residential, educational and institutional.
Co-working space
Design and architecture for shared workplaces available for use by business travelers (whether membership-based or open to the public). Note that the award will be given for a specific physical location of a co-working space, rather than a collection or a concept.
Design and architecture for shared workplaces available for use by business travelers (whether membership-based or open to the public). Note that the award will be given for a specific physical location of a co-working space, rather than a collection or a concept.
Short-term vacation rental
Design and architecture for apartments, houses, villas, and other non-hotel lodging made available to travelers on a short-term basis. The space should be marketed on a platform such as Airbnb, onefinestay, HomeAway, or the like, and must have been introduced to the platform between June 1, 2017 and April 1, 2018.
Design and architecture for apartments, houses, villas, and other non-hotel lodging made available to travelers on a short-term basis. The space should be marketed on a platform such as Airbnb, onefinestay, HomeAway, or the like, and must have been introduced to the platform between June 1, 2017 and April 1, 2018.
Travel uniforms
Design of clothing and/or accessories intended for use by staff of a travel or hospitality provider, including airlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, railroads, restaurants and bars.
Design of clothing and/or accessories intended for use by staff of a travel or hospitality provider, including airlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, railroads, restaurants and bars.
Luggage or travel bag
Overall design for products designed for travelers to carry personal belongings, whether intended as checked, carry-on, or hand baggage.
Overall design for products designed for travelers to carry personal belongings, whether intended as checked, carry-on, or hand baggage.
Travel product or gadgets
Overall design for electronic or other products intended for use by travelers. This category includes cameras, watches, phones, converters, outdoor gear, etc.
Overall design for electronic or other products intended for use by travelers. This category includes cameras, watches, phones, converters, outdoor gear, etc.
Headphones
Overall design and functionality for headphones, earbuds, or similar devices intended to be used by travelers.
Overall design and functionality for headphones, earbuds, or similar devices intended to be used by travelers.
Instagram account — Brand
Overall curation and aesthetic for an Instagram account held by a travel-related brand (hotel, cruise line, destination, airline, etc.). The entry should be for posts dated June 1, 2017 – April 1, 2018, even if the account itself was established earlier.
Overall curation and aesthetic for an Instagram account held by a travel-related brand (hotel, cruise line, destination, airline, etc.). The entry should be for posts dated June 1, 2017 – April 1, 2018, even if the account itself was established earlier.
Instagram account — Individual
Overall curation and aesthetic for a travel- and design-focused Instagram account held by an influencer or other individual. The entry should be for posts dated June 1, 2017 – April 1, 2018, even if the account itself was established earlier.
Overall curation and aesthetic for a travel- and design-focused Instagram account held by an influencer or other individual. The entry should be for posts dated June 1, 2017 – April 1, 2018, even if the account itself was established earlier.
Sustainability Award
Open to any travel-related building, interior space, vehicle, system, or product that optimizes its impact on the environment and/or the local community and economy. Jurors will consider the context and impact of the project’s sustainability elements as well as the overall design.
Open to any travel-related building, interior space, vehicle, system, or product that optimizes its impact on the environment and/or the local community and economy. Jurors will consider the context and impact of the project’s sustainability elements as well as the overall design.
Adaptive Reuse Award
Overall design and architecture that reuses an existing site or structure for a travel-related purpose (hotel, restaurant, cultural, retail, transportation, etc.) that is substantially different from that of its original incarnation. (Old hotels that are adapted into new hotels do not belong in this category.)
Overall design and architecture that reuses an existing site or structure for a travel-related purpose (hotel, restaurant, cultural, retail, transportation, etc.) that is substantially different from that of its original incarnation. (Old hotels that are adapted into new hotels do not belong in this category.)
Travel Designer of the Year
The Surface Travel + Design Award for Designer of the Year will be bestowed on the firm or individual who has had the most profound impact on the travel industry in 2017.
The Surface Travel + Design Award for Designer of the Year will be bestowed on the firm or individual who has had the most profound impact on the travel industry in 2017.
Surface Travel Awards Hall of Fame
Each year, the Surface Travel Awards will nominate five individuals that have made lasting, impactful contributions to the advancement of design in the universe of travel. The final inductee will be decided by a public vote. Nominations will NOT be accepted for the individual Hall of Fame award.
In addition, each year the Surface Travel Awards will accept nominations for specific travel experiences that deserve a place in the Hall of Fame. These will be open to places and experiences that have been open for at least five years (2012 or earlier) and that still exist. Nominations for these awards will be accepted through the normal Surface Travel Awards submissions process; the final inductees will be decided by a public vote.
Hall of Fame — Individual
Awarded to an iconic figure in the world of design whose impact continues to shape the industry on a large scale. This category is not open for submissions.
Awarded to an iconic figure in the world of design whose impact continues to shape the industry on a large scale. This category is not open for submissions.
Hall of Fame — Hotel Swimming Pool
Awarded to a swimming pool that is attached to a hotel or resort, displays the highest aesthetic excellence, and has had a last impact on hospitality design.
Awarded to a swimming pool that is attached to a hotel or resort, displays the highest aesthetic excellence, and has had a last impact on hospitality design.
Hall of Fame — Freestanding Bar or Lounge
Awarded to a bar, lounge, nightclub or similar venue that displays the highest aesthetic excellence, and has had a last impact on hospitality design. Note that nominees may be attached to a restaurant, but venues attached to a hotel or resort are NOT eligible.
Awarded to a bar, lounge, nightclub or similar venue that displays the highest aesthetic excellence, and has had a last impact on hospitality design. Note that nominees may be attached to a restaurant, but venues attached to a hotel or resort are NOT eligible.
Jury
Jury
Anda Andrei
Creative director, interior designer, and president of Anda Andrei Design
Gabriela Hearst
Fashion and accessories designer
Daniel Humm
Chef and co-owner of Make It Nice (Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad in New York and Los Angeles, and the fast casual restaurant Made Nice)
José Parlá
Artist
Michel Rojkind
Founder and design principal, Rojkind Arquitectos
Paula Scher
Graphic designer, painter, and principal of Pentagram
Steve Wilson
Art collector and cofounder of 21c Museum Hotels
Rules
Rules
How it works
Submissions will be accepted on surfacemag.com during the entry period (February 8—April 13, 2018). Projects in any of the official categories that were completed between June 1, 2017, and April 1, 2018, are eligible (except for Hall of Fame categories). In May 2018, a jury of esteemed architects, designers, artists, chefs, and others will assemble to judge the awards, with the finalists presented at a gala in New York City in July 2018.
Entry Requirements
The entry must pertain to one of the official categories.
The entry must have been completed between June 1, 2017, and April 1, 2018 (except for Hall of Fame categories).
Entry fee: $295 per initial submission and $195 for additional entries.
All entries must be submitted by the deadline of April 13, 2018.
A single project may be entered into multiple categories (for example, a hotel may enter under the Hotel category and the Adaptive Reuse category, or may submit its restaurant in the Restaurant category). A separate fee will be charged for each entry.
Each submission must be accompanied by a Design Brief (500 words maximum) that explains the project in detail, including the intent, approach and results. Be sure to make a strong case: The judges will use the Design Brief to determine whether the entry deserves recognition.
Each submission must be accompanied by 5-10 photographs, videos, renderings, plans, or other visual materials that will help the judges make their decision. Files should be high-quality and publication-ready and should be sent in PDF format. Maximum file size: 2MB each or 20MB total.
The Awards are global and open to anyone, but submissions must be written in English.
Partners
Partners
The Surface Travel Awards is made possible by the sponsors and partners who support our mission to recognize the innovators, spaces, and places inspiring us to travel the world. Interested in joining us? Please email BMaeser@surfacemedia.com
Submit
Submit
The entry period for 2018 has ended. Please check back in June to see this year’s winners.