HD Expo + Conference, the leading hospitality design trade show and conference in North America, recently announced Urban Robot Associates as the winner of the second annual Box design competition. A partnership between Hospitality Design and Hilton, the Box challenged 11 design firms to design the guestroom of the future in only 24 hours.
Urban Robot Associates, led by principal and creative director Giancarlo Pietri, took home top honors during the competition, which took place during HD Expo 2019 held from May 15-17, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Urban Robot's wellness-inspired guestroom draws inspiration from the sophisticated yet eclectic destination of Tulum, Mexico. The space combines warm tones and natural materials creating a unique, blended indoor/outdoor space for guests to unplug from the stress of business travel.
Each of the guestroom designs were required to incorporate products from the program's 16 sponsoring brands: Artonomy, Kohler, Mohawk, Fabricut, Bryan Ashley, Hubbardton Forge, Tino Stone, Innovative Safes, Porcelanosa, Koroseal, Dormakaba, Quick Drain, Inncom, LG, Mirror Image and LPO Image.
The Box competition entries were reviewed by an esteemed judging panel, featuring, Larry Traxler, SVP Global Design, Hilton; Anthony Melchiorri, President, Argeo Hospitality; Bobby Berk, co-star of Queer Eye, and owner of Bobby Berk Home and Bobby Berk Interiors + Design; and Daniel Wade, COO, Plaza LV. (Also pictured: Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, Senior Vice President of Emerald’s Design Group and Editor in Chief of Hospitality Design; winning designer Giancarlo Pietri, Urban Robot Associates.)
“The Box challenge brings together the best in the industry. From the participating design firms who pushed the boundaries with each submission, to providing a platform to highlight our sponsors’ innovative products, the Box is a look at where the industry is headed,” said Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, Senior Vice President of Emerald’s Design Group and Editor in Chief of Hospitality Design. "We look forward to seeing Urban Robot's concept design come to life at the 2020 show."
Urban Robot's concept will be built-out on the show floor by EVO Design (with purchasing by The Parker Company) during HD Expo + Conference, May 5-7, 2020 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The Box program will come to life in the new year with the release of videos and special events leading up to the build out at the 2020 show.
For more information on the Box program, visit www.hdexpo.com/behind-the-box. For any media related inquiries related to HD Expo + Conference or the Box initiative, contact Erin McKay at erin@flyingcamel.com.
