HD Staff

📚 Deadline for the 8th annual HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition is Friday, March 13th. Participants must design a lounge chair for hospitality spaces, supporting 300 pounds. Prize: $5,000 and production by West Elm. Current students and recent graduates can enter. Winner featured in Hospitality Design magazine's May/June issue and celebrated on May 5th at the HD Awards in Las Vegas. Past winners include Laurie Sadove (2019) to Calvin Ma (2025).

📅 May 5-7, 2026, Las Vegas: HD Expo + Conference at Mandalay Bay will feature a groundbreaking education program chosen by industry experts. The 2026 Education Curators, including leaders like Heather Ciszczon and Mark Eacott, aim to bridge knowledge gaps in hospitality design. This committee of 16 professionals represents diverse fields such as design, ownership, and operations, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the evolving challenges in the industry.

📚 May 5th at 8:30 a.m., Las Vegas sees the fourth annual Women in Design Awards at the HD Expo + Conference. Six honorees include Grace Escaño-Maniatis, leading design at Auberge Collection, Amy Jakubowski at Gensler, and Suchi Reddy, founder of Reddymade. These women, shaping the hospitality sector, emphasize sustainability, human-centered design, and innovative solutions. Key projects span from Waldorf Astoria New York to Google’s NYC store, showcasing their global impact.