ATLANTA, GA – December 22, 2021 – Radical Innovation announces the winners for its 15th annual awards program. Each year Radical invites bold thinkers to submit groundbreaking innovations that will change and/or enhance the future of the travel and hospitality industries. For the second year in a row, the event was virtual, as necessitated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the contest attracted an unprecedented array of talent from around the world, as hundreds of submissions from more than 55 countries flooded the website from hoteliers, architects, designers, and students.
The Radical judging panel of industry leaders selected the finalists based on the creativity of their vision and excellence of their proposed design, including its feasibility and potential to impact the industry. The jury included, 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 and Managing Partner, Watermark Lodging Trust; Jena Thornton, Managing Director, Magnetic ERV; Simon Turner, Managing Director, Alpha Lodging Partners; and James Woods, WeWork Capital Advisors.
The star-studded jury chose three professional finalists and two student finalists, who were further challenged to produce a video presentation of their submission and be interviewed by the Radical jury. The submission videos and jury call recordings are available on the Radical website. The professional finalists were, FLOAT WITH US, submitted by Ocean Builders, BIOFRAME, submitted by Arno Matis Architecture and WATERLUST, submitted by Indidesign. The student finalists were, GAME HOTEL, submitted by Adelina Abdullina from Kazan State University and INNSERT submitted by Vladislav Krayushkin from Kazan State University.
The finalists’ videos were presented to an engaged audience via the Radical website. Virtual voting opened on December 3rd and closed on December 11th, 2021. Nearly 2,000 votes poured in, selecting the following winners (details on following page):
Professional Grand Prize: FLOAT WITH US, by Morgan Ræ, Ocean Builders| Panama
Professional First Runner Up: BIOFRAME, by Arno Matis, Arno Matis Architecture | Canada
Student Winner: GAME HOTEL, Adelina Abdullina, KAZAN STATE UNIVERSITY| RUSSIA
“Radical Innovation discovers and spotlights creative thinkers from around the world with ideas to propel the hospitality industry forward.” explains John Hardy, Founder of Radical Innovation and CEO of The Hardy Group. “We are excited to congratulate the winners of this year’s competition, acknowledge their innovative designs and follow their path. We have watched winners propel their ideas after participating in Radical Innovation, truly turning ambition into reality.”
The 2022 Radical Innovation competition will open for submissions in early January. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay tune about next year’s event plans.
The event was produced by The Hardy Group with support from official media partner SLEEPER magazine and supporting sponsors, including DFL Legal along with educational partners, UNLV, University of Illinois, and New York University (NYU).
2021 PROFESSIONAL GRAND PRIZE WINNER: FLOAT WITH US
Submitted by Morgan Ræ, Ocean Builders| Panama
An extended stay that dives deeper into the natural world, Float With US creates affordable eco-restorative SeaPods that allow people to experience the beauty of living on the water.
Morgan Ræ of Ocean Builders is the winner of the $10,000 prize.
2020 PROFESSIONAL FIRST RUNNER UP: BIOFRAME
Submitted by, Arno Matis, Arno Matis Architecture | Canada
An architectural prosthetic that allows aging hotels to be repurposed and upgraded by grafting a modular, clip-on frame, BIOFRAME aims to improve a building’s sustainable performance and structural capacity.
Arno Matis Architecture is the winner of the $5,000 prize.
2021 PROFESSIONAL SECOND RUNNER UP: WATERLUST
Submitted by Beatrice Girelli, INDIDESIGN | USA
Waterlust is a scalable eco-sensitive buoyant resort. A fully immersive experience where the participants are fused with the context and live in the moment. Waterlust is an exploration, free of the limitations and constraints of a permanent structure. Waterlust is impromptu, but constantly engaged and committed to its surroundings.
2021 STUDENT WINNER: GAME HOTEL
Submitted by, Adelina Abdullina, KAZAN STATE UNIVERSITY| RUSSIA
Game Hotel offers users a unique opportunity to delve into another world – specifically, different parts of a futuristic hotel – using virtual and augmented reality. hotel project in which you can play various games, interact with space and other players using virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Radical’s hospitality design student winner earns a $1,500 prize, and an 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 and the opportunity to apply for a partial or full scholarship from the NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality.
The 2021 Radical Hospitality Product category was Complete Plate/Vase Tissue Box by Di Lu. The winning product entry was awarded $1,500.
