ATLANTA, GA – January 19, 2022 – Radical Innovation, an initiative that challenges creative thinkers at the professional and student level to pioneer compelling ideas in travel and hospitality, is now accepting entries to its annual competition on the website www.radicalinnovation.io.
“For over 15 years, Radical Innovation has been discovering and spotlighting creative thinkers in the hospitality realm.” explains John Hardy, Founder of Radical Innovation and Chairman of The Hardy Group. “This is truly an international initiative, and we are pleased to assist in promoting these incredible submissions to hospitality industry leaders and media to assist in bringing these ideas to reality.”
Entry categories include Professional Hospitality Design, Professional Hospitality Product Design, Student Hospitality Design and Student Hospitality Product Design.
A panel of jurors leading the fields of hospitality, design, and investment evaluate all entries based on their originality, creativity, design, and potential impact on the industry. Feasibility is key. While Radical Innovation seeks brave ideas, the program requires achievable visions with a clear, compelling brief accompanied by a high-level presentation that illustrates how the concept could be achieved in the next 3-5 years, accompanied by design renderings.
The design jury includes, Claude Amar, Managing Director, The Hardy Group International; Ellen Brown, EVP, Fulcrum Hospitality; Mark Friesen, Principal, Beyer Brown & Assoc.; John Hardy, Chairman & Founder, 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 product jury includes, Claude Amar, Managing Director, The Hardy Group International, Dan Dobin, Co-Founder & Chairman, Valley Forge Fabrics, Isaac Kubryk, CEO & Founder, Global Allies, John Hardy, Chairman & Founder, The Hardy Group, Steve Tipton, Head of Hospitality, Serta Simmons, and Larry Traxler, Global Head of Design, Hilton.
The fees for professional submissions are $250 and student submission fees will remain complimentary. Finalists in the Concept/Design category will be flown to New York City to compete in a live event held in fall 2022, where they will present their ideas accompanied by a video pitch (Location announcement later in 2022). Audience members, both virtually and live, will vote to determine the grand-prize winner, who takes home $10,000. The runner-up receives $5,000. The professional and student winners for the Product category will each receive $1,500.
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.
Since its founding in 2006, Radical Innovation has awarded over $200,000 to its international network of creative talents who push the boundaries of travel and hospitality. The event is 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).
