Top 5 stories of the week: Asian gems, new collections and Europe is booming

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Hotel Designs’ editor Hamish Kilburn reflects on the weeks headline stories…

The sun setting on August means only one thing in the international design world: London’s show season is in sight! As we prepare for Decorex, designjunction, 100% Design and the Hotel Tech & Spa Live, this week has lifted the lid on a number of milestone headlines. Here are my top five stories of the week.

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1) Waldorf Astoria debuts in South East Asia

The wait is over, following much anticipation around,  Waldorf Astoria Bangkok has announced the hotel’s official opening in the heart of Bangkok.

2) In Conversation With: Ronald Homsy, CEO and co-founder, Utopian Hotel Collection

Profile image of Ronald Homsy

Concluding our month of focusing the lens on Hotel Concepts, I put Ronald Homsy under the spotlight to learn more about how he plans to make the world see luxury hotels for the experiences they shelter…

3) Checking in to King Street Townhouse, Manchester

“Manchester is a shrinking violet,” said no designer, ever! With hotel design in the north enjoying a major moment, I checked in to the design-led King Street Townhouse, to marvel over Manchester from a totally unique perspective…

4) The benefits of designing an eco-hotel

Aerial image of a hotel

While only 6.8 per cent of hotel reviews mention sustainability, the ones that do are almost exclusively positive. This in turn leads to customers who frequently return to the hotel and advertise it to friends via word of mouth and social media. With shifting attitudes and a need for a socially conscious eco-hotel image, designing for sustainability is a smart business move. Lower running costs also mean potentially higher profits margins. It’s not all about the money though. A medium-sized hotel switching to renewable energy can expect to reduce its carbon footprint by 68,500kg per year. This is crucial to preventing catastrophic climate change. Therefore, many would argue that the focus in hotel design should be to create a hotel around customers’ needs and desires, by creating an eco-hotel that really stands out from the competition.

5) The director of the Independent Hotel Show’s take on Amsterdam as a design hub

Image of Miranda Martin

Earlier this month, the Independent Hotel Show (IHS) let the cat out of the bag that it will launch the inaugural IHS Amsterdam next year. Considering it’s the first time that the show has taken the concept abroad from London, we caught up with the show’s director Miranda Martin to find out why now is such an important time to recognise Amsterdam as well as London is a prominent design hub of the world.

 

Hamish Kilburn / 31.08.2018

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Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
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