The Alpina Gstaad Named Gold Key Finalist in IHMRS Awards
Newest Five-star in Gstaad Recognized as Best Hotel in Luxury Category
GSTAAD, Switzerland - October 9, 2013 - The International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) has announced the finalists for the 33rd annual Gold Key Awards. The Alpina Gstaad has been recognized in three categories: "Best Hotel - Luxury/Upscale," "Best Suite" and "Best Guest Room - Luxury/Upscale." The eleven judges including well-known hoteliers and a museum director reviewed 260 international projects for these coveted awards, which recognize outstanding hospitality design for properties throughout the world that were completed or renovated within the past 18 months.
Gstaad's newest luxury property which debuted December 1, 2012, was selected based
on its aesthetic appeal, practicality and functionality of design. In envisioning the first totally new luxury hotel to open in this Alpine village in 100 years, The Gallery HBA London began with the principles of traditional Swiss chalet architecture and fashioned a contemporary interpretation using local materials from the Bernese Oberland, stone from the surrounding Alps and weathered timber from centuries-old farmhouses in Saanenland. Windowed towers crown four sides of the roof and, on the hotel's main floor, huge windows allow for plenty of natural light.
Winners will be revealed at the Gold Key Awards gala on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at The New York Palace Hotel. The Gold Key Awards are sponsored by Boutique Design and HOTELS magazines and coincide with the 98th annual IHMRS, which will be held November 9 through 12 at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
"It is truly an honor for The Alpina Gstaad to be chosen as a finalist for one of the hospitality industry's top awards," said, Niklaus Leuenberger, Managing Director of The Alpina Gstaad. "And to be selected in three categories is a testament to the brilliant work of the HBA team that designed The Alpina Gstaad," he added.
The Alpina Gstaad joins three other luxury properties as a finalist in the "Best Hotel - Luxury/Upscale" category:
o Macalister Mansion, Penang Malaysia by Ministry of Design Pte. Ltd., Singapore
• ME London by Foster + Partners, London
• Revere Hotel Boston by BBG-BGM, New York
The 2013 judges of IHMRS Gold Key Awards include:
o Caroline Baumann, Director, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
o Ong Chih Ching, Founder and CEO, KOP Group
o Carlos Couturier, Managing Partner and Creative Force, GRUPO HABITA
o Ted Jacobs, VP of Global Design, W | Le Meridien | St. Regis | The Luxury Collection, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
o Richard Millard, Chairman and CEO, Trust Hospitality
o Priya Paul, Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels
o Ian Schrager, Founder and Chairman, Ian Schrager Company
o Claus Sendlinger, Founder and CEO, Design Hotels AG
o Petter A. Stordalen, Owner and CEO, Nordic Choice Hotels, The Thief Hotel, Home Invest, Home Capital and Home Properties
o Larry Traxler, Senior Vice President - Global Design, Hilton Worldwide
o Glenn Wilson, Vice President, International Interior Design, Marriott International, Inc.
For more information and high resolution images of The Alpina Gstaad, please visit www.thealpinagstaad.ch.
About The Alpina Gstaad Part of a $325 million luxury development which includes private chalets and apartments, The Alpina Gstaad is set on five acres in Oberbort, the exclusive hilltop area of the village which is in Saanenland in the heart of the Bernese Alps. The Alpina Gstaad has three restaurants: the first European outpost of MEGU, the renowned Japanese restaurant, a traditional Swiss stübli and Restaurant Sommet serving contemporary cuisine. The luxury hotel has a bar and lounge, wine-tasting room, private cinema, cigar lounge, a ballroom and several boardrooms. The 21,500-square-foot Six Senses Spa includes a fitness center and an 82-foot lap pool. A large outdoor swimming pool is set in the gardens. The 56 spacious rooms and suites - all with balconies - range from 333 square feet to 4,305 square feet.
About IHMRS
IHMRS is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. (HANYC), and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSH&TA), and is managed by Hospitality Media Group (HMG). Additional information is available online, at www.ihmrs.com or www.bdny.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
