First-time Ever Awards Presented To Top-performing Boutique Hotels At The Hospitality Design Boutique Exposition And Conference Held In Miami

LOS ANGELES – The Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA), in partnership with Hospitality Design Magazine announced the first-ever winners of the Boutique & Lifestyle Hospitality Awards. Top-performing boutique hotels were recognized for overall excellence in six distinct categories: Design & Architecture, Sustainability, Food & Beverage, Customer Service, Marketing & Sales and Operational Performance.

Awardees were celebrated at a luncheon during the hospitality design boutique exposition and conference for their achievements as the 2010 Boutique Hotel of the Year, 2010 Lifestyle Hotel of the Year, and 2010 Boutique & Lifestyle Hotelier of the Year. Winners of the prestigious awards were named as follows: Boutique Hotel of the Year- The Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee, Wis., Lifestyle Hotel of the Year- The Hotel Andaluz, Albuquerque, N.M, and Boutique & Lifestyle Hotelier of the Year- Morgans Hotel Group, New York.

BLLA Founder, Frances Kiradjian said, “The awards should be treated as a gift for the collaborative effort of the hotel staff, owners, managers, advisors and designers who have greatly contributed to the overall quality of the winning properties and are, therefore, most deserving of these awards. Winners have now reset the bar for quality and serve as examples for others in this hospitality sector. Their prestigious awards attest to that.”

Michelle Finn, vice president of Hospitality Design Group, The Nielsen Company, together with Frances Kiradjian, jointly hosted the luncheon event and presented the pewter bell-shaped awards designed by Rocky Mountain Hardware, which were developed in support of the theme for this year’s awards, “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” so named by Kiradjian after Ernest Hemingway’s famous novel. Attendees included representatives of international properties from as far away as London, Beijing and Bangkok.

The Luncheon Awards event also included a panel, comprised of industry leaders, who led a discussion of the trends and forecasts within the industry titled, ‘State of the Industry for Boutique & Lifestyle Properties’. Moderated by John Russell, CEO, NYLO Hotels, the distinguished panelists included: Janis Cannon, Vice President, IHG Global Brand Management, Hotel Indigo; Jim Chu, Sr. Vice President, Hyatt (Hyatt Place); Michael Depatie, CEO, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants; and Raul Leal, President of Tecton Hospitality and Desires Hotels.

Commented panelist, Cannon, “The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association has done a fantastic job in establishing themselves and the creation of these awards and panel.”

Adds Kiradjian, “The Boutique & Lifestyle Hospitality Awards are now a benchmark for the boutique & lifestyle hospitality industry and present an overwhelming opportunity for properties to market their successes. We look forward to making these awards possible annually and again, look forward to having a large group of national and international participants.”

About The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA)

The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) is the first and only hotel association dedicated to uniting the world’s boutique and lifestyle hotels for the benefit of properties and suppliers as well as travelers. Created to be the unifying voice of this distinctive subset within the hospitality industry. BLLA’s goal is to unite the world's collection of boutique & lifestyle properties and the suppliers that sustain them, offering them the opportunity to successfully compete on a level playing field with major hotel companies, as well as market themselves to meet the ever-increasing demand from discerning boutique-seeking clients. From independent hotels to boutique & lifestyle brands, all are welcome. For more information or to become a member visit .

About Hospitality Design Magazine

Hospitality Design (HD) magazine, published 10 times a year, is the premier trade magazine serving the field of hospitality design. It connects owners, operators, purchasing agents, designers, and architects involved in the design of hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruise ships, nightclubs/lounges, spas, and all other hospitality-oriented projects. HD continues its 30-plus-year mission to publish the accomplishments of various design teams that collaborate to bring the most innovative examples of new construction and renovation to the industry. Hospitality Design links buyers and sellers through various trade shows, conferences, products, services, and awards.

Frances Kiradjian
Founder & CEO
+1 818 264 4810
BLLA