AHEAD has announced its Global panel, set to decide the Top 10 and Ultimate Accolade – the final and most coveted awards of the series.

After wrapping its regional awards in Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, and Europe, AHEAD’s Global panel will meet at an exclusive country retreat this week to finalise the winners, before they are announced on Thursday 30 January.

On Friday 31 January, 2025 entries will then open and tickets will go on sale for the next series.

Comprising judges from all four regions, the 25-strong Global panel includes industry-leading hospitality designers and developers.

Christopher M Alvarado | Senior Vice President, Design – SH Hotels & Resorts
Reda Amalou | Founder & Partner – AW2 Architecture & Interiors
Rune Askevold | President, Management Board – Puro Hotels
Tristan Auer | Founder – Tristan Auer
Sarah Doyle | VP, Global Brand Leader – Design Hotels
Mark Eacott | Global VP, Design – Ennismore
Maria Garcia-Arribas | Studio Director – BAR Studio 
Chris Godfrey | Co-CEO – Hirsch Bedner Associates
Sam Hall | Director – InterContinental Hotels Group
Kimberly Jackson | Managing Director – AvroKO
Amy Jakubowski | Principal & Managing Director – Pierre-Yves Rochon
Eva Longoria | Principal & Studio Leader – Rockwell Group
Adriana Marianella | Principal – Mara Partners 
Maliha Nishat | Director, Interior Design – Marriott International
Hakan Ozkasikci | Executive Vice President, Global Design & Technical Services – Kerzner International
Hemanshu Parwani | CEO – Olson Kundig Architects
Dieter Schoellnberger | Senior Vice President, Design & Construction – CTF Development International
Markus Schreyer | Chairman – META Foundation
Marie Soliman | Co-founder & Creative Director – Bergman Interiors
Simon Thompson | Executive Director – Red Sea Global
Sabine Vessnow | Co-Founder – Weldon Estate 
Federico Toresi | Global VP Design, Luxury & Premium Brands – Accor
Bashar Wali | Founder & CEO – Practise Hospitality 
Ria Vogiatzi | Founder & CEO – Elastic Architects
Kristina Zanic | Owner & CEO – Kristina Zanic Consultants