Hong Kong Design Studio Wins Top Prize at Prestigious New York Event

AB Concept, one of Asia's leading design and architectural studios, earned top honors at the 31st Annual Gold Key Awards, an international ceremony honouring innovators and excellence in hospitality design.   

Nominated for their work on the W Retreat & Spa Bali - Seminyak, the Hong Kong-based team was victorious in the 'Best Guest Room' category, beating out some of the world's best-known design firms, including Tony Chi and Associates and Rockwell, both from New York.

Winners were announced at a breakfast ceremony at the InterContinental Hotel, New York on Monday, 14 November. Finalists in the 10 categories were selected from over 150 projects in 24 countries, including Australia, China, India, Japan and the United States.  

AB Concept is no stranger to the Gold Key Awards. In 2009, the firm won two trophies, in the 'Lobby/ Reception' category (for Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza, Tainan, Taiwan), and in the 'Casual Dining' section (for the Jen Café, Hotel Jen, Hong Kong).

"AB Concept has earned the top prize in three of the Gold Key Awards' 10 categories," notes director and cofounder Ed Ng, who attended the awards ceremony. "This latest win not only shows our versatility, but also the practicality and functionality of our designs."

This latest victory tops an award-winning year for AB Concept. In June, the company received the Best Design trophy in the 'Hotels Over 200 Rooms' category at the International Hotel and Property Awards 2011.

Adds Ed: "These wins have special significance given that W Bali marks AB Concept's first resort project."

The Gold Key Awards are sponsored by Interior Design and HOTELS magazines and coincide with the 96th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS), which took place November 12-15th 2011 at New York's Jacob K Javits Convention Center.

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About AB Concept:

Founded over a decade ago, AB Concept has confirmed its position as one of Asia's most innovative architectural and design firms. AB Concept's ever-expanding portfolio includes the W Hotels in Bali and Beijing, Shangri-la Tainan, Taiwan and Hong Kong's Hotel Jen. Its client list includes many leading operators and developers such as Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Starwood, Jumeriah, Shangri-La, Marriott, New World Hospitality, Miramar Group, Swire Properties, Henderson Land, and Kerry Group. The company's founding directors, interior designer Ed Ng and architect Terence Ngan, imbue each project with an unforced elegance and simple sophistication. Committed to creating one-of-a-kind projects, Ed and Terence's designs are daring explorations of space and style, each one revealing their genuine respect for history, culture and the arts.

For more information visit www.abconcept.net

For further details and interview opportunities please contact:

Paul Calder:             paul.calder@catchonco.com (+852) 2807-0222
Lauren Tang:           lauren.tang@catchonco.com (+852) 2807-0087
Nicole Koo:              nicole.koo@catchonco.com  (+852) 2807-0233