The European Hotel Design Awards and the Hotel Design Conference are to run as a joint initiative on 29 and 30 October 2002.

The Awards programme will culminate at The Savoy in London on 29 October and the AJ/Emap Conference will take place the next day at the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) centre in London's West End. Both events are supported by Reardon Smith Architects.

'There has probably never been a more fitting time to mark the achievement of good design within the hotel industry and to question exactly what it contributes and how, as well as to examine the future for design in the sector,' said Patrick Reardon, executive chair of Reardon Smith.

'The past five years or so have seen dramatic changes in attitude towards design by operators owners and develops with the result that hotel design has arguably changed more since the mid-nineties than at anytime during the past 50 years.

'The challenge now is to ensure that design continues to innovate and support new business solutions.'

Herbert Ympa, author of the Hip Hotels book series is a keynote speaker at the Conference, entitled Hip or hype: Does Design Matter to Hotels? ; he will also be a member of the Awards panel of judges. Other judges will include Amanda Rosa, designer of the Malmaison and Columbus hotel brands and Ian Livingstone, managing director of London & Regional.

Entry brochures for the awards will be available shortly. Categories will include an Architectural award, several Interior design awards, Graphics, Innovation, a Corporate Award and a Student award as well as recognition of Outstanding Achievement within the industry

Entry brochures can be obtained form Steve Hardiman, Nexus Media +44 (0)1322 660070. To register for Hip or Hype: Does Design Really Matter to Hotels? , call Martin Davies +44 (0)207 505 6600