Sharq Village & Spa was announced to be one of the hotel and spa finalists in the Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, presented by the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show. The announcement took place on November 10 at New York's Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

The awards program drew a record-breaking 209 submissions that were newly constructed or renovated within the last 18 months. A preview of the finalists for hotel and spa is as follows.

FINALISTS: HOTEL

Belvedere Hotel, Mykonos, Greece

• design Rockwell Group.
• standout Textural elements, such as carved marble and wood and stamped metal globe lights, create visual intrigue throughout the property, from guest rooms and suites to public and dining spaces.

Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa, Doha, Qatar

• design DiLeonardo International.
• standout Palatial architectural details—peristyles, courtyards, archways, ornate handrails and screens—yield luxury and grandeur.

Liberty Hotel, Boston

• design Champalimaud.
• standout The firm deftly preserves this former prison by turning jail cells into dining nooks. Reconstructed catwalks surround the soaring lobby atrium.

Emperor, Beijing

• design Graft.
• standout Sloping, asymmetrical surfaces and furnishings offer a global vibe, while silk-screened and hand-painted graphics represent Forbidden City culture.

FINALISTS: SPA

Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa, Doha, Qatar

• design DiLeonardo International.
• standout Authentic Qatari motifs—carved stone, courtyards, mosaic tile—are featured both inside and out at this lavish Arabian property.

Guerlain Spa, Regent Bal Harbour, Florida

• design CMMI.
• standout All treatment rooms have their own en-suite shower, dressing area, locker, and makeup station for a truly private experience.

Paz, Cabo Azul Resort & Spa, Los Cabos, Mexico

• design Dodd Mitchell Design.
• standout Parts of the undulating white-plaster ceiling are embedded with 85,000 pristine capiz shells, providing an overall feeling of peace and calm.