HONOREES
Carry On Airlines, 2025 Bar & Lounge Winner designed by PETERMAX
2026 Ones to Watch
Formerly known as Boutique 18, these rising stars were nominated by peers and mentors and selected by the BD editorial team. The honorees are recognized for their contributions to innovative hospitality projects and their growing influence on the field. They’ll be featured in the Fall 2025 issue of Boutique Design magazine and celebrated during BDNY at the Gold Key Awards.
Alison Clark, Stonehill Taylor
Jorge Diaz, Left Lane Development
Molly Dunn, Parker Torres Design
Maria Harmon, Workstead
Brittany LeBlanc, DyeLot
Sinhea Lee, JCJ Architecture
René Quickle, Omni Hotels & Resorts
Carly Roberts, Suomi Design Works
Daphne Shin, the Ruimte
Holland Shodeen, KTGY
Justin Warner, Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors
2026 Up-and-Coming Hotelier
The Boutique Design Up-and-Coming Hotelier honor recognizes emerging visionaries reshaping how hotels look, feel, and operate to elevate the guest experience.
Melissa Shelton; photo by Two Studios
Melissa Shelton
This year’s recipient is Melissa Shelton, founder and creative director of Dear Valentine, a boutique hospitality development and management company creating soulful guesthouses across New Orleans.
Founded in 2024, Dear Valentine pairs historic preservation and thoughtful restoration with a deep sense of place, collaborating with local designers, makers, and preservation architects. Its portfolio now includes seven properties across the city.
Shelton brings extensive experience in design, hospitality, and brand strategy, with previous leadership roles at Artek, Carl Hansen & Søn, Vitra, and Design Within Reach. She also mentors female entrepreneurs in business development, brand management, and strategic partnerships.
2026 Design Firm of the Year
The Boutique Design Design Firm of the Year honor recognizes a standout design practice whose distinctive vision, innovative work, and impact are helping shape the future of hospitality design.
Islyn Studio
Boutique Design has named Islyn Studio its 2026 Design Firm of the Year, an honor presented in conjunction with the 46th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design.
Founded in New York in 2017 by Ashley Wilkins, Islyn Studio creates immersive, story-driven environments across hospitality, retail, wellness, and residential design, with an emphasis on context, connection, and a strong sense of place.
The firm’s portfolio includes Gold Key finalist Uchi DC, along with the Tusk Bar & Brass, Now Now Hotel, Chleo, and Romer Hell’s Kitchen. Islyn Studio was selected by the BD editorial team for both its distinctive work and its collaborative, mentorship-driven studio culture.