The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and Hospitality Design magazine are pleased to announce the first Earth Minded Award (EMA) winners. Developed to recognize the achievement and advancement of green design in the hospitality industry, the new awards program selects a winner in a hospitality project and hospitality product category.

"It is significant that the hospitality industry is embracing sustainability," says Claire E. Tamburro, ASID, LEED AP, EMA judge and an interior designer that specializes in hospitality design. "The sheer volume of furnishings and materials we generate puts us in the perfect position to affect great change to construction methods and protocols and ensure that sustainability goals are met. The EMAs encourage and reward the design community for excellence in this area."

The industry-jury panel (Cliff Tuttle, ASID, LEED AP, vice president, ForrestPerkins, San Francisco; Claire Tamburro, ASID, LEED AP, senior designer at Austin-Kuester Inc.; and Teri Urovsky, vice president of interior design for Marriott International) chose from projects and products that were environmentally innovative, aesthetically pleasing, promote sustainability, gone through a careful materials selection process, integrate efficiency and incorporate recycling and waste management. Only completed projects and manufactured products were considered. Winners will be honored during a GreenDay luncheon at the Hospitality Design Expo in Las Vegas on May 14. This year's winners are:

EMA for Hospitality Project
Keating Hotel in San Diego by Pininfarina Extra

EMA for Hospitality Product
Bella-Dura Fabric Technology by Bella-Dura

Honorable Mention
RockResorts Spa at Keystone Lodge and Spa in Colorado by Cole Martinez Curtis and Associates

The deadline for the 2009 EMA has not been scheduled but will be announced soon. For more information on the awards and this year's winners contact kcline@asid.org.