Busy BDNY Indicates Hospitality Remains a Strong Category

It was a bustling show for this year’s edition of Boutique Design New York (BDNY), the renowned trade fair and conference for the boutique and lifestyle hospitality industry. Held this month at the Javits Center in Manhattan, the event drew more than 16,000 industry professionals and featured 750+ exhibitors, a conference program with 180 speakers, and a series of networking gatherings. 

“BDNY 2025 captured the creativity, curiosity, and momentum driving hospitality design forward,” says Tim Fearney, show director of BDNY. “With 11,000 qualified attendees, up 6% over 2024, representing over 50 countries and nearly 200 new exhibitors joining us, the event reflected a global community that is eager to experiment, collaborate, and build what comes next. From the energy on the floor to the celebrations surrounding the Platinum Circle Gala and Gold Key Awards, this year’s edition showcased the thinkers and makers redefining our industry. BDNY remains the place where those conversations begin.”

What made the show floor different this year past was a series of what show organizers called “immersive environments” – or “Designed Spaces” – that transformed the exhibit space into a living study of hospitality design. The BD Mainstage, titled “La Clairière” (The Glade) and designed by global firm Saguez & Dash, created a serene woodland setting. Nearby, the BD Hub, designed and sponsored by Wayfair, was a destination for emerging ideas, with sessions exploring new technologies, the rise of sensory and emotional design, inclusive environments, and the shift toward sentient environments that respond to human behavior.

Presented in an expanded format for 2025, Dine & Design offered a vibrant look at the products and ideas shaping restaurant and bar environments today. At its center was The Alchemist, a fully operational café space designed by the Aria Group that demonstrated how atmosphere, materials, lighting, and service combine to create an experience. With constant activity and steady foot traffic, the installation showed how hospitality design comes alive when it is placed directly in motion.

Three additional Designed Spaces brought storytelling and creativity to the show floor. Châlet Après by Mazzarini & Co for Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy reinterpreted the warmth of an alpine retreat through crafted textures, layered materials, and a modern residential sensibility. The Splash Pad by DREAM Hotels and Nivek Remas captured the energy of poolside culture with mirrored surfaces, bold geometry, and immersive sound. Midnight Garden by DesignAgency unfolded as a dreamlike landscape of light, movement, and rich color that invited visitors into a world of reflection and mood. Together, these environments highlighted the many ways design can transport, surprise, and shape the guest journey. More information about the Designed Spaces can be found here.

The Best of BDNY Product Design Competition celebrated excellence across 13 categories, including architectural materials, furniture, lighting, flooring, seating, textiles, wallcoverings, wellness, and outdoor products. Jury selections reflected a balance of creativity, performance, sustainability, and forward-thinking craftsmanship. Best in Show resulted in a tie between Multiverse System with Illuminated Ribbon, Weave, and Juniper Cylinder by Juniper and the Fireclay Foundry Collection by Fireclay. A complete list of winners and finalists is available here.

BDNY concluded with the Gold Key Awards celebration at Cipriani 42nd Street, where more than 500 guests gathered to recognize excellence across 24 project categories. Carry On Airlines by PETERMAX Co received the Judges’ So Cool award, Ben Weinberg and Mike Weiss of Trailborn were named the Up-and-Coming Hoteliers of the Year, and Studio Paolo Ferrari was honored as Design Firm of the Year. A complete list of winners and finalists can be found here.

The next edition of BDNY will be held at the Javits Center on November 8-9, 2026. For email updates, click here.

Bluebird Lighting, Hudson Valley Lighting Group, and Villa Lighting were among the sponsors of BDNY 2025. Additional sponsors include: Aceray, Akula Living, Artline Group, Arto, Astek, Buzz Products, Cava Surfaces, County Draperies, Credible Group, Ege, Fairmont Designs, Farm Boy Fine Arts, Formica, Garrett Leather, Greenery NYC, HBF & HBF Textiles, Hollis + Morris, Interra Contract, Jaipur Living, JE Hospitality, Kevin Barry Art Advisory, Kloth, Mannington Commercial, Maya Romanoff, MDC Interior Solutions, Mix by Trinity, Montague, Opuzen, Panaz USA Inc., Pioneer Millwork, Pioneer, Polywood, Ratana, Raydoor, Reid Witlin, Room, Sensaria, Shaw Contract Hospitality, Source Direct, Tarkett Hospitality, Telos Furniture, Threadwell, Trashy, Valley Forge Fabrics Inc., Viso, Wayfair Professional, Welspun Hospitality, Woodcraft Hospitality.

Photo Credit: Capshr