The Interior Design Department and AUDesign_LAB at the American University in Dubai (AUD) launched the #Hotel REgeneration – Rotana Hotels Design Challenge 2026, in collaboration with Rotana Hotels. Now in its eighth edition, the initiative continues to strengthen the link between academic design exploration and the evolving needs of the hospitality industry.

The challenge is open to Interior Design students enrolled in the IDES 374 – Hospitality Design course and has been co-developed by Dr. Annamaria Lambri in collaboration with the Rotana Hotels team. It forms part of a design atelier that encourages students to think critically and creatively about the future of hospitality.

This year’s brief invites students to conceptualize a next-generation hotel guestroom or suite system, responding to the operational and experiential shifts that have shaped the post-pandemic landscape. Students are tasked with developing innovative design solutions that integrate flexibility of space, offer diversification, and adaptability, while prioritizing well-being and sustainability.

By engaging with real-world hospitality challenges, the initiative provides students with the opportunity to explore forward-thinking design strategies and gain valuable industry insight, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the future of hotel design.