DESIGN HOTELS™ & FIRMDALE CELEBRATE

KIT KEMP’S ‘OSCAR OF INTERIOR DESIGN’

Berlin, 12 February 2009 – Design Hotels™ and member group, Firmdale Hotels, celebrate Kit Kemp’s
success at the Andrew Martin Design Awards. The renowned interior designer and co-founder of Firmdale
Hotels recently won the coveted International Interior Designer of the Year award. Chosen by a celebrity panel
including Thandie Newton, Twiggy and GQ Editor Dylan Jones, Kit Kemp was chosen for her distinctive
interpretation of a quintessentially English style. Previous winners include Kelly Hoppen, Andrew Falcke, Jamie
Drake, Tara Bernerd and Michael Reeves. The Andrew Martin Awards were set up in 1996 in order to discover
and celebrate the talents of the world’s best designers.

KIT KEMP’S ECLECTIC SIGNATURE STYLE

Kemp, who is Firmdale’s co-owner and design director, continues to mix classical and quirky design to fill her
London boutique hotels with comfort, elegance and drama. Martin Waller, owner of Andrew Martin
International, says “Kit Kemp has redefined the concept of the city hotel. Her unique perspective brings
flamboyance to interior design without ever sacrificing the essential commandment of comfort.” Self-taught
Kemp takes her inspiration from art, her past work and her eye for detail.

Although no two rooms in the Firmdale Hotels are the same, Kemp’s distinctive colourful style shines through
with specialist pieces and top notch furnishings arranged in artful combinations. Spectacular locations, spaces,
patterns and Kemp’s refreshing style continue to keep Firmdale Hotels at the top of their game.

FIRMDALE HOTELS
Firmdale Hotels' owners, Tim and Kit Kemp believe that "hotels should be living things, not stuffy institutions".
With a series of prestigious awards under their belt, such as the Outstanding Contribution awards at the
European Hotel Design Awards in 2007, Kit Kemp’s magic touch and Firmdale Hotels’ portfolio continue to
grow with the Crosby Street Hotel opening in New York this summer. With their first hotel opening in 1985,
Firmdale Hotels today consists of six of London’s best boutique hotels: Haymarket Hotel, The Soho Hotel,
Covent Garden Hotel, Charlotte Street Hotel, Knightsbridge Hotel and Number Sixteen.

This month, as well as Kit Kemp’s prestigious award, Firmdale celebrates the re-opening and total make over of
Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel and an exclusive collaboration with London perfumers Miller Harris
to create a bespoke fragrance for the Haymarket Hotel.

-ENDS-

NOTE TO THE EDITORS

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ABOUT DESIGN HOTELS™

Design Hotels™ represents and markets a hand-picked collection of more than 170 hotels in over 40 countries
across the globe. Established in 1993, as the first of its kind, the company offers unparalleled specialist knowledge
from conceptual branding through to market trend consultancy and international representation.

The member hotels are independently owned but united by a commitment to individuality, progressive design and
cultural authenticity. Design Hotels™ embody the most advanced ideas in the hospitality industry and offer
cosmopolitan travellers new options for both travel and inspiration.

The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore, Bali, Tokyo
and Perth.