NEWH continues to be at the forefront of recognizing excellence in the hospitality industry. NEWH honors construction companies for their exceptional methods, processes and team management that have contributed to the creation of significant and outstanding hospitality renovations and new build structures worldwide with the NEWH SOHE Award. In honor of these award-winning companies, sponsors will be donating funds for scholarships to students pursuing careers in construction.
In conjunction with this award NEWH will be giving two scholarships. A $10,000 scholarship to be awarded to a 4-year student of architecture, construction management, civil or environmental engineering or project management and up to a $5,000 scholarship to be awarded to a student pursuing a technical certificate or associate degree in construction, construction management, electrical technology, pipe fitting, plumbing and heating technology, etc. from a construction trade school. Thank you to MGroup, Delta Faucet Company, and ALIS DESIGN+ for sponsoring the 2025 scholarships.
The first award was awarded during the ALIS DESIGN+ Event at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles, CA, January of 2026.
Award Program Eligibility
The NEWH SOHE Award recognizes excellence in Hospitality Construction and the firm’s commitment to Hospitality and NEWH.
Minimum Criteria – required
- New-build or renovation hospitality projects completed by firm within the 24-month period prior to nomination (January 2024 to December 2025) Hospitality projects can include any one of the following types of projects: Hotel, Casino, Bar, Restaurant, or Spa.
- PHOTO Requirement: To qualify, the firm must provide a minimum of 3 (maximum of 6) photographs of the project submitted. Photographs submitted must be a minimum 300 dpi resolution jpeg or tif file format.
- Three reference letters from submitted project.
- The company must have an accessible website for qualification purposes.
- Current Membership – one person within the firm must be a current voting member in good standing with NEWH.
NOTE: For purposes of this award, NEWH defines Hospitality as a property in which its facilities can be enjoyed by the general public. Properties such as multi-family, student housing, senior living, or a medical-related facility where the facility is utilized mainly by members/patients only (even if a specific project area within these types of facilities is open to the public), would not fit NEWH’s definition of Hospitality.
How Submission will be Judged
- Project Excellence (evaluated based on a flagship hospitality project completed in the past 24 months)
- Contribution to the Hospitality Design & Construction Community (evaluated the company’s role in advancing the sector and its long term commitment)
- Leadership & Integrity (evaluates the company’s culture, ethics, and collaborative approach)
- Future-Focused Initiatives (evaluates forward thinking strategies related to sustainability and technology)
- Your company’s NEWH participation
Nomination Process
NEWH SOHE Award Nominations can be made as follows:
- Any firm with a current NEWH Member can nominate themselves.
- Any NEWH member may nominate a construction firm.
- Chapter members should encourage eligible firms (who meet the minimum required criteria) to complete the nomination form or assist them in the process.
All nominations should be completed and emailed to [email protected] no later than September 30, 2025 – the NEWH office will receive and forward to SOHE judging committee.
Nominations forms/photography
The nomination form must be complete and all minimum eligibility requirements must be met to be considered.