HBA featured in Forbes' America's Top Hospitality Architects & Designers 2026
Award-winning Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, Mexico designed by HBA San Francisco
Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Top Hospitality Architects & Designers 2026 identifies the nation’s leading 100 architects and designers who have significantly impacted the realms of hotel, restaurant, spa, wellness, and winery design.
Curated through a rigorous review of over 850 firms by invitation only, this coveted list celebrates the cutting edge of hospitality design and its key contributors.
HBA’s inclusion on Forbes’ inaugural list underscores the firm’s enduring influence on the evolution of hospitality design.
Founded in 1965 in Santa Monica, California, HBA represents a pivotal chapter in the industry’s history. The partnership began when Howard Hirsch hired Michael Bedner as an entry-level blueprint drafter, sparking a collaboration that would establish one of the world’s first global design firms specialising in hospitality.
HBA’s first project, the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, broke away from conventional design standards. At a time when the industry was defined by predictability, their design brought emotion, style, and storytelling to the forefront, transforming hotels from functional spaces into meaningful experiences. This innovative approach laid the foundation for a new era in hospitality design.
Today, HBA’s presence across the United States reflects the very impact recognised by Forbes. The firm operates a dynamic network of five multidisciplinary studios , each serving as a creative hub, spanning from Los Angeles, to Atlanta, Miami, New York, and San Francisco.
