Sound and vision

Hotels all around the region are striving to provide top-notch meetings and conferences demanding the upgrading of their audiovisual (AV) equipment. Pan Pacific Singapore recently converted a floor of accommodation rooms and small meeting rooms into a business centre, including two business lounges, two large meeting rooms and three boardrooms. The lounges and meeting rooms have motorised LCD projector, DVD player/computer input, six-channel sound mixer and power-amplifier ceiling speaker. Pan Pacific Singapore general manager Scott Swank says: "With digital images and the ability to run movie-quality presentations, most hotels have a specialist AVtechnician as well as ensuring state-of-the art equipment." Next door, the Oriental Singapore, which recently reopened after a complete makeover, is now equipped to provide wireless highspeed internet access throughout the hotel. Says the hotel's spokesperson, Ruth Soh: "The ballroom is also equipped with the latest built-in Barco Projector, which enables a very clear projection while the house lights are on. This is a great convenience for seminars where participants can view the screen and yet have adequate lighting to write down notes. "The ballroom is also equipped with the latest Bose column speakers and subwoofers that provide evenly distributed sound. "This replaces the large directional speakers that are usually found in events that blast music from one source, leaving guests near the speakers feeling uncomfortable. Speeches are more crisp and audible, music is more dynamic and the mood lighting adds a new dimension to the event," says Soh. As for outdoor events, the hotel's poolside has a weatherproof Bose system to allow a level of background music for outdoor events. "The speakers are unobtrusive, thus preserving the ambience of the venue," says Soh. The hotel has also upgraded into an intelligent lighting that can be programmed to lend mood lighting to the ballroom. It is pitching itself as a one-stop shop where clients do not need to work with an outside AV contractor for basic AVneeds, allowing clients to test the systems on-site as they are already built-in. Bosch Security Systems senior manager Arya Varma says hotels are investing in professional sound and visual equipment because air travel is getting more competitive and companies are looking for better venues to hold meetings and conventions and prefer not to rent such equipment. Control "Good AV performance provides a good impression and good feeling. Congress equipment at the meeting venue makes it easy for all the delegates to get involved in the meeting. It also provides the organiser control over the meetings process," says Varma. Says Swank: "It is the visual medium that is stronger at holding the attention of the audience, while subliminally carrying the branding, displaying the professionalism of a company, showcasing their creativity and delivering a clearly demonstrated message. It can ensure that even some of the more nervous or more cautious of presenters feel confident when assisted with visual aids and technology. It ensures the message remains true to its core focus, as opposed to a verbal exchange that moves from the agreed message." Quebec Audiovisual managing director Clement Fang says: "For formal presentations at conferences, the basic equipment will be sound, lighting and video. There is no sure thing with regards to the best, most expensive or most popular, apart from a well-maintained system and technical support, and the event organiser plays a very important part in executing the whole event." Experts CEI spoke to say most hotels are upgrading their LCD projectors, video-conferencing facilities and PAsystems, and moving to wireless microphones. Those with bigger budgets are looking at high-definition large display systems that can show large audiences better images from HDTV and UXGA outputs from computers. Specifications Mitsubishi Electric Asia visual and imaging products general manager Michael Woo says: "Clients expect a sound system with mixer capability, staging and lighting equipment, a screen normally 6m across for large audiences, a bright front projector of at least 3,000 ANSI lumens with colour management system." Lightings expert, Martin Professional managing director Soren Storm says a lot of hotels are focusing their lighting budget in ballrooms. "Even the three- and four-star hotels are spending money on intelligent lighting." Besides providing for live performances, his firm can change table-lighting colours during a dinner and create different moods. Besides ensuring equipment can weather rain and sun, event organisers considering outdoor events will need intelligent lighting systems, a good sound system consisting of microphones, mixers, amplifiers, sound sources from CD players, tapes and large display devices that can run video clips and presentation slides clearly. Mitsubishi Electric offers a large megaview wall with 1000 lumens of light power. Common mistakes When a presentation goes haywire because of faulty equipment, clients are embarrassed and their audiences disappointed. Yet experts say many hotels are unwilling to fork out large sums to acquire AVequipment for their refurbishments. Those who give lower priority to AVbudgets end up purchasing equipment that is not adequate for use. Says Varma: "It is important that hotels buy reputed and well proven equipment for their meeting venue. Also, they should look to the future — whether the equipment provides the possibility of upgrading. Maintenance support should also be an important criteria." Fang says it is crucial to have sufficient equipment. Servicing and maintaining equipment should be done at least once a month. Woo says: "The safest way to prevent things going wrong is to get reputable integrators or installers who have experience in this area. Many good integrators also provide a service support and maintenance programme." Storm says hotels that cut budgets will regret it because of high maintenance costs as the equipment frequently breaks down. "The hotel will look cheap in the eyes of the customer. At the same time, the running cost of the cheaper equipment is much higher than the amount they would have saved at the time of purchase," he says.