Boutique Design - March 2018 - 3

"The owners wanted to create something new and exciting that would make
a statement every time a guest returns,"
says Alexandre Simionescu, Managing
Partner and Creative Director of Float4,
designers of the Welcome Wall. "It is not
something subtle. It's meant to draw your
attention and initiate interaction in a way
that is not invasive."
The wall displays playful artwork that
attracts guests and responds to their
movements. It features a virtual photo
booth and digital concierge, through
which people can explore Paris. The size
of the wall wows guests; the interactivity
keeps them involved.
Float4 has created large, interactive walls
for a variety of clients, but hospitality
is a perfect fit. The company recently
completed another Welcome Wall for the
Mere Hotel in Winnipeg.
"I've seen touchscreens in hotels that are
basically kiosks," Simionescu says. "To
date, I haven't seen anything with this size
and level of refinement, in terms of the
content and interactivity. It's a creative
way to blend information entertainment
into a unique brand-building experience."
Make Each Stay a Personalized Experience
Hyatt Hotels is also refining the in-room
experience. "Our guests want to connect
their devices," says Mari Balestrazzi, Hyatt Hotels Vice President of Design. "We
want all the televisions and sound systems in our rooms to facilitate people's
personalized spaces."

Hyatt is even experimenting with tunable
LED lighting, to add more personalization
to the in-room experience. Adjusting the
temperature - and thus the color and
quality - of white light can help guests
wake up, be productive, and wind down.

Savvy brands are responding to tech love
by integrating audiovisual experiences,
thereby improving guest satisfaction and
making hotels more inviting to younger
travelers, who see technology as an
essential part of their lives.

"It's part of our focus on wellness,"
Balestrazzi explains. "We're learning
more about how light affects jet lag and
circadian rhythm. It can make guests feel
different and better."

"Hospitality is about the very human
trait of empathy, and businesses need to
remember that humans should remain
front and center to create incredible
experiences, helped - but in no way
supplanted - by modern technology,"
says Jason Clampet, Co-Founder of Skift,
a travel intelligence organization.
"The hospitality industry can be a huge
beneficiary of where the world is
culturally right now."

In fact, Hyatt is exploring the use of
smart-light technology in public spaces,
too. "We found that customers really like
the ability to change the color of light
in large ballrooms and meeting spaces
because they can customize the
experience with colors that are on-brand,"
Balestrazzi says. "Our business objective
is to provide the most appealing
experience to our guests, and smart
lighting will help."
High Expectations

AVIXA™, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience
Association, is helping hospitality designers create
a more successful future through the integration
of compelling audiovisual experiences. AVIXA
represents the $178 billion global commercial AV
industry and produces InfoComm trade shows
around the world. For more information,
visit www.avixa.org/hospitalityAV.

In general, as consumers become more
sophisticated about technology, they
expect more from hotels, resorts, and
restaurants. For example, a 2015 survey
found that travelers were 63 percent
more likely to choose a hotel with a
tech-enabled lobby.
www.avixa.org/hospitalityAV
http://www.avixa.org/hospitalityAV http://www.avixa.org/hospitalityAV
Boutique Design - March 2018

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