FEATURES: HOSPITALITY
Blueprint for success All meeting rooms are equipped with portable video screens
In a quest for differentiation in a competitive market, demand for high-quality AV systems in hotels continues unabated. However, available budgets remain static at best in many parts of the globe. Richard Lawn reports on the state of play in the expansive Indonesian archipelago “TO FULFIL TENDERS, AV INSTALLERS MUST DELIVER five-star ser vice functionality and value on a three-star budget,” comments PT Ideal Systems’ CEO for SEA, Fintan Mc Kiernan. This wr y obser vation followed the successful AV fulfilment of meeting rooms, restaurants, lobby and ballroom in the Mercure Jakar ta Batavia in Java’s capital city. The satisfied property now promotes its cutting-edge AV functionality – including networked audio, conferencing, digital signage and projection – to a widening clientele of business travellers and tourists. Naturally, the extensive works were completed on a limited budget. Indonesian systems integrators who serve the hospitality sector are long accustomed to cash flow problems, construction delays and tight deadlines. Balancing limited budgets while providing an exceptional level of per formance is also a leading trait among successful SIs. Respected for many years among the broadcasting fraternity, PT Ideal Systems relocated to a new office in late 2019, where the expanded team continues to lend its expertise to international hotel chains among the other verticals it services. Having delivered an impressive package at the Mercure Jakarta Batavia, PT Ideal Systems was requested by developer PT Delta Merlin Dunia Properti to tender for its next hospitality project in the heart of Central Java. As one of three bidders for the four-star Swiss-Belhotel Solo, PT Ideal Systems created a new AV blueprint that would enhance functionality for business, leisure and events. The winning design proposed by PT Ideal Systems’ designer, Suteja, was selected as it would justifiably stimulate the guest experience and provide ease of functionality for the hotel duty managers within the owner’s restricted budget. Having been selected to install an extensive AV infrastructure, the Jakarta-based SI worked closely with independent consultant, Dani M Alafah. Crucially, however, Suteja and his colleagues could modify plans and specifications from the outset to the benefit of all parties. “Most Indonesian hotel BGM designs are based on dated
Apart CM6T ceiling speakers adorn the fifth-level restaurant
Extron-equipped racks analogue audio systems,” comments Suteja. “I think a fear remains that digital equates to expensive, so I had to convince the client that not only would digital be more beneficial in terms of remote management, reliability and ease of use, it would also be slightly cheaper.” The hotel’s BGM is streamed digitally from a groundlevel server connected to two Extron DMP 128 Plus AT matrix processors and the loudspeaker outputs over an Ethernet Cat-6 local area network (LAN). “Extron was of great assistance, as our works in Solo represent the first
application of digital BGM being installed in an Indonesian hotel,” adds Suteja. Volume control and other audio parameters connecting the various Samsung DVD players and other sources are controlled from Samsung Galaxy Tab wireless touchscreens. “The tablets not only provide ease of use for managers on the move, but they’re relatively inexpensive.” In addition to the 12 analogue inputs and eight outputs, a USB port on each DMP 128 Plus AT processor provides up to four channels of digital audio input and output and eight
AD
60 PRO AVL ASIA March–April 2021
PAA Pg60-61 Swiss Belhotel.indd 60
audio audio capab The B AT au rack w outpu by an proce the A Pow and C comp 1004 imped minim the d Ideal fourth A high subw teach headThe on th the s meet condu To ca integr and v Epson LG 22 rack-m Perce with A XPA 1
26/02/2021 16:55