The Sounds of Hospitality

Being in the sound system design industry for the past decade and a half, I can get jaded as I walk into an upscale hotel and tune in my senses to what I see and hear.  I've sold upgraded sound systems to hotels for many years, and I still get a kick out of evaluating how hotels use sound for their environment.  It's exciting to experience that first 30 seconds upon walking into the lobby from the street and hear what kind of music they are playing and how it matches up with what my eyes see as I look around.  When the sound of the hotel is in "sync" with the visual display of that lobby, you just know it!  That sound quality should be a direct extension of what brand they're attempting to create. Needs no explanation....

But that sound system in the lobby is only the tip of the iceberg of what you hotel managers need to look at closely.  How do your sound systems create more repeat business?  Read on..........

Hotel occupancy rates are directly affected by a LOT of factors, especially customer experience.  That experience is sprinkled all over your hotel.  But here is just one area of question and comments that will give away where I'm headed here:

Meeting Rooms: Can your guests easily plug in their laptops, press a single touch screen and have their presentations quickly and successfully show on a flat screen or projector without assistance?  Do the lights automatically dim and sound system turn on to broadcast the laptop audio or local microphone?  OR, do you contract with an A/V company to be on call at considerable expense to set up these rooms?  How much does THAT cost you over 5 years? IF your guests can use your meeting room A/V system effortlessly, they will come back.  It's as important as a clean room.  If your guests have exquisite service until they struggle to get the A/V systems working in one of your meeting rooms, it may be a deal breaker for repeat business. It's as much a positive first impression point as nearly anything else in your hotel.  If your valued business guests cannot conduct business in your meeting rooms as well as they can in their own offices, you have some work to do! (i.e: more investments to make that have huge ROI)

We're all consumers: If you have a bad or even a so-so experience in a business, how often do you voice your concerns?  MOST people just move on to the next competitive business, and management never knows what caused the defection. Make it easy for guests to provide inside feedback, or you risk a bad review via social network broadcasts about your hotel!

Walk around your lobby, workout rooms, meeting rooms, pool area, and common areas with fresh ears, and really evaluate your Audio and Video equipment.  Pretend you are a guest, and use the meeting room systems just like your guests do. Get an evaluation or two from some local commercial A/V dealers.  Check out our website for manufacturers. You may not be an expert at A/V, but you can easily find out who does what in the A/V marketplace with some simple online searches!  It may not cost as much as you think to upgrade and create some very satisfied repeat clients!