2012 Tendencies in Audio & Video for Hospitality

What better than to bring in the new with a whole new business perspective in mind. Hotels have fallen behind greatly when it comes to TV’s for hospitality upgrades, audio and video integration and viewing options for their guest. Hotels of yesteryear have felt that so long as there is a TV to watch and clean sheets, business is perfect, but that’s not the case.

In a world where every type of business is considered competitive, high tech improvements have become a must. Bars, night clubs and restaurants have turned to a new era of audio & video integration. From LCD & Plasma Flat Screens to Hiperwall Video Walls, the limits are endless, and hotels don’t fall much behind. Whether you have a small 20 room business or a large executive style hotel, keeping up with technology is inevitable. Nobody wants to walk into a room where you have to turn the knob on the TV to get the local news channel because there is not much else to watch.

DirecTV for businesses has become the new platform for offering guest enjoyable TV programming while enjoying it on an incredible LCD or Plasma flat screen. When people choose to stay at a hotel, they not only look for comfort, but in-room entertainment as well. Atmosphere can keep guest captivated, or at the very least take them to a place away from home. Comsat AV can help you keep them where they belong, by designing, installing and maintaining the most conducive audio-visual environments and the systems that support it, and by establishing the kind of ambiance you need to keep them coming back.

These are some of the key systems we can enhance your business with:

• Comprehensive In-Room Entertainment Solutions

• Com1000 Head End Systems – SMATV

• Pro-Idiom Compliant Hospitality LCD, Plasma and LED TV’s

• DirecTV Hotel Premier Programming

• Video on Demand/Pay Per View

• Guest Connectivity Modules – Media Hubs and “Jack Packs”

• Wi-Fi Mesh Network HSIA

• Custom & Branded Hospitality Furniture

• Lodging Innovations Mounts

• Projection Systems for Banquet and Meeting Rooms

• HD Video Conferencing Systems for Meeting Rooms or Business Communications Rooms

• Digital Signage – Interactive Directories, Menu Boards, Location Based Advertising

• DirecTV for Business & AV Solutions for Public Areas, Fitness Centers & Spas, and Business Centers

So as you can see, there are many options and upgrades available that can make your hotel that much more attractive and entertaining for your future guest. Make 2012 the year that you step up to the plate and smack one right out of the audio and video park. A technology home run that will get you up and beyond your competitors. Contact Comsat AV and make an appointment to have one of our audio/video specialist evaluate your business setting and provide with the very best option suited for your needs.

RS-232 Control for Sports Bars and Restaurants

RS-232 Control from TV’s

Our experience is that sports bar and restaurant owners, as well as businesses that use DIRECTV or digital signage in their lobby or waiting rooms, prefer to focus on their business and not the TV. This is particularly true when there are multiple TV screens that have to be turned on and programmed to the right channel. When they want to simplify, the solution is installing TV monitors with the “RS-232 Control.”

Think of it like automatic sprinklers that turn on and off at a predetermined time and water a specific area. But, instead of water it’s the TVs that are fully automated. 232 control allows us to program the screens to turn on and off when the business opens and closes so the manager never has to assign a staff person to do this task. What’s more, we program the system to display pre-selected channels. This means there is not time or worry spent on the AV system when opening and closing the business. Instead, when the doors open, the monitors are all showing the preferred channels and turning off automatically at closing time. No fuss.

Please note: not all TV monitors have 232 control. That’s one reason why we often recommend the Samsung, Sharp and LG commercial TV monitors. Your AV system should not perform well, it should be easy and convenient to use. We build AV systems that enhance your business, not take up more time, energy and worry. 232 control helps us ensure our clients can always focus on their customers first. And that makes happy customers.

Hospitality TV – Digital HD is the game-changer!

System Components with LG, Sharp and Samsung as favorite displays.

Don’t just watch TV – DIRECTV.

Pro:Idiom™ encryption technology (anti-pirating encryption is required by premium content providers) is the industry standard for secure delivery of high definition digital television and video on demand (VOD) signals.

Pro:Idiom™

Pro:Idiom™ encryption technology (anti-pirating encryption is required by premium content providers) is the industry standard for secure delivery of high definition digital television and video on demand (VOD) signals.

Com1000 vs. LG Code Plus Headend Systems

The “headend” system sends that encrypted signal to the guest rooms.   While the Com1000 system from Technicolor (formerly Thomson) has become the industry standard, we also offer the newer LG Code Plus system. Both have their own distinct advantages so we carefully walk you through the differences to ensure your goal of using the very best headend for the cost is achieved.

Pro:Centric

LG’s content delivery system, Pro:Centric, provides guests with amazingly easy-to use digital signage that acts like a digital concierge.  Beyond simply a channel selection guide, guests will be able to check on daily weather, review hotel amenities and, with the optional Web Editor, can even offer customizable billboards to promote any business and service.  The optional Electronic Program Guide (EPG), guests can enjoy selecting their favorite programs by viewing each particular show’s detailed description.

Flat Screen TVs for Hospitality

Do you know if the property’s in-room displays are HD?  We find many hotels with updated TV’s fed by outdated distribution systems.  We not only source our screens to get you the latest technology at the lowest price, but our technical expertise ensures your entire system is operating at its max.

Of course, the quality of displays continues to increase while simultaneously becoming more affordable.  When is the right time to upgrade?  LG, Sharp and Samsung are our favorite hospitality tv brands for different reasons including size for the cost, compatibility, flexibility and picture quality.  By focusing on dependability and compatibility, we ensure your TV screens are designed to have the longest life

High speed internet connection for your guests? Answer is Wi-Fi Mesh Network HSIA

Free-to-Guest (FTG) Entertainment Solutions

We are one of the best Free-To-Guest (FTG) entertainment system integrators catering to the U.S. hospitality industry. While many hotels still have a headend system that provides the local channels, HBO and video-on-demand for adult content, today’s guests demand more. With DIRECTV, fully digital distribution and HD flat-panel screens, guests can enjoy HBO, ESPN, the three major cable news channels along with local and specialized programming like the Food Channel, Comedy Channel, SPIKE, etc. all in HD. Once they’ve seen HD, they won’t be satisfied with old technology. And that’s just the beginning.

Guests now bring laptop computers, gaming devices, iPads and iPods and expect there to be easy ways to connect, charge and use those devices in room. Ensuring connectivity all but guarantees client satisfaction – at least regarding their in-room entertainment. That’s where we come in.
We offer state-of-the-art comprehensive FTG entertainment solutions. We keep our clients ahead of the fast-paced technology curve by installing products that are new to the market or the manufacturers’ latest upgrades. What that means to you is happier customers (more revenue) and a longer product replacement cycle (lower costs).

Why Single Sourcing is Critical in Hospitality

Synergistic Effect of using a Single Source Audio Video Integrator

I was always taught that shopping around was a good thing. Now I know why buying from multiple sources for a single project may be the most costly thing you can do.

Let me give you an example when it comes to upgrading your property to high definition entertainment.
One of the tasks in the larger project of upgrading to HD is purchasing High Definition Hospitality TVs. Today you display HD programming you are required to use Digital Rights management for the programming. To decode those signals you need Pro:Idiom compliant, Mpeg-4, Hospitality Flat Panel Displays. To get better pricing, many of the hotel brands are now negotiating pricing directly with the manufacturers.

An example of that is Wyndham. Recently Wyndham Hotel Group negotiated a deal to have Hotel Solutions, a division of Groupe Dumoulin Electronique in Quebec, supply Samsung HD TVs to hotels at a discounted rate.

That is a great thing right?

The catch is Hotel Solutions doesn’t install or program Hospitality TVs. They are simply a middle man for Samsung that warehouses TVs until you need them shipped to you. Think Costco for Hospitality Electronics.

Once you have your TVs shipped to your property, what you have is a bunch of big boxes sitting in YOUR warehouse or storage. You then need to go out and find another company to un-box hundreds of TVS, transport them to the rooms, install the TVs, program the TVs (which can take as much as 30 minutes each) and then dispose of the boxes and other waste materials.

For some hotel properties that process alone could mean 3 different companies or a small army of your own employees.

And that is just one part of upgrading your property to high definition. There is TV Programming, SMATV Headend Signal Distribution systems (Com1000 or LG DRM), VOD/PPV systems, Guest Connectivity, as well as issues such as signal strength and degradation that is critical to a successful transition to HD TVs & programming.

A single source integrator like Commercial Satellite Audio and Video handles the entire process from start to finish as well as numerous other products & services the upgrade to High Definition requires. You don’t have to spend your time finding, vetting and talking to numerous vendors. That process can literally eat up hundreds of hours (weeks and weeks) of time for the GM, Chief Engineer and other hotel employees.

We guarantee you will get the best possible products and service at the best available price when you use Commercial Satellite for your Guest Entertainment needs – In-room, common areas, spas & fitness centers, or bars & restaurants.

You get peace of mind that you are getting the lowest price because we guarantee it. If you find a written quote for a lower price within 30 days of our quote, we will meet or beat it. Even the deal Wyndham negotiated with Samsung.

You get the very best technical expertise. Our Hospitality field supervisors have over 2 centuries of combined AV experience. Com1000 & LG DRM certification, Crestron Programming certification, low voltage licensing, audio video integration.

Most importantly, you are getting an audio video integrator that understands the BIG PICTURE of what your particular property’s needs are, not just a low price supplier of hardware.

Commercial Satellite Audio & Video is the answer to: Why Single Sourcing is Critical in Hospitality

Hospitality Solutions at your fingertips.

We have put together a down-loadable PDF with all the information you need to upgrade all your rooms to DirecTV™ HD.