Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008 - (Page 28)

28 Design TELEVISIONS H&MM July 21, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition BY ALLIE JOHNSON, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR face LIFTS Star of the show Flat-screen televisions are becoming standard in guestrooms. Now, instead of being hidden away, they are taking center stage. From layout to furniture Wall mounting is used to display ﬂatto functionality, hotel rooms are being screen TVs at some Wyndham Hotels designed around the LCD or plasma and Resorts properties. TV. “People are incorporating the [ﬂat-screen TV] so it’s a seamless and technical services, Hyatt Corp. The new plasma and LCD part of the guestroom, but also a central focal point that’s easy televisions no longer need the 20- to 30-degree cone of vision to see from all different areas of the room,” said Faith Taylor, v.p. that was optimal with older standard televisions, and the sharper of innovation and product development, Wyndham Hotels and picture and ﬂat screen allow for viewing at a much wider angle. Resorts. Wyndham is in the process of making ﬂat-screen TVs “The need to hide the sides and back of the TV are not as standard for all guestrooms going into 2009. important now that the overall proﬁle has been reduced. In “Television technology has changed the way we view general, the new TVs are opening up the room,” Gullion said. guestroom design,” said William Gullion, v.p. of product design WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS The Golden Plough Inn in Lahaska, Pa., ﬁnished its guestroom refurbishment project. The $20,000 renovation features 18thcentury traditional style in the rooms, with modern amenities, including ﬂatscreen TVs, clock radios with iPod connectivity and oversized jetted tubs that open to sitting room ﬁreplaces. Dolce Valley Forge (Pa.) Hotel began the second phase of its renovation project, which includes its lounge, restaurant, lobby and ﬁtness center. The property is undergoing a $17-million renovation that includes the addition of 6,500 square feet of new meeting space. Top ﬁve TV trends Flat-screen TVs are getting as slim as one-half inch WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS Innovative seating allows comfortable TV watching or laptop use Tilting/swiveling TVs can be visible from any spot in the room Technology is integrated into the architecture of the room Connections allow hook-up of laptop or iPod to TV and sound system Source: Faith Taylor, v.p. of innovation and product development, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts; Robin Byrne, director of programs and product design, Hilton Hotels; and Doug Stein, Team Lead–In Room Entertainment Strategy Initiative, Hilton Hotels Tips for ﬂatscreen design: Modern furniture with clean lines complements ﬂat-screen TVs at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Make the TV the room’s focal point—try framing it like a piece of art. Keep size and scale in mind so the TV doesn’t overpower the room. Consider offering highdeﬁnition programming. Crisp-looking content is part of the experience. Look at guests’ behavior in the hotel room and design with that in mind. Make interfaces intuitive. At a hotel, guests don’t have the time or the desire to ﬁgure out the ins and outs of a new system. Wall mounting can cause noise issues. Make sure you have the proper technology or buffers to keep it quiet. Source: Faith Taylor, v.p. of innovation and product development, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts; Robin Byrne, director of programs and product design, Hilton Hotels; and Doug Stein, Team Lead–In Room Entertainment Strategy Initiative, Hilton Hotels The Copley Square Hotel in Boston is scheduled to reopen this fall, after renovating its public space and 143 guestrooms. The hotel, which is the secondoldest in Boston, closed in January for the revitalization. Renovations include a new lobby décor with backlit panels, silver light ﬁxtures, candle niches and window treatments. At Loews Portoﬁno Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, designers created the new Dr. Seuss children’s suites that integrate the adventures of the Universal Studios attraction Seuss Landing, located at the Islands of Adventure, into the hotel. The two-room suites capture the Seussian spirit in a montage of characters, colors and patterns. The suites offer ample space for traveling families, with a king bedroom for the adults and two twin-sized beds for children. The children’s room only allows access to the adult’s room and not into the hallway. Compiled by Emily Hanna, ehanna@questex.com Seek sleeker guestroom style Furniture is changing to complement the sleek look of ﬂat-screen TVs and also to support the viewing experience. Chunky armoires that used to hide bulky TVs are giving way to streamlined, modern pieces. “We’re moving toward low-proﬁle pieces like credenzas; design that is more sophisticated with more clean lines,” said Robin Byrne, director of programs and product design for Hilton Hotels. Hotels also are offering guests different seating options for TV viewing. At Hyatt Place hotels, guests can watch the 42-inch ﬂatpanel TV from the modern Cozy Corner sectional. And Wyndham Hotels and Resorts created the streamlined Smart Chair, fully wired for Internet access and iPod listening. For more info Company Circle No. DirecTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Hotelevision . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271 LG Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Panasonic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Philips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Sharp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Sony Electronics . . . . . . . . . . 276 SuiteLinq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 Summa Integrated Systems. . 278 Quotable “ Television is becoming front and center for everyone, whether they’re at home or at a hotel.” FAITH TAYLOR, v.p. of innovation and product development for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008

Contents Larkspur Hotels Branch Out with New Brand Starwood’s C.E.O. Maps Out Journey New Brand Leaders Share Hits, Misses Perspective Letters to the Editor Legal FAQ Training Trends Sales Clinic HotelWorld Update Trends & Stats Special Report: 2008 Construction Companies Survey Guest Column Events Technology: Telephones Hotel Operations: Building Exterior Design: Televisions Transactions Awards Hot Products: Mattresses Supplier News Ad/Edit Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008

Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008

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