LED lights use up to 80 percent less energy than incandescent light; hotels use LEDs for versatility, design effect and customer satisfaction.
by PSAV*
LED lighting is rapidly replacing incandescent lighting in hotels, resorts, and conference centers, as a more cost-effective way to offer stage lighting throughout the establishment. Whether it's to decorate a general assembly or to give a "pop" vibe to empty spaces during site visits, LED lighting not only sets the scene, but its low energy consumption helps facilities save.
Craig Sudell, general manager of Westin Stonebriar Resort, is a big proponent of using LED lighting. Texas Frisco features LED lighting throughout the hotel.
"LED lights are wonderful for creating excitement or offering a relaxing atmosphere after a day of long meetings," he said. "They don't take up a lot of space and can be very dynamic. Whether we want to adjust colors for a holiday or accentuate a company's brand, we can remove a few LEDs to apply a simple but effective transformation."
Sundell said his team likes to use LED installations because they "pack the bright light output into an attractive little package." Because an LED consumes so little energy, it can be placed without the need for large electrical deformation or special connectors (LED lights require a basic homemade 3-prong American plug, Edison style). In addition, the lights can be programmed for many different colors and effects without having to use drivers and, in most cases, without having to resort to an experienced technician all the time.
All LED lights supplied by PSAV are Energy Star compliant and use up to 80 percent less energy than incandescent lights. This manufacturer has identified three of the latest LED installations, such as the new Color Split from AC Lighting, which serves as its standard. These facilities will allow locations to choose the LED light that best suits their needs.
"The Color Split LED installation used by PSAV features many wonderful features designed specifically for the hospitality and theater industries," said Fred Mikeska, Vice President of U.S. Sales and Marketing for AC Lighting Inc. "PSAV's valuable knowledge and feedback on what its customers would like to see in an LED installation greatly influenced a lot. during the design process."
Brian Lagestee, Senior Vice President/Technology and Development, stated that the popularity of LED lighting is really growing in the hotel sector, especially among planners and event producers who are interested in learning how they can reduce their environmental impact.
"LEDs represent a great solution for facilities to conserve energy and emissions," Lagestee said. "In addition, color washing and accented light effects easily enhance any space throughout the hotel."
Some applications
Timothy Hawkins, PSAV's regional technical coach at California's Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, agreed with this statement. He stated that LED technology is rapidly replacing incandescent lighting in those spaces where energy consumption and heat are a major factor.
"Generally, in the hotel and in event service situations, you see a limited amount of AC power available," Hawkins said. "LEDs consume much less energy and relatively no heat, while the historical counterpart does the opposite. Normally, before LED installations were available, incandescent PAR lights were used for overhead lighting and color washes, required a lot of available energy, and could not be located anywhere near objects that could pick up fire or could be damaged by high heat. LEDs do not generate the kind of heat that installations generate. traditional incandescents, which makes them much safer to use when placed near fabrics."
The color mix, flexibility and variety of LED installations available, in addition to the control of nuances, intensity and saturation, also make LED lighting a must for any event where entertainment and the stage are a priority.
For example, The Hyatt Regency Miami uses LED lighting considerably for event functions. LEDs are used for food events about 45% of the time, and it is reaching almost 50% of the time for dance events and conventions, and 100% of the time at outdoor events.
Likewise, The Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Schaumburg, Illinois, uses LED lights to adorn its atrium. The lights connect to a power supply of five installations, each of which has a built-in timer that allows the installations to automatically turn on and off at different times of the day. This is a wonderful way to create ambience or compliance themes in public spaces. Because LEDs feature a color mixing capability, the provider's experts in on-site event technology can quickly change the color while giving short notifications.
"LED curtains are growing in popularity," said Stephan Earl, PSAV's Regional Vice President of Operations, while doing a supervision at The Hyatt Regency Miami. "This is a step forward to leave behind the old fiber optic curtain. LEDs that fit with a reasonably close pixel field (either sewn into a curtain or placed in interlocking square blocks) allow us to display logos, words, or designs of any kind, creating a dynamic stage piece or even a video wall. The hotel's corporate clients really like to project their event logos in the meeting rooms and throughout the hotel."
In addition to using LED lighting for staging, it is also being used in digital signage and signage in hotels across the country.
"Whatever the purpose, LED lighting is really becoming the wave of the future and a (surely successful) way to keep meeting planners and event participants entertained," PSAV's Lagestee said.
