Welcome to GHC’s first trade show report, specifically designed for the hotel market.
TRADE FAIR - ISE 2024 – Barcelona 30th January – 2nd February 2024
Integrated Systems Europe.
ISE is the largest AV systems integration expo in the world. Set over 7 halls at the Fira Expo Centre in Barcelona, ISE has been going since 2004 and show cases the latest technology in the AV world, coupled with the all-important integration aspect.
GHC visited with the aim of finding particular solutions and products for our hotel partners, including LED displays, check-in systems, outdoor digital displays and above all, integrated
solutions that enhance the customer journey within the hotel.

REVIEWS BY PRODUCT:-
LED DISPLAYS:-
Like all technology, LED, LCD, OLED all move at a fast pace. There are so many aspects to consider now, but one of great importance is the cost of running, especially LED walls and the larger screens over 110”. We always look for value over price and in doing so have uncovered a couple of new suppliers able to deliver high level component engineering combined with hi-tech software and robust mounting and casing options.
While the early LED screens delivered higher resolution through the light emitting diode system, the cost of running was higher. That is all changing now with different types of LED technology providing different results. One of the companies we saw has a new SUPER COB
LED which is able to deliver a 50% power saving. That’s huge on an indoor LED wall or 138” screen that is on most of the time.

Outdoor displays often require more lumens to display well in daylight but
advances in non-reflective protective glass will further reduce the necessity for such brightness and, therefore, be greener.
So what are the applications of these larger display screens ?
In short:
1. 110” – 146” screens are great for top end Signature Suites. With integrated technology and the addition of touch-screen overlays making the screen interactive, the possibilities are endless.
2. For villas and large Presidential suites, an entire LED wall replacing one side of the bedroom or living room is an impressive addition, with clients able to order room service, change their view and dictate when the sun rises in their world, all at the touch of a screen or by remote.
3. Conference rooms, auditoriums and banqueting halls.
4. Outdoor areas for sports viewing. The outdoor LED products these days are fully weather proof and last a good 10 years.
5. Open air cinematic experiences. We’ve seen a big increase in demand for large outdoor screens purely for the pleasure of al-fresco cinema experience.
6. LED external walls. These can be any shape and size and one supplier has really gone the extra mile with this tech. You could frame the entire façade of a hotel around the entrance and display anything you like in very high definition.
Last but not least, remember you can have an LED any size you want and still maintain the picture quality. That is the beauty of LED versus the old tech, literally any size, without losing pixelation.
TRANSPARENT LED:-
Now we move into a new (ish) area of LED development, the transparent LED screen. These can be large, but the most impressive ones we discovered were the size of a conference room glass wall. These appear to be simply glass partitions but once turned on become interactive displays.
The larger displays are still impressive. Standing behind them, you look at other people or objects through a mesh that is 75% transparent whilst at the front it is displaying a full colour image or video.
At present we see these larger displays as a bit of a show stopper and the smaller ones, which can be hung, framed or put on a stand, as good advertising for products or activities.
Having a shower screen as a transparent LED screen is an idea. You can turn it black if you want privacy or watch TV on it…
Main applications:-
1. Conferencing areas
2. Shower / bathroom screens
TOUCH SCREEN TECH:-
From clunky beginnings many years ago, touch-screen tech has become ever more responsive thanks to advances in the sub-screen technology and touch-screen glass technology advances.
The applications for touch-screen overlays are extensive from QSR POS solutions, touch-tables for restaurants which can feature more than just the ordering capability, check-in kiosks for hotels and advanced presenting on large displays for conferences and meetings.

Like most things, you get what you pay for so do not be tempted by the cheaper pricing or your screen(s) simply won’t work properly, or, at best, will be clunky.
How many times have you been there punching a screen with your finger and nothing happens? That’s what you get if you buy cheap. Luckily, we know the best people in the business for this type of tech.
Main applications:-

1. Screens for self-service check in. Whilst this may not seem a priority for higher-end hotels, it will become necessary as GEN Z afford the higher end properties and expect this kind of option. By all means, keep the human touch, but it needs to be a choice for the consumer to make.
2. QSR ordering systems. Increasingly, ordering from the table by app or screen will become the norm and again, at the 4 and 5* level should sit along-side the waiter/ waitress option.
3. Presenting on a big screen. You see this on TV. A lot now, especially on sports and news programs.
4. Gaming tables. Why not have a table with a built in PC that can be a “laptop” for one customer and a gaming console for another.
CHECK-IN SYSTEMS:-

Stand alone check in screens for hotels, doctor’s surgeries and more, have been around for years.
However, the point of ISE is integration technology and we have unearthed some “off the shelf “and tailored options that can be integrated into the hotel’s PMS system and become the start of a great customer journey, saving time and money for the hotel, and adding revenue.
We are working with 3 key suppliers to tie the basic check-in function to the hotel PMS and beyond to room access,
booking spa treatments, etc.
ROOM-CONTROL systems:-

The check-in systems should continue their integration with room controls.
Another off the shelf product will be launched soon that will enable room entry by NFC and a room control panel on your phone.
Our own solutions will take that a step
further with bespoke system designed to connect the client to the hotel the minute they walk through the door.
FACRETEC:-
This leads us onto the elephant in the room for many hotels- security.
Our reconnaissance found a company at the cutting edge of facial recognition technology, building their own hardware and designing their own evolving software, all manageable remotely by firmware.

However, we want to take the security to a new level, so in conjunction with face recognition, we can add in thumb prints and/ or voice recognition for extra layers of security which also enable entry through hotel main doors, lifts and ultimately, to the bedrooms. At the very least, this technology can be used at check in and on lift entry to verify the identity of the person.
LED FLOORING:-

LED flooring allows you to spice up certain areas of the hotel, particularly if you have your own nightclub on site, an LED dance floor will bring the punters in.
However, there are more practical applications.
Using integrated tech, LED floors can show the way to a particular restaurant, where the spa is, fire exits etc. Or it can simply be for show…
SPEAKER ART:-

Another new innovation is speaker art.
Wireless speakers that double-up as pictures on the wall of your hotel bedrooms which is a great touch.
DIGITAL ART LED ART:-
What is LED art ? I hear you say. Well, admittedly, until this show, I was also unsure.
However, a visit to a very innovative company in Hall 6 soon explained.
Essentially, because LED panels are very flexible, they can be bent into just about any shape. Certainly, into the shape of a globe and because of the nature of LED tech, again, any size you like.
Our particular partner has produced LED art for the winter Olympics, museums and corporate offices and the ability of these installations to play video, signage, static images, means you can change their usefulness by the minute.
LED pictures on a wall are razor sharp, and, of course, can be changed keeping your corridors and public areas very up to date.
3D HOLOCGRAPHIC PROJECTION

Admittedly, the highlight of the show as far as futuristic appeal. If you know the films Minority Report or Iron Man, the CGI used in those to show actors playing around with holographic images with their hands, then this is now a reality.
Current applications could be for doll’s house holographic models of hotels to get a perspective of where you are and where other facilities are located.
For anyone wanting to display a product in 3d (where its useful) then it’s a also great tech. you can pull up a jet engine image and then pull it apart to show all the inside working parts. It really is the future, but its here now…
Closing notes:-
Don’t forget, we have our own installation team so you will only need to deal with one entity, even if your order involves 2-3 products. We act faster than most, but combine that with a technical team that has great experience in installing large or small installations and will ensure everything is perfect before leaving and be back to maintain long term installs,
should they need it.
Whatever you are looking for, please drop us a line and we’ll deliver you some exciting and innovative solutions.
And remember, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, depending on the depth of your pockets…
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