Vaughan Sound Installations (VSI), part of the PAI Group, has installed its unique i-Sign room numbering system, ambient lighting control and an iPod driven audio system into all the newly refurbished rooms at The Royal Horseguards hotel, London. The 5 Star 281 room luxury property is located on the banks of the River Thames opposite the London Eye, in the heart of the UK capital.
VSI were employed by the main contractors Beck Interiors for the end client, Guoman Hotels, after being initially commissioned for the project by interior designer Lorna Griffiths. The brief was to create a stylish, state-of-the-art, simple-to-use in-room IT, AV and lighting solution.
The first element of the installation for VSI was to specify a recessed i-Pod interface to link to the in-room flat screen TV and compact audio system, allowing guests to hook up their own iPod or MP3 device and play their own music and media through the room facilities.
A customised utility bus was also incorporated by VSI for this project. It consists of a polished chrome panel embedded with two 13 amp sockets, one Schuko (EU) socket and one US/Japanese 110V socket for maximum connectivity. There's also a VGA input back to the room screen facilitating laptop connection to work, play games or watch movies, and a telephone point.
“The client desired a neat and intuitive system that incorporated everything today's traveller would want connection-wise,” says PAI Group's Keith Elms, who co-ordinated and oversaw the project for the Welsh-based company.
VSI also installed custom lighting control designed around an ANYtronics ANYlight platform in each room; this features three 4-button touch panels - also linked to the electronic key card - allowing different lighting scenes to be selected to suit the mood of the occupant. For example, the default walk-in scene offers a warm, low level welcoming ambience.
Also incorporated throughout the hotel is i-Sign a new product now available from VSI to order. It comprises an elegant LED optically clear back-lit glass plate mounted on the corridor wall outside each room. Engraved with the room number and Service My Room/Do Not Disturb instructions I-sign is interfaced via a remote unit to the user-selectable panel inside the room. Functionality allows activation of the Do Not Disturb/Service my room options. There is also a bell push integrated - a classic touch that the hotel wanted to retain from its historic incarnations.
The i-sign interface uses smart technology and will de-activate the bell push if the Do Not Disturb option is selected. It's also been programmed with a selection of anti-nuisance logic and additional functionality to enhance its flexibility when utilised in a variety of applications. VSI can deliver i-sign to any design finish or colour to suit individual clients' needs - using any corporate branding, legend, logo or font type.