DSE: Digital Signage Expo

Source:  2009 Apex Awards Nominee
Company:  X2O Media Inc./PSAV
Client:  Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe

Overview
We were asked to present a daily event schedule, hotel map and local ski and slope conditions across a network of 4 lobby displays and one in-house guest room TV channel. 

Objectives
The Hyatt Lake Tahoe was looking for a digital signage solution that required little manual intervention to minimize cost and errors. Their requests:

1. Deliver accurate, up-to-date information from a number of different data feeds;
2. Display this data in a way that reflects the look-and-feel of a lodge hotel on the banks of Lake Tahoe;

Description
X2O and PSAV determined that the best way to get the latest ski and slope information was to research several potential RSS feeds from the Lake Tahoe area and select the best overall option. We also needed to display weather and daily events. We were able to pull weather information from the Internet and daily events from the hotel’s sales and catering management system automatically. Lastly, we wanted to create a chalk board font effect that would help the signage keep a rustic look and feel in keeping with the ski resort feel.

Results
The Hyatt is thrilled with the overall integration as the signs post both fun and business information at appropriate times with a look and feel that complements the hotel’s interior design elements, with the inclusion of a “knotty pine” wood decorative finish tailored for interior design elements fits in exteremely well. The “chalk board effect” on the digital displays is particularly liked because historically the ski hill operators updated the info on a real chalk board.

Problems/Challenges
The Hyatt needed a solution that was dynamically updated with little manual intervention. The integration of RSS feeds and other data sources helped that immensely. It was a bit difficult early on locating the absolute best fit for the ski and slope conditions RSS feed. We were able to find to locate the right RSS feed via trial and error.

Solutions
This was an excellent example of PSAV taking the lead to design a comprehensive end-to-end solution for their hotel partner – Hotel Regency Lake Tahoe and PSAV’s preferred digital signage software and creative service provider – X20 Media executing the vision that inspires users to look twice at our signage.