Entrance to the New Bathroom Experience

As a hotel guest, you have likely experienced frustration over a swinging bathroom door that requires gymnastic maneuvers to get in and out of an already tight space. The use of a shower, toilet or sink ends up requiring multiple openings and closings, making you feel like it’s time for another shower.

Enhancing the guests’ bathroom experience is a common goal shared by many of the owners and operators of our renovation projects.  As highlighted at last week’s HD Boutique Exposition & Conference in Miami Beach (attended by TynanGroup), interior designers are increasingly specifying wall sliding doors to serve as the entrance feature for the modern bathroom experience. In addition to their aesthetic qualities, wall sliding doors offer many design advantages over typical swing-style doors, including increased freedom with bathroom fixture layouts.

TynanGroup has used both sliding pocket doors and sliding wall door applications.  (more…)

Simple Solutions with Lighting Occupancy Sensors

Our clients are always looking for ways to reduce operating costs and since one of the biggest expense items is electricity, we are always looking for energy saving ideas with quick payback periods that help the bottom-line.

Lighting occupancy sensors are the latest and greatest energy-saving technologies to incorporate into hotel renovations. Detecting activity in an area, lighting occupancy sensors turn lights on and off automatically.

Lighting occupancy sensors were installed in TynanGroup’s recently completed project, Montelucía Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Why a lighting occupancy sensor?

• Reduces lighting energy use- better for the environment and cost efficient.
• Convenient.
• Provides additional security.
• Contributes to obtaining points in LEED credit categories.

The most commonly used lighting occupancy sensors are:

Passive Infrared: Detect heat and motion

Ultrasonic: Detect Sound

There are also hybrid technologies which combine infrared and ultrasonic technologies.

Passive Infrared

Ultrasonic

Design, application and installation need be carefully considered for sensors to operate properly:

• Size of space and amount of motion to be considered.
• Range and coverage for sensors needs to be researched.
• Layout and mounting location to be determined.
• Switching to be determined, i.e. automatic on, manual on, bi-level switching
• Load limits for sensors and capabilities to work with light fixtures and ballasts needs to be researched.
• Sensors need to be installed in the correct location, proper height and angle and on non-vibrating surfaces.

When installed sensors need to be calibrated, i.e. sensitivity level to be checked and time delay to be determined. (more…)

Auto-Sensing Remote “Jack Packs” Enable Guests to Stay Connected

You know the dilemma and experience it every time you walk into a hotel room. Whether it be your laptop, ipod, or cell phone charger, you have too much gear and no easy way to plug it all in.

Since the evolution of the “Web 2.0″ era, our clients and project teams have struggled to identify products that facilitate guests’ 24/7 demand for interactive information sharing, digital entertainment, and connectivity.  The rise in popularity of social networking sites, video-sharing sites, and blogs has challenged hotels to provide their guests with a variety of multi-media options.  In addition to in-room flat-panel TVs and high-speed internet access (HSIA), now standard for many brands, our clients have searched for a convenient solution that enables guests to connect and operate multiple electronic devices through the TV.

On recent projects, we have discovered a great product from LG Electronics - the Jack Pack.  Offering a multi-media interface to the in-room TV for hotel guests, the Jack Pack provides:

• Wide range of A/V inputs- allows for use with external devices, such as laptop PC’s, DVD/CD players, MP3 players, video game consoles, camcorders, etc.
• Auto-sensing remote- enables the Jack Pack to be conveniently located for guest use, typically integrated into the TV armoire or desk.
• Remote function- eliminates the need for the guest to reach around the TV in search of the correct input, a liability for hotels.
• Versatile power outlets- provide more room to plug in electronics.

LG Jackpack

Although Jack Pack models vary, most are manufactured to be integrated into the design of FF&E casegoods, and costs can be mitigated if the Jack Pack specification is included in the shop drawing process.  Project teams should keep in mind that the location of the Jack Pack needs to be well thought out to eliminate any impact on the function of the casegood.

Experience this product installed in the guestrooms of our recently renovated Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco.  Integration of auto-sensing remote Jack Packs might be a valuable option for your next renovation or repositioning project.