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Home > Issue by Date > September 2007

The BIG Picture

Tom Feilen

Q&A Tom Feilen

They do everything BIG at Hyatt Regency Chicago. In a feat of engineering ingenuity, the hotel’s staff and a mounting solutions provider installed some of the world’s largest plasma displays.

What is your position? How many years have you been in this profession?

I am the senior director of engineering at Hyatt Regency Chicago and have been in the facility management profession for 26 years.

Please give a brief description of the facility involved in this project.

Hyatt Regency Chicago is the largest hotel in the city and the largest Hyatt hotel in the world. Between two towers, we offer 2,019 guest rooms, seven restaurants/lounges, and 228,000 square feet of meeting space (including four ballrooms and a 70,000 square foot exhibit hall).

Our hotel is located along Chicago’s Riverwalk and near Museum Campus, the Magnificent Mile, Grant and Millennium Parks, the Loop, the theater district, Navy Pier, and other cultural attractions.

Why was the decision made to pursue this project?

We needed to find a way to enhance the hotel’s BIG Bar. We wanted to increase revenue from this outlet and provide an enhanced experience for our guests.

Please describe the decision making and research process for this project.

We do everything big at Hyatt Regency Chicago. When the idea was proposed by Panasonic to install two 103" flat panel televisions in the lobby, atrium, and BIG Bar area of the hotel, it seemed like a perfect fit.

Working with structural engineers and Peerless Industries, a mount manufacturer, it was determined that this impressive installation could be accomplished successfully. Once we knew it could work, we did not need any further convincing.

The decision was made to showcase two of the world’s largest plasma displays. We would suspend them from the ceiling’s I-Beams. The challenge began.

What was the vendor selection process like? Did you feel limited?

Panasonic is the provider of the largest plasma screen available, and when Hyatt Regency Chicago does something, it does it big. It just made sense to go with Panasonic when they approached us.

Finding a mounting solution for the installation was very easy as well. We knew this would be the first 103" flat panel television suspended two stories in the air. We selected Peerless because of its engineering and manufacturing expertise, reputation for professional grade and quality products, reliable delivery, and proven expertise in developing mounting solutions.

What other factors led you to choose this particular solution?

We started working with Peerless from the inception of this idea. For those who are interested in a similar installation, I recommend bringing in the mount company at the beginning. Because Peerless was involved from the start, the company knew exactly what we wanted.

Based on the information Peerless gathered, we were presented with a custom mount that fit the application, our rigorous safety requirements, and aesthetic needs.

What benefits have you reaped as a result of this project?

We have seen an increase in traffic at BIG Bar, resulting in higher food and beverage sales and greater revenue.

The installation of these plasma displays has also enhanced our guests’ experience by providing an opportunity to catch the big game or music videos up close and personal on two 103" flat panels.

Did you encounter any unexpected highlights or challenges while implementing this project?

Everything is unexpected when you are the first to take on a task. Our challenges included the development of a custom mounting solution to carry the weight of the 500 pound plasma televisions; ensuring a clean wire raceway from the ceiling I-Beams to the televisions; and rigging the units in the lobby 30' above the floor.

 

How did this project require you to change your operations and maintenance practices?

This project required very few operational and maintenance changes. The almost maintenance free installation requires routine cleaning that is done by our in-house event technology company.

What has been the reaction to the project from upper management and elsewhere in your organization?

People are quite taken aback when they see such large plasmas. We have received great compliments from executives within Hyatt.

How has the community responded to this project?

The response has been very positive. Both locals and out of town guests who visit BIG Bar have been excited about the plasmas.

What was the most professionally rewarding aspect of this project?

It has been gratifying to watch our guests enjoy the plasmas and know it was worth taking on such a custom installation to enhance their experience

To learn more about this installation, visit www.panasonic.com or www.peerlessmounts.com.

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