On Wednesday, W South Beach unveiled a $6 million ballroom and meeting space renovation, which features 360 projection technology built in. According to the property, this is the first-of-its-kind for a hotel in North America. The L’Atelier des Lumiéres in Paris inspired the setup of the 4,300-square-foot blank canvas ballroom, which holds up to 250 people.
The hotel opened its doors in 2009 and underwent a $30 million renovation in 2020. This renovation brings innovative technology into a space that can now instantly change its ambiance and impact the guest experience. “Imagine stepping into the ballroom and being instantly transported to the streets of London, the beaches in Rio, or the enchanting gardens of Kyoto,” said Rick Ueno, general manager of W South Beach. “For a decade, we’ve been the social center of Miami’s major cultural events – Art Basel, Miami Swim Week and others – so it was time to up the ante and transform the way events and meetings are conducted on the beach.”
The built-in projection system is fully customizable with pre-set color scenes. The property also makes a digital library of stills and video footage available. This includes a selection of abstract digital art, lush green foliage, sunny beaches, still wallpaper effects, and celebratory party effects.
The ballroom space is divisible into two spaces for those looking for a more intimate setting. The customizable LED environment projectors are built into 12 ceiling coves and six wall arches. This creates an energy-efficient system that bypasses traditional venue-specific limitations. Additionally, four presentation projectors are also built into the ceiling and can be used simultaneously with environment projectors.
The audio experience is also high-end. A total of 32 audio speakers (16 for each room) offer a discrete design with matching performance. An array of 24 built-in microphones (12 for each room) provide speech reinforcement and recording, allowing for seamless presentations.