Hurrairah bin Sohail explores how Ideal Systems and ihD designed and deployed AV technology to convert an office building into a modern hotel.
The hospitality sector has been on an upward trajectory in Asia Pacific. Hotel investment totalled USD 5.7 billion in the first half of 2024, reaching 89% of pre-pandemic volumes according to JLL. Savills reported that hotel investment saw a 26% year-on-year rise in the same period.
In light of these statistics, it is no wonder that the competition was fierce in the Hospitality Project category of the Inavate APAC Awards 2025. Ideal Systems, acting as the integrator, and ihD, in its capacity as the consultant, were finalists in this category for their work on the Hyatt Centric Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hyatt Centric KL is five-star lifestyle hotel nestled in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It is designed to reflect the city’s rich tin-mining history by blending local and cultural influences to create a distinctive guest experience. The scope of the project was extensive. The AV professionals were tasked with fitting out the 321-room property spanning 21 floors with a comprehensive AV system. The spaces included a variety of guest rooms and suites, an open-air infinity saltwater pool, a fully equipped fitness centre, and three world-inspired dining experiences, as well as two event spaces totalling over 280 sq m.
Sean Boon Kiah, head of department, AV, at Ideal Systems described the overarching objective of the project: “This project’s aim was to transform the hotel’s ambiance, functionality, and guest experience with cutting-edge AV solutions from the reception area, lobby, lounge, all-day dining, rooftop bar, swimming pool deck, gym, pre-function areas, function rooms, ballrooms to all guest rooms.”
Ideal Systems was a familiar face to the client, having worked with them previously on another property. Kiah notes: “This is the second Hyatt Centric that we have worked on having previously delivered the Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu.”
The biggest challenge for the AV professionals, however, was not the scale of the project but the nature of the building itself. Kiah elaborates the difficulties: “The building is not a new building. It was an office, and it has now been converted into a hotel. As you can imagine, the layout and framework of a workplace is very different from that of a hotel, and this of course posed some very interesting challenges for us.”
Kiah continues: “Because it was an office before, the spaces had quite low ceiling levels. The spaces did not have the standard heights excepted for a function room or meeting room in a hotel. As AV professionals you normally want a higher ceiling so that you have the space to easily install a projector or screen or speakers in the desired position.”
Kiah explains how the challenge was overcome: “Because of the low ceiling, we had to get creative and run a lot of services through the routes and conduits that we could use. A lot of coordination was required with the other trades to make sure that the ceiling issue was effectively addressed. The team had to meticulously plan and coordinate every aspect of the installation to work around these physical constraints.”
Sound on
Audio was a core component of the project, with a focus on both background music and clear, reliable sound reinforcement for multiple functional areas throughout the hotel. Josh Ting from ihD, the AV consultant for the project, details: “Our aim was to develop a user-friendly sound system that was suitable for background music and live sound in function rooms while minimising cabling requirements by leveraging an integrated IT converged network.”
For the public areas, a background music system was installed. Sonance speakers powered by Powersoft amplifiers deliver audio across Hyatt Centric KL. The entire system is integrated and centrally managed via a Q-SYS DSP.
Specifically, the team deployed four Powersoft Mezzo 324AD and 604AD, as well as 33 Mezzo 602AD and one Quattrocanali 2404 DSP+D amplifiers across the three key areas within the hotel. When probed about the choice of amplifiers, Ting explained: “Powersoft’s compact Mezzo amplifiers were the perfect solution for this project. When we were selecting the right equipment for the system, we knew we needed an amplifier that would be flexible, have a compact size with an easy setup and configuration method, fit the budget, have good local team support, and spare parts availability. We found that Powersoft filled all these criteria and stood out remarkably in comparison to other brands.”
Event spaces, such as the seminar rooms, also feature a similar audio system with the addition of Shure wireless microphone system provided for audio pickup.
Audio transmission throughout the hotel is handled across a Dante network. An extensive tieline system was deployed to ensure the audio systems remained flexible. Q-SYS Dante audio wall panels and manual mount/hook points provide additional connectivity options. When not in use, these mount points remain hidden, maintaining a clean and seamless look. When needed, they can be pulled down to securely hold lighting fixtures or AV equipment, ensuring flexibility and seamless integration, especially in multipurpose rooms and event spaces.
Seeing stars
Hyatt Centric KL’s video system was also given special attention, as it plays a central role in the guest experience. Uniguest digital signage was installed across lift lobbies, seminar rooms, and even inside the lifts, ensuring dynamic content delivery throughout the property. LG hospitality TVs were supplied and installed in all 312 guest rooms to provide in-room entertainment. For the event spaces, visuals are provided by Panasonic projectors firing on to Grandview screens.
The system also supports bring-your-own-device (BYOD) functionality where required, leveraging Wolfvision Cynap for wireless presentations and screen sharing.
Keeping in line with the audio system, video signals are transmitted over IP networks with Crestron NVX encoders and decoders.
A Crestron CP4 processor and the Q-SYS DSP are used for control. Kiah explains: “Most of the control for the AV system is done by the Crestron processor. But for aspects that require to be managed on a timeline, the Q-SYS unit steps in.”
The comprehensive approach to AV ensured that the Hyatt Centric Kuala Lumpur provides a world-class experience for guests, whether they are relaxing in their room, attending an event, or enjoying the hotel’s public amenities.