This article is sponsored by The Grand America Hotel.
In the competitive world of event planning, technology can make or break even the most meticulously organized gathering. While many luxury venues have outsourced their technical support, The Grand America Hotel is bucking this trend with an approach that’s both refreshingly old-school and cutting-edge.
The in-house edge
What sets The Grand America apart in today’s fractured service economy? Their fully integrated in-house audio-visual team provides seamless support that outside contractors simply can’t match. This dedicated team—many members boasting 15+ years with the property—knows every corner, quirk, and capability of the venue’s 100,000 square feet of event space.
When you work with outside vendors, you’re often dealing with technicians who arrive an hour before your event and are seeing the space for the first time. Our team lives and breathes these spaces daily, allowing them to anticipate needs before they arise.
Connectivity that performs under pressure
The hotel’s robust digital infrastructure handles thousands of simultaneous connections across 1,100 wireless access points spanning both The Grand America and its sister property Little America Hotel. This enterprise-grade network maintains performance even when attendees are streaming, uploading, and downloading at volume.
Plus, the recent upgrade to Arista’s cutting-edge WiFi system has revolutionized the hotel’s connectivity capabilities. With WiFi 6/6E support (and WiFi 7 readiness), the new system delivers dramatically faster speeds and lower latency—critical for flawless video conferencing and real-time applications. Advanced antenna designs ensure stronger signals even in the hotel’s grand ballrooms, which have sweeping high ceilings.
Particularly impressive is the system’s AI-driven Cognitive WiFi solution, which dynamically optimizes performance in high-density scenarios—perfect for packed keynote sessions when hundreds of devices connect simultaneously. The CloudVision platform enables the in-house team to monitor performance metrics in real time and even troubleshoot proactively before issues affect guests.
Beyond performance, the system delivers surprising sustainability benefits through reduced power consumption and more efficient operation—aligning with the hotel’s broader environmental initiatives.
The A/V team at The Grand has essentially built a digital ecosystem that grows stronger rather than weaker under high demand. Its adaptive architecture recognizes usage patterns and reallocates resources accordingly.
Tech that complements, not competes
Perhaps most impressive is how seamlessly this technical prowess integrates with The Grand America’s legendary elegance. The AV team has mastered the art of incorporating technology without disrupting the hotel’s signature ambiance, which features Italian chandeliers and Irish wool carpets.
The Grand America’s A/V team has designed custom lighting solutions that enhance rather than wash out our architectural features. Presenters get crystal-clear audio without speakers that dominate the visual landscape.
Personalized tech support
Beyond hardware advantages, the in-house team offers something increasingly rare: continuity of service. Unlike rotating contract staff, these professionals build relationships with repeat clients, remembering preferences and past solutions.
From intimate corporate retreats to conventions hosting thousands, the team scales solutions accordingly, offering everything from sophisticated studio sets to broadcast-quality video editing while maintaining the warmth and attentiveness The Grand America is known for.
In an era when technical glitches can instantly undermine months of planning, The Grand America’s integrated approach demonstrates that sometimes the most innovative solution is keeping expertise in-house.
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