Among Bangkok’s more unusual hotels, the brightly painted CHI Art Series Hotel in the heart of the Sukhumvit district finds the staff – or CHI Ambassadors – controlling curated background music using the AtlasIED Atmosphere Audio Processing and Control System.

Opened in 2022, the 68-room hotel is designed to ‘celebrate art and life, meant for free spirits, artists, friends, lovers, and pets’. Each detail of the décor is carefully chosen to create a memorable experience. The management regards sound and music as an essential part of the hotel experience, helping to create its ambience.

Guests might enjoy a scoop of ice cream after checking in, before visiting one of the hotel’s many quirky spaces – the ayurvedic wellness spa, the pottery studio and immersive soul cycling room – or grab a bite at Mr Quinn’s restaurant or a drink at the Tip Toe-Sundance Rooftop Lounge.

One of the most important criteria for the audio system serving all f these areas was ease of use. The hotel chose Atmosphere for its intuitive user interface and simplicity, installing an Atmosphere AZM8 eight-zone commercial audio processor in the main office near the reception – although the system may be controlled using a tablet or mobile device from anywhere on the property. The AZM8 also provides built-in messaging that allows hotel staff to deliver live or pre-recorded audio messages to all or select zones in the property, such as dinner reservation announcements or severe weather-related information to guests.

‘When visiting the CHI Art Series Hotel, we want our guests to experience a new kind of energy – an elevation of all the senses, a rush of escapism, and a getaway from the ordinary,’ says MD, Chalisa Teinpothong. ‘With our focus on art and inclusivity, we celebrate every individual’s uniqueness. We aim to create and transport our guests to a fantasy museum, the CHI Exhibition of Staying Over. The guest experience and creating memories are everything to us. We deliver this through service, food and entertainment, including our choice of music, to provide positive, heartfelt moments and memories for House of CHI friends.’

The hotel has coupled the AZM8 with two Atmosphere AZA804 four-channel amplifiers to drive its loudspeakers. Several AtlasIED FAP43T in-ceiling, low-profile loudspeakers to provide sound in the common areas. Because of multi-level ceiling heights in the reception area, there are also SM52T surface-mount loudspeakers to serve that larger spaces. These durable, 5.25-inch two-way loudspeakers can be easily positioned to direct sound, while offering weather-resistant construction (IP33) for indoor or outdoor use.

At one of the busiest spaces in the hotel, Mr Quinn’s, requires the ability to change the level of its music, as well ast o provide complete control of all zones in the hotel. As the largest space in the hotel, multiple SM52T loudspeakers are installed along with an Atmosphere C-ZSV wall controller to give restaurant managers access. The C-ZSV is password protected and provides control over any zone, source selection, and volume levels throughout the property. Additionally, the there is an A-XLR audio input to provide direct input to the AZM8, allowing musical performers to plug into the system and play music in a specific area or throughout the hotel.

In the second-floor wellness centre and spa, the hotel plays chakra balancing and reiki healing music at a lower level to create a tranquil, safe and inclusive environment. Here, multiple FAP43T in-ceiling loudspeakers account for the lower ceiling height and multiple attenuator wall volume controllers allow staff to adjust music for certain treatments based on guests’ needs.

The Tip Toe-Sundance Lounge is one of the hotel’s most prominent and popular spaces, with offers views of central Bangkok. To provide tropical-style lounge music in the area, hotel management has installed multiple all-weather loudspeakers to resist high temperatures and rain. A second C-ZSV controller is located behind the bar and an A-XLR input is available to support live outdoor musical performances. The lounge uses a range of loudspeakers, including FAP63TC shallow-mount in-ceiling loudspeakers, two 6.5-inch, two-way all-weather SM63T loudspeakers, and four GSS-G all-weather surface-mount outdoor landscape loudspeakers. The GSS-G is designed to blend into environments such as gardens or architecturally landscaped areas.

‘Bangkok is alive with activities and movements and our rooftop lounge has quickly become a favourite spot for our guests to hang out,’ Teinpothong says. ‘Incorporating music throughout the facility is vital to enhance and uplift our guests’ senses while adding emotion to our spaces. We added the appropriate audio equipment to support future private events with live music performances like DJs and bands. It allows them to plug into the system to play music in the lounge. It’s another milestone that we hope will give guests even more reasons to return in the future.’

More: www.atlasied.com