Sheraton Waikiki Makes a Splash with 4D Show

PointCloud Media wins the 2015 Integration Award in the hotel category for its work at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu.>

Jessica Camerato
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Millions of travelers visit Hawaii each year. Hotels around the tropical islands have to set themselves apart from one another in the competitive industry, whether it is with scenic ocean views, enticing amenities or unforgettable stays that leave its visitors wanting to return.

The Sheraton Waikiki website refers to the hotel as one that “towers above the rest.” Its biggest “wow” factor, however, can be found on the ground … or rather, on the water.

The Honolulu beach resort already featured more than 1,600 guest rooms and suites, award-winning dining options and a pampering spa. Guests are offered special attractions, such as hula and ukulele lessons, lei making classes, coconut painting, and koi feeding. Still, the Sheraton Waikiki set out to add more. The hotel wanted to create “the next big thing” to attract tourists.

The Sheraton teamed up with PointCloud Media, a full-service production company from Sugar Land, Texas, to come up with a unique entertainment experience. PointCloud Media, founded by Jack Hattingh and Alan Demafiles, had worked in 3D projection mapping on buildings around the world from a winter wonderland light show in Japan, to a sesquicentennial celebration in West Virginia, to the iHeartRadio pool party in Miami Beach.

Integrator Takeaways:
1. Implement Raylight 4D mapping system to create breathtaking display.
2. Use weather-durable equipment to produce the outdoor show in all elements.
3. Offer continual customer service with the ability to run light shows remotely.

End User Takeaways:
1. Tech provides resort with a differentiating factor from other hotels.
2. Projection generates branding and marketing opportunities.
3. Displays like this one can compete with shows and fireworks from nearby resorts.

Equipment Highlights:
Projection: Barco
Sound processing and audio: Bose
Renewed Vision ProVideo Players
BlackMagic HDMI to SDI 4K converters
Tempest Lighting Cyclone enclosures
Draper incline pedestals and mirror systems

They made a big splash with their proposal for the Sheraton: the first permanent 3D pool mapping light show, according to the company. PointCloud took the idea one step further by adding a twist to architectural building mapping. The team used its Raylight 4D mapping system and Barco’s large-venue projectors, provided by Wagner Media, to map imagery directly onto the resort’s nearly 200,000 gallon pool.

To bring this vision to life, PointCloud personnel carried five projectors all the way up 31 floors. Once at their destination, they placed the projectors into specially designed enclosures on the roof. Down below, the pool served as a projection canvas to display the animation on its 129 x 120-foot surface.

The projectors, which have premium lenses, display images onto five zones in the pool. Two more projectors beam imagery on an adjacent rock wall. In total, seven projectors were used for the project including the Barco HDQ-2K40 (40,000 lumens) 2K 3-chip DLP projector and HDX-W20 FLEX (20,000 lumens) WUXGA 3-chip DLP projector. Two Mac Pros and one Mac Mini, along with three Renewed Vision ProVideo Players, seven BlackMagic HDMI to SDI 4K converters, were implemented for content.

On the audio side, Bose solutions used included the ESP-00 engineered sound processor, PowerMatch PM8500 configurable professional power amplifier, Panaray MA12EX full-range modular line array, LT 4402 WR loudspeaker, MB24 WR modular bass loudspeaker and ControlSpace CC-64 Control Center.

The project is rounded out by Tempest Lighting Cyclone enclosures, Draper incline pedestals and mirror systems. While Hawaii is a tropical paradise, PointCloud took all weather conditions into consideration when selecting the equipment. The projectors feature rugged durability, allowing the show to go on, rain or shine.

Photos: Bird’s Eye View of Sheraton Waikiki Pool

The Sheraton Waikiki worked with PointCloud to develop two nightly light shows. In addition to the entertainment value, they were designed as a way for guests to learn about Hawaii’s culture and history. To depict the creation of the Hawaiian island, the “Helumoa — the birth of Hawaii” show begins with flowing lava from volcanic eruptions. It also shows how hula dancing was used a method of storytelling.

“Helumoa — the legendary story of Waikiki,” the second show, depicts Waikiki’s early days including the historic Hawaiian water sport of surfing. The show also features storied Hawaiian resorts such as the Moana Surfrider (circa 1901) and The Royal Hawaiian (circa 1927). Last year, the hotel hosted a New Year’s Eve party at RumFire, its oceanfront bar and lounge, featuring a 3D light show in the pool.

“Hotel guests are treated twice nightly to a watery one-of-a-kind spectacular, and the hotel is enjoying an excellent ROI,” says Hattingh. PointCloud Media’s involvement didn’t end once the project was completed. The company can run the shows remotely, giving the Sheraton Waikiki once less thing to worry about on its hectic to-do list.

Amid a highly competitive hospitality industry in a vacation hotspot, the Sheraton Waikiki has found a dynamic and eye-catching way provide and entertaining and educational experience for its visitors, bringing the history of Hawaii to life using modern technology.

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