Ohio Resort and Convention Center Unveils Building Expansion and Digital Technology Makeover at Grand Opening Event

Rockleigh, NJ, January 12, 2012 – The newly expanded Kalahari Resort Convention Center in Ohio is more than a great place to have a meeting, it's a benchmark for how new audio/video technology can best be applied in area businesses. The convention center recently completed a $22 million expansion that includes a 38,000 square feet grand ballroom/expo center, a 12,000 square feet junior ballroom, 14 meeting rooms, and 30,000 square feet of pre-function space. The resort selected Crestron DigitalMedia™ for state-of-the-art digital AV distribution throughout the facility. With the new expansion, the Kalahari Resort now boasts the region's largest convention facilities with 215,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, in addition to America's largest indoor water park and over 900 guest rooms.

“DigitalMedia helps us to do more with fewer people, at a lower cost, while providing better service and the highest quality presentation systems for our clients,” says Matthew Dick, Kalahari Resort Convention Center Information Technology Manager. “We couldn't be happier with the performance of the Crestron systems to handle our facility's meeting and event needs.”

Staff technicians can configure the meeting space and control all of the AV systems, including a fully digital house sound system using Crestron touch screens and the Crestron Mobile Pro^® app for iPad^®.

The help desk and support benefits of the fully integrated Crestron system are of the utmost importance to resort staff. Should a client need assistance during setup or when a meeting is in session, the organizer can simply dial "3-HELP" on the phone and receive immediate assistance. Right from their iPad, technicians can view the touch screen for the room the client is working in, and solve the problem immediately from wherever they are, even if the technician is offsite.

“Audio/video technology is undergoing a major transition today, with a switch from analog to fully digital systems,” says Michael Stegmann, Crestron Director of Hospitality. “Upgrading to Crestron DigitalMedia at the Kalahari property now brings meetings and events into the digital age and increases productivity, while cutting the workload for IT and media support staff.”