Mexico. To sound its new property in Playa Sayulita, on the Mexican Pacific coast, Viajero Hostels required an audio solution that offered great coverage in outdoor spaces and the necessary resistance to guarantee its operation despite being exposed to extreme weather and the elements of a space located a few meters from the sea.
The audiovisual integration company, Audio & Comfort was responsible for the design of a distributed audio system in which it used Bose Professional technology to complement the warm experience that Viajero Hostels Sayulita offers to its guests and diners.
Viajero Hostels is a young Latin American company dedicated to low-cost hospitality, with a concept that combines the services of hostel and hotel. One of its most attractive properties is located in the small town of Playa Sayulita, in Nayarit, Mexico.
Located on the Pacific coast, Playa Sayulita is a famous destination for surfing, visiting La Playa del Amor in the Marietas Islands, or walking through its colorful streets in search of an art gallery or rustic pizzeria.
The building of Viajero Hostels Sayulita, the work of the Mexican architects of Estudio 300, mixes materials and elements of the coast that give life to a hostel of open spaces that facilitate coexistence among guests. Estudio 300 commissioned the design and installation of the audio system to the company Audio & Comfort, an audiovisual integrator based in Guadalajara and with more than 20 years of experience, with whom they had already collaborated in other projects.
Requirements for a seaside audio system
A system with sufficient coverage and power was required for the music to have the necessary presence to create a pleasant environment in which people established new relationships. Therefore, the volume of the ambient audio should motivate, but not interfere, for two strangers to start a conversation. In addition, the use of equipment and speakers resistant to heat, humidity and salinity typical of an installation in a beach destination was considered.
The Audio & Comfort team, led by Luis Jáuregui, Project Manager, proposed an audio system distributed in four areas: reception, restaurant, bar and the terrace and pool area. For the design, the Bose Modeler software was used which was of great help to establish the correct location of the speakers and the ideal sound pressure level for each zone.
Bose's FreeSpace FS4SE and FreeSpace FS2SE speaker models were chosen, both for surface mounting. These models offer great resistance to weathering, UV discoloration and are built for installation in outdoor areas with humidity, as they are IP55 certified. As if that were not enough, they can operate in temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius.
The system is complemented by a reliable PowerShare PS604D amplifier and a versatile FreeSpace IZA 250-LZ amplifier whose front panel offers the operating flexibility required in the bar area. This panel allows you to connect different devices with great ease and make the necessary adjustments.
In addition, a CSP-428 Commercial Sound Processor is used, with quick configuration and intuitive operation through the controlCenter CC-1 digital zone controllers installed on the wall.
Music is key to the guest experience at Playa Sayulita
"For the musical selection we are based on three pillars: being trendy, being local and being Latin. In Sayulita we have blues or reggae in the reception and the restaurant, while in the bar and the pool we put Latin or Afro-Caribbean rhythms, but without reaching such a rumbero atmosphere. Sayulita follows the same musical line of our hostel in Tayrona (Colombia) which is also a beach destination with a similar atmosphere", explains David Ramírez, manager of New Openings at Viajero Hostels.
At the reception, new guests are greeted with relaxing music that welcomes them to a space where they will be treated as true friends. In the bar and pool, the sound helps to create an atmosphere of cheerful coexistence that invites you to enjoy a cocktail and encourages you to break the ice to chat with a stranger who will surely become a new travel companion.
"In the bar, audio and music are important, because we want the customer to feel happy and relaxed so that they stay longer and have the opportunity to consume more. We even want guests to invite the new friends they have made in the town, whether they are locals or other travelers," adds Ramírez.
The system also provides flexible options to add new audio sources and make the sound heard with the desired quality. For example, some nights karaoke evenings are organized that facilitate the interaction of guests and on other occasions a DJ sets the necessary rhythm to enjoy the sunset while having a drink or one of the dishes in the restaurant.
The operation of the system is very simple, so the hostel staff can easily manage it from the ControlCenter CC-1 digital zone controllers installed on the walls or from the audio source itself.
The directors of Viajero Hostels are very satisfied with the sound system of Viajero Hostels Sayulita, so they consider using Bose Profesional solutions in their next properties in Mexico.
"In the hostels of Tayrona and Santa Marta in Colombia we already use Bose audio systems, so we trust the brand. The new system in Playa Sayulita seems very cool to me. The sound quality we have is ideal to create the relaxation experience we seek to provide", concludes David Ramírez of Viajero Hostels.
