From what we see supporting our partners, the same challenges tend to come up across hospitality projects. Here are five that consistently surface — and how we approach solving them.
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Making AV Work With the Venue Aesthetic — Not Against It
One of the first challenges in hospitality AV system design is getting the system to work seamlessly with the architecture and design of the space.
In design-led environments, AV can quickly become a point of friction — dominating sightlines or clashing with the interior. But pushing it out of view entirely, often through concealed or in-ceiling solutions, can just as easily come at the expense of coverage, consistency, or overall performance.
In some venues, the brief calls for systems that blend seamlessly into the architecture, delivering consistent audio without drawing attention. In others, AV becomes part of the experience — deliberately visible, adding character and acting as a talking point within the space.
What matters is that it’s a conscious decision.
We work with partners by approaching AV as part of the space from the outset. That means aligning speaker selection, dispersion characteristics, and placement with both the architectural intent and the desired experience. Whether that’s discreet, architectural audio that disappears into the background, or exposed systems designed to be seen, the system needs to support that direction.
Our role isn’t to push a specific product. It’s about helping you find the right balance for each project — designing systems that work visually as well as technically, rather than forcing one to compromise the other.
In practice:
At Café Andaluz Edinburgh, 1 SOUND and Powersoft were used to deliver a system that supported both the visual identity and the atmosphere of the venue. 1 SOUND Cannon Series C4i loudspeakers, finished to suit the interior, were paired with discreetly concealed WSUB45 subwoofers, while Powersoft MEZZO 604AD amplifiers and a WM Touch 4.3 wall controller helped create a system that was both visually unobtrusive and easy to manage in day-to-day use. Read more
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The “Same System Everywhere” Approach
Another challenge we see in hospitality projects is a tendency to default to the same solution across every space — or even every project. If a setup works technically, is familiar to deploy, and becomes a go-to. But in hospitality, that approach can start to work against you.
Each venue is trying to create a distinct atmosphere — whether that’s relaxed and understated, high-energy and social, or somewhere in between. And the AV system plays a bigger role in that than it’s often given credit for. If the same combination of products and system design is applied regardless of the space, it becomes much harder for the AV to sit naturally within the environment or contribute to the overall feel.
Over time, it also makes projects look and feel more comparable than they need to be, which doesn’t leave much room to differentiate when it matters. When systems are built from a common template, it’s difficult for the outcome to stand out in a meaningful way.
What tends to work better is treating each space as its own environment. That doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel on every project, but it does mean being deliberate about where and why different solutions are used — whether that’s in speaker selection, system architecture, or how the audio experience is shaped within the space.
From our side, this is where having access to a broader ecosystem becomes useful. It allows us to help you build systems that are aligned to the venue rather than defaulting to a standard approach — supporting a more considered end result that fits the space, performs as expected, and is unique to that project.
In practice:
At Granville’s in Stone, the original system was reworked to better suit the venue’s move toward a louder, more performance-led atmosphere. Audac VEXO108 loudspeakers were introduced to bring more output and presence to the space, while BASO12 compact bass speakers added the low-frequency energy that the original setup lacked. Supported by an Audac MTX48 matrix and SMQ amplification, the revised system was shaped around the venue’s updated identity rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Read more
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Great AV systems, poor user interface
Another challenge we see come up regularly isn’t technical performance — it’s how the system behaves once it’s handed over.
On paper, everything works as expected. But in day-to-day operation, systems can quickly become difficult to manage. Staff are dealing with multiple control interfaces, unclear workflows, or too many options, and over time that leads to settings being changed, workarounds creeping in, or parts of the system being avoided altogether.
In hospitality environments, that pressure is amplified. Teams are busy, turnover is high, and there’s very little time for training. The system needs to be intuitive enough to use in the middle of service — not something that requires explanation every time it’s touched.
What tends to cause issues here is how the control system has been designed. Complex interfaces, inconsistent behaviour, or fragmented control (multiple remotes, different apps, unclear logic) all contribute to systems that are technically sound but operationally fragile.
What works better is a more considered approach to control. That usually means simplified, unified interfaces, with clearly defined actions and minimal decision-making required from the user. Presets, automation, and role-based control all help reduce the chance of the system drifting away from how it was originally intended to perform.
We work closely with partners, to make sure the system doesn’t just work at handover — it continues to work in real-world use. Designing control that feels obvious to non-technical staff, while still giving you the flexibility underneath, is what reduces support overhead and keeps the experience consistent over time.
In practice:
At HotShots Karaoke in Liverpool, each room was built around a simple, self-contained setup using Audac ARES5A active loudspeakers and WP210 wall panels. By using active speakers, the system avoided unnecessary external equipment and kept each room straightforward to operate, helping deliver a consistent, high-quality experience without adding complexity for staff or users. Read more
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Finding the Balance Between Performance and Budget
A challenge that comes up regularly in hospitality projects is getting the system to stack up — not just technically, but commercially.
Expectations are high. The system needs to deliver a consistent experience, integrate cleanly with the space, and remain reliable over time. But it also needs to fit within a budget that often hasn’t moved in line with those expectations.
Where things can start to slip is when systems are either over-engineered or too heavily standardised. In one direction, you end up with complex architectures, unnecessary hardware, and cost sitting in places that don’t meaningfully improve the end result. In the other, systems are simplified to the point where performance, flexibility, or longevity are compromised.
Neither tends to hold up particularly well once the space is in use.
What works better is a more targeted approach to system design — understanding where performance really matters within the venue, and where a simpler solution delivers the same outcome. That might mean distributing power instead of centralising it, reducing unnecessary signal paths, or selecting products that solve multiple requirements without adding layers of complexity.
In all the projects we get invited to help, this is about helping you build systems that feel right for the project as a whole. Not stripped back, not overbuilt — but balanced in a way that supports the experience, works operationally, and still makes sense commercially.
In practice:
At the Winterton Arms, the brief covered foreground and background music, secure Wi-Fi, and CCTV — all within a controlled budget and with future expansion in mind. The audio system was built around Audac, using an MTX88 eight-zone matrix, SMQ350 and SCP206 amplifiers, ATEO6DM wall speakers, SCP206 ceiling speakers, and MWX45 in-wall controllers to deliver flexible multi-zone control without overbuilding the system. That gave the venue the coverage and usability it needed, while keeping the overall solution commercially sensible. Read more
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Having the Right Support Behind the System Design
One of the less talked-about challenges in hospitality AV is simply the amount of work that sits behind a well-designed system.
It’s not just product selection. It’s mapping how a space is used, working through zoning and control logic, aligning equipment placement with the layout, and making sure signal flow and system architecture hold up under real-world conditions. All of that takes time — and on most projects, it’s happening alongside everything else you’re managing.
Where this starts to become a pressure point is when design gets compressed. Decisions are made quickly, details are missed, or systems are built without fully pressure-testing how they’ll behave once deployed.
What we see working best is when that design process becomes more collaborative.
From our side, we work closely with partners as an extension of their team — supporting with system design, specification, AV schematics, room layouts, and signal flow. It’s about giving you a second layer of thinking behind the project, helping you validate decisions early and avoid issues further down the line.
The goal isn’t to take over the process, but to strengthen it. So the system not only works on paper, but also holds up in installation, commissioning, and day-to-day use.
“We were approached with a design-led brief to install a high-quality audio system to match the high-end interiors of new Mews House. We felt that 1 SOUND was a perfect match for this, so we designed a system based around their custom-finished loudspeakers.” – Jack Cornish, Technical Director, Tateside
Hospitality AV isn’t just about getting a system over the line. It’s about delivering something that fits the space, works in practice, and holds up over time.
That means balancing aesthetics with performance, flexibility with usability, and expectation with budget — all while making sure the system still feels considered at the end of it.
It’s not a small ask. And it’s not something you need to figure out in isolation.
Looking at a Hospitality Project?
If you’re working on a project and want to:
- Design a system that complements the space — not compromises it
- Create something that feels distinct to your customers without overcomplicating it
- Build in usability that actually holds up in day-to-day operation
- Sense check your approach before it gets locked in
We’re here to support that process.
As a UK distributor of major pro AV brands, CUK Group works closely with partners from design through to delivery on site. Explore our brands, discover real-world case studies, and access the latest price lists and marketing resources for your next job.
