Outline
When you board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express you enter a world of timeless glamour, where each carriage holds a new experience to be discovered.
CGA are delighted to be involved in the ongoing project to meticulously restore and enhance the carriages, in a journey they began with Belmond in 2022.
Belmond are on a quest to further enhance the guest experience on their world-renowned Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), delivering opulence, peerless luxury, and a return to the golden age of travel. Over the past few years, CGA has worked with the team to ensure that the sound system on this iconic train meets the high service and standards set by the team in this truly unique setting.
Season by season, CGA has travelled on the train on training journeys, regular routes and private events, to fully understand what the team needs the AV system to deliver. CGA has then ensured that the AV installed in the meticulously restored 1920s carriages delivers this in the most streamlined efficient way, to enhance this world of timeless glamour in a user friendly way for the team to operate.
Challenges
Belmond aims to offer the highest standard of luxury and comfort on the VSOE while preserving the unique charm of carriages that are over 100 years old. This presents a challenge, as they must maintain the original look and historic feel of every element.
Their attention to detail is unparalleled, with millimetre precision in their designs and an exceptional focus on the finest finishes. Their goal is to preserve the unique ambiance of the VSOE while elevating it to new heights; a luxurious vision of Art Deco indulgence.
Technical
CGA has installed easy to use touch screen controls and sound hardware with scheduled music stored within. Invisible and visible speakers have been fitted to blend perfectly with each carriage’s unique ambience and story, whilst being fully integrated with the train’s paging system to comply with rail travel regulations.
In the heart of the train in iconic Bar Car 3674, CGA has delivered a sound system to support live performance from the resident pianist and DJs alike, providing microphones, floor monitors and an AV infrastructure to enhance events and private hires.
Working with Belmond’s project managers, further projects are planned with CGA to make additional enhancements to the AV systems. This will include delivering remote support and the linking of the AV systems across all carriages. Creating an ever more flexible, durable networked system and ensuring that the historic carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sound as impressive as they look for the next generation of discerning guests.
