Mystique Mayong, a new luxury ecoresort near the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, known for the greatest density of one-horn rhinoceros worldwide, opened its doors to guests in late 2023. The resort collaborated with AdvaTech Solutions on the project’s audio-visual (AV) design and deployment.

Kaustav Kalita, director of sales and operations at Mystique Mayong, shares more about the resort’s unique location and vision. “Our resort is situated in Mayong, India’s tantra capital and a hidden gem in history, but its charm is slowly fading away as few know about this place. Being close to the Sanctuary and a slight detour from the usual Northeast India itinerary, we established a luxury resort to draw attention to this place filled with wonders. The AV systems in the resort spaces have taken our events to the next level, providing crystal-clear audio that elevates every moment for our guests,” he says.

Tapping into a lucrative market

Avijeet Chanda, Partner at AdvaTech Solutions, explains that the clients decided to construct a luxury property in Mayong to tap into the booming tourist market and the demand for destination wedding venues and conferences from Guwahati and the country’s Northeast region.

Avijeet highlights that most hotels in Guwahati, an hour’s drive from the resort, rely on rented AV systems for their events. “To avoid any dependencies, the client wanted to create a permanent AV system setup to cater to the needs of the luxury tourist segment, destination weddings, conferences, and such. They wanted a high-end yet affordable solution to provide an attractive and soothing audio experience throughout the resort.”

“We got off to a good start because I already had a previous working relationship with the parent company, BMG Informatics Pvt. Ltd., mainly in the IT business. This was their first venture into the hospitality sector, and the client trusted us to deliver on the goals and deadlines of the project because we had worked together on several AV projects in the past,” he explains.

Off to a great start

The Mystique Mayong project was extensive, spanning three blocks with multiple spaces within each block. Avijeet shares that AV systems were planned at the very start of the project, and he had a full view of the architectural plans. “The architect had taken excellent care of the acoustic aspects of the spaces. After carefully analyzing all the spaces, I had a detailed discussion with the client, explaining how each building would be connected and how communication would be established. The client approved the proposed solution, and we completed the installation by setting up a temporary camp where our team worked around the clock to deliver the installation in time for the resort’s inauguration,” he explains.

A seamless blend

The Mystique Mayong property is designed in a U-shaped layout. Upon entering, you will first encounter the Plaza Block, followed by the Hotel Block, the playing area, the swimming pool, and finally, the Club Block. Specific lifestyle spaces in the resort, such as the Tea Lounge and the indoor and outdoor bar, are key attractions.

Avijeet first tells us about the main restaurant, an approximately 800 sq. ft. space on the Plaza Block’s first floor. “For the restaurant, we placed QSC AD-S. SAT 2.5” Satellite ceiling speakers around the restaurant in combination with QSC AD-S.SUB 6.5” Dual voice-coil ceiling subwoofers. This distributed audio setup worked well in creating a soothing and relaxing vibe in the restaurant for the guests,” says Avijeet. QSC satellite speakers were chosen as they were best suited for BGM (background music) applications that require depth and clarity, even at lower volume settings.

The hotel boasts a tea lounge, which is no surprise given that Assam is the country’s largest tea producer and globally renowned for its richly colored and aromatic tea. “The Tea Lounge was designed as a space where guests can relax and experience an exquisite variety of teas. We have used QSC AC-C4T-WH ceiling speakers powered by a QSC SPA 2-60 amplifier, which does a great job of creating a relaxing ambiance with light background music,” says Avijeet.

The conference room at the resort was designed to accommodate about 20 people. “We have equipped the conference room with Sennheiser’s EWD Series wireless microphones, QSC AC C4T-WH ceiling speakers, and a QSC SPA 2 60 amplifier; the QSC ceiling speakers provided ideal foreground audio for the conference room setup,” highlights Avijeet.

On selecting Sennheiser microphones for the conference room, Avijeet shares, “Sennheiser wireless microphones are among the finest in the market, and we chose them because of their stellar sound quality and durability.”

With the country’s North East region witnessing a steady increase in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) activities, destinations like Guwahati and its surroundings are becoming upcoming hubs for hosting corporate and regional conferences. “The sound quality and durability.”

For the exhibition area, typically used for handicraft fairs and events, Avijeet opted for the QSC AC S 4T-WH ceiling speakers due to their versatility in various audio/video, conferencing, and background music applications.

In the outdoor garden space, TOA GS302 speakers blend into the lush green surrounding landscape. When asked about the choice of TOA for the speakers for the garden area, Avijeet says, “I have installed TOA speakers before and found them to be sturdy, cost-effective, and readily available in the market.”

Two QSC TSC-47W-G2 touch screens provide state-of-the-art control of the Q-SYS system installed at the resort. Avijeet explains, “The staff at the restaurant can use the touch screens to select and play music throughout the day and into the evening. Depending on the mood, we have also curated different playlists forall the spaces, like the bar, the restaurant, and the lounge areas. So, for instance, if someone wants to hear soothing music or maybe celebratory music for birthdays, they can choose from a wide selection of songs from these playlists.”

On the decision to go with QSC for most parts of the AV system, Avijeet says, “I have used QSC speakers for over a decade, along with many other brands. I wanted durable and reliable speakers in the long run. When it comes to service, QSC stands out because they are very responsive, and their products typically last for 10 or 15 years without needing much servicing. It has been a great experience collaborating with the QSC team on this project; they have been very helpful and have provided guidance when needed at every step of the project.

The acoustics in all the spaces are excellent because local products, such as bamboo, were used in the interior. “Bamboo as a material is aesthetically very pleasant because it lends a natural vibe to the space, and acoustically, it is very good. The architect, who is also from the Northeast, had a good understanding of how to use these local materials, which resulted in great acoustic performance,” he elaborates.

“Post-installation, the design required no major rework, just some minor adjustments in the programming, which were promptly made based on the client’s feedback,” he adds.

Control and connectivity

The QSC Q-SYS Core is the backbone of this installation. “We have two cores in this installation, one in the Plaza Block and the second in the Hotel Block. These two cores are connected internally and work as a single core. The first core in the Plaza Block controls the spaces
in this block and the playing area. The second Core in the Hotel Block handles
the outdoor speakers, corridor speakers, and restaurant. Initially, the two buildings’ distance apart was a challenge in the installation, but this was addressed by connecting them with a fiber optics network. This is how the different spaces are controlled and connected together,”
explains Avijeet.

By combining the two Cores, the systems can exchange data with each other, allowing for centralized control of the entire resort. “With this flexible and versatile system, the manager can fully control the entire AV system using a single iPad or touchscreen, making it easy
to change music or volume levels in the different spaces within the resort. Thanks to the guidance from the QSC team, we designed the User Control Interface (UCI) to control the combination of the two buildings,” says Avijeet.

The tough part

Avijeet narrates, “We began designing the AV systems during the construction stage, which was challenging because we had a tight deadline, and construction was happening side by side with our deployment. We were laying cables and installing speakers while rooms were being finished, and protecting the speakers from moisture and dust was difficult for us. Other than that, we have not faced any challenges with the structures in terms of acoustics. They have designed it well, and the sound quality is good.”

A greenfield opportunity

Avijeet is optimistic about the opportunity in Northeast India, not just in the hospitality industry but in other areas, like hospitals, considering the massive surge in medical tourism. He says, “The hospitality industry in India’s Northeast region is experiencing tremendous growth, particularly in tourism. This part of the country has much to offer in terms of tourism, and many hotel chains are looking to expand their presence in this market. With a large hospitality property currently under development in Kaziranga, alongside multiple new projects in Guwahati, the region holds a promising future for the industry. Hospitality projects like Mystique Mayong are just the beginning; we have huge potential in the Northeast, which will also create greater business opportunities for the AV industry in the near future.”

Satisfied with the project’s outcome, Avijeet says, “It’s been nine months since the AV systems were installed; the clients are happy with the performance and its ease of use, and there have not been any complaints about breakdowns or performance issues. Additionally, the client was pleased as there was no deviation from the existing plan regarding pricing or the products, and the AV installation was supplied and implemented as per the BOQ (Bill of Quantities) with no changes. We have also received positive feedback from some of the guests I met who have visited the resort.”

Avijeet concludes, “We started our company, Advatech Solutions, in 2021, and this marks our first major project in the hospitality industry, so we are thrilled about the outcome of this project.”