COVER STORY | Emperors Palace

THE PALACE OF STREAMS

Emperors Palace’s Studio Iris is opening eyes to information sharing in the new normal.

Studio Iris may be booked by everyone from private individuals to corporates looking to communicate with employees or clients. In true Emperors Palace fashion, the studio comes complete with a Green Room to ensure guests are comfortable and relaxed.

Emperors Palace has always been at the cutting edge of evolution in the hospitality and conferencing space and when the hard lockdown happened, one of their projects was immediately fast-tracked.

“Having an in-house studio was something we had flirted with for a couple of years now,” said Peermont hospitality executive Dave Milne, who was integral to getting the project off the ground. “So when the hard lockdown was declared in March of 2020, that was our cue to get Studio Iris up and running, because we knew that many clients would be looking for an alternative to the traditional conference setup.”

Having a world-class multi-functional conference set up, Emperors Palace located in Kempton Park, had no problem setting up this state-of-the-art studio. Taking its name from the divine messenger in Roman mythology who would deliver messages to the gods, Studio Iris is a state-of-the-art and fully customisable broadcast studio. The studio uses digital technology to broadcast a client’s message effectively and professionally, whether it is for business, entertainment or private functions, including: board meetings, talks and seminars, product presentations, awards shows, entertainment events, interviews and much more.

“The world is different now and we understand that clients are hesitant to have too many people in a room and that social distancing is very important. The lockdown has also taught us that we have options when it comes to communication,” Mr Milne continued. “With meeting software, like Zoom or

Get Your Message Out

Let Studio Iris deliver your message in real time:

• Board meetings • Talks and seminars

• Product Presentations

• Entertainment events (music, comedy, etc.)

• Awards shows

• Interviews

• Game shows and draws

• Internal company messages and information sharing

Studio Iris Features in a Nutshell

• High resolution LED screen which can be used to create any possible digital backdrop

• Acoustically treated studio environment

• Uninterrupted connection via the internet to any location on site, locally and globally

• Fully integrated with the most popular hosting platforms: MS Teams, Zoom, Webex, Webinar Jam, YouTube, Facebook Live

• Multiple camera angles up to 1080P Full HD Resolution

• Highly experienced crew

• Multi-configuration studio setup, specific to your needs

• AutoQue scripting and presentation preview monitors

• Chic and comfortable green room

• Cutting edge technology including Yamaha LS9-16 digital sound desk, Sennheiser microphones, 50” preview monitors, Astera LED lights- all to professional broadcast standards

Teams, you can connect to anyone in the world and you don’t have to leave your own environment. It saves money, it saves time and you don’t have to travel, sit in traffic or do any of those tedious roadshows. Technology and Wi-Fi have become more accessible than ever before, and Studio Iris is the perfect solution to connect with your audience and get your message across clearly, through a highly professional medium.”

To launch this product, The Palace of Dreams has partnered with virtual events company Eventcast from Pretoria, who are professionals in the technology equipment required to stream broadcasts of any kind. Conveniently located in the Convention Centre at Emperors Palace, Studio Iris is manned by a team of broadcast professionals and features high resolution LED screens as a backdrop which can be used to project any possible digital background, from cityscapes to graphic branding.

“Technology today is marvellous,” said Eventcast managing director Marius van Rooyen, who oversaw the setup. “With Studio Iris, the potential is unlimited and your live broadcast could appear to be originating from anywhere in the world– you might have a basic office backdrop or we may even make it look like you are on the top of Table Mountain! Our technology ensures that the broadcast is professional and without any interruptions.” The room is acoustically treated and the broadcast has an uninterrupted connection via the internet to any location on site, locally and globally. It’s compatible with all the popular hosting platforms (MS Teams, Zoom, Webex, Webinar Jam, youTube Live, FaceBook Live) and broadcasts up to 1080 pixel, full HD resolution. Clients are paired with a professional team who are trained to cater to all needs, everything from the studio configuration, graphic backdrops, wireless microphones and even a helping hand with AutoQue scripting and presentation preview monitors.

“Our team consists of broadcast professionals, and from our sound booth in the studio they are in full control of the broadcast using the latest software and programmes, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands,” Mr van Rooyen concluded.

Studio Iris may be booked by everyone from private individuals to corporates looking to communicate with employees or clients. In true Emperors Palace fashion the studio comes complete with a Green Room to ensure guests are comfortable and relaxed.

“The Green Room comes equipped with all the creature comforts you’ve come to expect,” Mr Milne said. “You can sit, have a cappuccino and go over your script while you wait for your cue. There’s also a monitor to watch the broadcast while you wait and, as usual, our team is there to assist with any specifics you may require.”

With technology playing a more pivotal part in the way we communicate, Studio Iris showcases how accessible live broadcasting has come in recent years, and evolved from buffering Skype calls to fully fledged, world-class broadcasts- once reserved for only television networks with big budgets. By sharing this technology it shows how Emperors Palace has gone from the Palace of Dreams to the Palace of Streams…

Contact information

Studio Iris is available for bookings or demonstrations. For more information visit EmperorsPalace.com or contact the Peermont Sales Team on +27 (0)11 928 1903 or email sales@peermont.com.

Emperors Palace is a Peermont resort and all Covid-19 health and safety protocols are in place. For more information visit Peermont.com. Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.