Sep 19 2007
In today’s hospitality industry, design and comfort are king. Guests at chic hotels and casinos are given the royal treatment with unique and inspiring spaces that sometimes push the envelope of innovation. This comfort and style is even taken down to the floor level, with commercial carpet and polyurethane backing systems that meet both aesthetic and functionality demands.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the upscale and over-the-top hotels of Las Vegas. A perfect example of design innovation mixed with comfort is the one-of-a-kind Find Your Flavor Suite at Caesars Palace. Originally created as a promotional project for Absolut Spirits Company and Esquire Magazine, this bi-level, 1,380-square-foot Absolut-inspired suite is divided into six spacious and colorful areas, creating the ultimate Las Vegas party-pad. Its lively decor embodies the tastes and personalities of six ABSOLUT® VODKA flavors including ABSOLUT® MANDRIN®, ABSOLUT® RASPBERRI®, ABSOLUT® VANILIA®, ABSOLUT® RUBY RED®, ABSOLUT® CITRON® and ABSOLUT® APEACH. These themes are taken to such extremes that they’re even highlighted in the finishes throughout the rooms, including the carpet.
“We wanted to translate the flavors and essence of the design of each room into the carpet tile on the floor,” said Christian Arkay-Leliever, product design director for Rockwell Group, the firm that designed and constructed the Find Your Flavor Suite. “Depth, texture and contrast were important.”
To meet these unusual creative demands, along with the need for speedy turnaround, the Rockwell Group turned to Milliken Contract. Through some quick and collaborative efforts, Milliken created custom carpet tiles, with the added cushion of Comfort Plus® backing, made with Dow polyurethane technology.
“By using carpet tile, rather than broadloom, we were able to inkjet designs onto the carpet. Plus we wanted to see how well tile works in guest rooms, which is now a rising trend in the hospitality industry,” said Arkay-Leliever. “The results have been amazing.”
To make sure guests were not only impressed by the carpet’s beauty, but also by its comfort, the Rockwell Group selected a cushioned polyurethane backing system. “We wanted the carpet to feel good underfoot – not industrial,” said Arkay-Leliever. “Plus we knew that if this carpet and backing could stand up so well in heavy use corporate environments, it would exceed the standards for our hospitality needs.”
Made with DOW™ ENHANCER™ Technology, the cushioned polyurethane backing system is designed to improve the overall performance of commercial carpet, including appearance retention, durability and ergonomics. Carpet simply looks better longer when installed with a firm polyurethane cushion – an important factor for preserving the beauty of hospitality flooring. The unique molecular structure of Dow polyurethane technology allows the carpet and backing to absorb the pounding motion of foot traffic and support the heavy weight of furniture, without bottoming out. Plus, these absorption qualities reduce heel-strike force and leg muscle response – two main causes of standing and walking fatigue.
All this traffic can also make carpet pill and fuzz – a problem that is significantly reduced by the strong tuft bind characteristics of backing made with Dow polyurethane technology. Thanks to its adhesion to carpet yarn, polyurethane helps maintain tuft bind for the life of the carpet. This strong tuft bind minimizes edge ravel and disfiguring snags and pulls, even under the hospitality industry’s most intensive use situations.
The end result is carpet that meets designers’ demands for style, hotel owners’ needs for durability and guests’ desires for comfort. By meeting these combined requirements and mixing in a hefty shot of extraordinary creativity, Caesars Palace’s Find Your Flavor Suite has been a win-win for everyone. A hit with high-rollers, the suite is always booked up.