For more than 75 years, Swank Audio Visuals has excelled in providing superior expertise, creativity, full-service support and advanced technology for the hotel, resort, meeting and conference center industries. As demonstrated by our Testimonials (link to Testimonials page), Swank continually exceeds client expectations by not only delivering spectacular audio visuals, but by pampering customers with a “hospitality approach,” accommodating every need and resulting in rave reviews.
Founded by P. Ray Swank and Lucille Swank in St. Louis, Swank Audio Visuals began operations as a “portable projection service.” This period predated such familiar audio visual standards as color television, FM radio, 8-tracks and audio tape. Services primarily included providing short entertainment films and slides, the motion picture projector, sound system and lantern slide projector. Swank’s equipment operators set up the technology and “ran the show” at an array of locations, as requested by local organizations, civic groups, schools and churches.
As audio visual needs progressed and technology became increasingly complicated, the demand soared for such services by professional associations and trade and manufacturing organizations at hotels and meeting sites across the country. With the help of its prime location in the country’s geographical crossroads, Swank catered to this new meetings and conventions industry and earned a national reputation among business and industry leaders for quality service and reliable equipment.
In 1952, Swank evolved these rental services into what is believed to be the first formal hotel audio visual partnership of its kind. The “in-house” audio visual concept was born as Swank entered into an exclusive service provider agreement with the Jefferson Hotel in St. Louis. As a result of the Company’s unique style of in-house customer service and professional equipment, Swank now successfully operates approximately 375 destination resorts and hotels in 65 major markets, representing more than 165 cities in the U.S., Canada and UAE.
As the Company expanded, so did its offerings. Audio visuals no longer includes a simple setup of a microphone and flip chart; today, event technology features computer interfaces, 3D renderings, LCD imaging, video mapping, webcasting/ webarchiving, digital audio, special effects, concert sound and intelligent lighting, plus all the traditional basic equipment. Swank flawlessly executes these modern technologies, and has even developed some audio visual tools of its own. SwankDraw is a unique proprietary iPad app that allows digital room renderings to be created instantly on-site. Using an image of the actual room, Swank team members can use SwankDraw to clearly depict their proposed event arrangement, and they can even email the rendering to the client on the spot. Swank also enhances clients’ meetings and events by engineering and offering Mobile Meeting Manager (M3), a customizable web-based app providing agendas, speaker information and more on attendees’ smartphones and tablets. Meeting planners save time because Swank’s dedicated M3 service team loads the event information, and they save money by reducing printing and shipping costs and eliminating reprints.
With audio visuals equipment as the mode of communication for clients’ message, the primary reason for the event, the professionals at Swank Audio Visuals view their role in the meeting and event industry as paramount to the success of these programs. Our service mission is to PROVIDE FLAWLESS EXECUTION AND TO TURN ORDINARY MEETINGS INTO EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS. We accomplish this objective through proper and proactive training and development of all our team members so they can proficiently operate the equipment and are knowledgeable about industry trends. Maintaining a completely self-sufficient inventory at every on-site operation also contributes to our success.
Since the Company’s inception, delivering the spectacular and dedication to exceptional customer service have been the hallmarks of Swank and will continue to serve as the cornerstones of our operation. Every Swank team member, from our Executive Leadership to our newest team member, accepts the challenge and responsibility to deliver the absolute finest audio visual service and product to every customer, every time.
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