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The beach at the Curacao Marriott is gorgeous!

Granted, that is not earth-shattering news. This is the Southern Caribbean and I am at a fabulous property … of course, with the sun shining bright, it is not news that a pretty beach exists here, right? However, it is 9:30 at night. The ocean is rich and dark, but the waves are lapping up onto sands washed in deep blues, vibrant yellows and exotic reds. A slow shift in the rainbow unrolls a purple silk of light which glides down the sand to a chorus of “Ouhhs” and “Ahhhs”. Hotel guests are strolling about, drinks in hand, joyously commenting about how glorious this experience is to them. They are taking pictures of each other. I catch the phrase “incredible” and a laugh on the breeze. This is fun! I was talking to a honeymooning couple earlier in the day and I see them approaching, the bride with her head on her husband’s shoulder. As they draw near, I realize there is a tear glistening on her check. Knowing that I had been working on the beach lighting, she tells me, “It is just so beautiful… magical … it feels like they did this just for us.”

Wow! The beach lights are on at the Curacao Marriott Resort.

This has been quite a project and the timetable has been longer than we initially thought, but the final result is stunning. That is what it takes to do something that exists nowhere else. The initial concept was to create a dynamic night tapestry in light on the beach using state-of-the-art LED fixtures, drastically cut energy usage (‘green’ / major energy cost savings) and maintain the same level of security lighting along the back of the property. Severe weather, the marine environment and the limitations of existing LED technologies were obstacles we needed to overcome. Working closely with the manufacturer and a very supportive, helpful resort team, we racked up frequent flier miles and resolved each and every hurdle.

Tonight, I am witnessing a shining success.

Royal Riedinger

Senior Producer

Experiology