Munich Airport Marriott — Sky Lobby Relighting
Project: Munich Airport Marriott Hotel — Sky Lobby & Reception relighting Location: Freisinger Strasse 80, 85399 Hallbergmoos, Germany Scope: 1,840 m² public-area retrofit · 312 luminaires · DALI-2 broadcast + Casambi mesh Delivered: Q1 2025
Why This Retrofit Happened
Guest reviews flagged the original 2008 Sky Lobby as "yellow", "hot" and "tired". On Reddit r/travel and TripAdvisor 2024–2025 threads, four pain points repeated: glare from exposed downlights at the check-in desk, dim corner seating where business travelers wanted to work, dated 3000 K everywhere with no evening shift, and visible flicker on phone cameras during influencer shoots. Marriott Bonvoy's 2024 brand audit also pushed the property below the EDGE-Advanced energy threshold.
We were asked to fix all four without closing the lobby — work ran 23:00–05:00 over 28 nights.
What We Installed
| Zone | Fixture | Optic | CCT | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check-in desk | XHLWX D62 magnetic spot 12 W | 24° honeycomb | 3000 K | UGR 16, CRI 95 |
| Reception ceiling wash | Recessed linear 18 W/m | 90° batwing | tunable 2700–4000 K | DALI-2 DT8 |
| Lounge seating | Pendant 24 W | 38° | 2700 K | dimmed to 30% after 22:00 |
| Circulation | Trimless downlight 9 W | 36° | 3000 K | flicker <1% |
| Bar / evening | RGBW cove | grazing | scene-driven | Casambi scenes |
Total connected load dropped from 38.2 kW to 20.1 kW — 47% reduction, confirmed by 30-day post-install metering.
Control Logic
A single Casambi network handles 312 nodes; a DALI-2 gateway pushes four scheduled scenes (Morning 4000 K / Day 3500 K / Evening 2700 K / Night 2200 K). Staff can override per-zone from an iPad at concierge. No app needed for guests.
Compliance & KPIs
- EN 12464-1: reception 300 lx achieved, UGR 16 (limit 19)
- DIN SPEC 67600 circadian: melanopic EDI 180 lx @ 09:00, 35 lx @ 22:00
- Flicker: <1% PstLM at 100% and 10% dim
- Payback: 3.4 years on energy alone, 2.1 years including maintenance savings
Project Gallery
Reception desk with new 3000 K spots
Reception desk after retrofit — UGR 16 at the agent eye-line.
Custom pendant detail
Custom 24 W pendants over the lounge cluster — dimmed to 30% post-22:00 via Casambi scene.
Lounge seating with circadian tuning
Lounge zone running the "Evening 2700 K" scene.
Exterior facade and porte-cochère
Porte-cochère wash — facade is on a separate dawn/dusk DALI-2 gateway.
Lessons for Similar Airport Hotels
- Don't fight glare with diffusers — honeycomb louvers solved the check-in complaint without dropping lumens.
- Tunable white pays for itself on review scores — guest review sentiment around "lighting" flipped from −0.42 to +0.61 in the first 90 days.
- Mesh > wired for retrofits — Casambi mesh meant zero new low-voltage cabling above suspended ceilings.
Designed, supplied and commissioned by XHLWX. For a private walkthrough or photometric files, contact our project team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Energy Reductions and Payback Periods Were Achieved?
The retrofit decreased total connected load from 38.2 kW to 20.1 kW, marking a 47% reduction verified by 30-day post-installation metering. This performance yields an energy-only payback period of 3.4 years, which accelerates to 2.1 years when accounting for maintenance savings.
How Was the Retrofit Executed Without Closing the Lobby?
To keep the hotel lobby fully operational during normal hours, all installation work was performed exclusively from 23:00 to 05:00 over 28 nights. Deploying a wireless Casambi mesh system also avoided the need for new low-voltage control cabling above the suspended ceilings.
What Controls and Automated Scenes Are Used in the Project?
A Casambi network controls all 312 nodes, using a DALI-2 gateway to push four scheduled scenes shifting from Morning at 4000 K to Night at 2200 K. Concierge staff can override settings on a per-zone basis via an iPad, eliminating the need for guests to use any app.