The future of digital displays is here now, and it’s brighter than most hospitality professionals ever dreamed.

Designing audio video for hospitality means exceeding guests’ expectations. Every element of hospitality design needs to come together. That includes the audio and video, including background music systems set at the right level, the overall interior design across the venue, and control systems that are easy for the staff to use.

At Dara AV, we seek out the best technology at affordable prices to give our clients the functionality, reliability, and quality they need in the highly competitive New York market.

Our designs are never “cookie-cutter” installations. When we find technology that truly impresses us (and after nearly 20 years in this industry, that takes a lot!) we look for unique opportunities to deploy it for maximum effect.

Increasingly, we’ve deemed 2025 “the year of the direct view LED.” Why?

Direct view LEDs offer the capability to create wall-to-wall configurations of large, bright screens to greet guests, flexibility to display a variety of content from digital signage to sports, and images that look great in any light. Direct view LEDs provide a cost-effective solution in your hotel restaurant or lounge, lobby, conference rooms or meeting room, or any public space.

For more details, see: Direct View LEDs – Your Complete Guide

Video for Unforgettable Dining Experiences

More wedding banquet halls, restaurants and bars across the New York area are using direct view LED displays as part of their AV systems to create the ambiance they want in their venues.

Previously, extra-large, ultra-bright images would have required pricey rear-view projection systems, expensive LCD backlit LED screens, or hard-to-install video walls with awkward bezels. Now, we can specify a MicroLED in these applications, saving time and money to reduce overall project costs.

Direct view LEDs aren’t just about providing more value for the money, though. They can create truly breathtaking designs in hotel bars, restaurants, wedding venues and more.

See How Dara AV Is Using Direct View LED

Dara AV recently installed direct view LEDs above the bar Maritime Parc, a waterfront wedding and private event venue on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River.

Since the event venue's clientele represents an upscale crowd and the restaurant is often used for rehearsal dinners before a wedding, the venue uses the screens to display artwork and set a specific scene, complemented by real-life, sweeping views of the NYC skyline. This blend of technology and art sets the venue apart, making it a coveted destination for New York-area wedding couples.

Meanwhile, the River Rock restaurant and bar on the Jersey Shore uses direct view LEDs on the ceiling of the restaurant to help create the coastal vibe that sets this restaurant and tiki bar vacation destination apart.

Previously, this sort of display would have needed rear view projection systems requiring regular maintenance. Direct view LEDs not only provide better image clarity and quality, but they will last for years without burnout or bulbs to change.

View our portfolio for more examples of microLEDs being used to enhance the mood in any space.

The Direct View LED Market by the Numbers

At Dara AV, we love working with this cutting-edge video technology. It lets us get creative while staying within our client’s budget. And the numbers show this is a growing trend.

Mordor Intelligence recently released an analysis of the market growth for the global LED market. The market for micro-LEDs, a type of Direct View LED with a super-fine pixel pitch suitable for indoor applications, is growing with a compound annual growth rate of 9.2%. While outdoor LED units held 56% of revenue share in 2024, the demand for indoor displays is expected to grow by 6.8%.

Here are more statistics to help you decide if a microLED is the right solution in your space:

Smaller pixel pitch models of 1.5 mm or less, indicating screens in smaller spaces or with close-up viewing, are expected to show increased demand, with an 8.7% CAGR between now and 2030.

Commercial deployments, including retail, stadiums, sports bars, hospitality and corporate offices, hold the largest market share with 58% worldwide in 2024.

Across applications, fixed LEDs held 63% of the market share vs. rentals

44% of customers are using screens for advertising and media, based on the study.

However you look at it, direct view LED will continue to play a large role in AV solutions when the client wants something to set their hospitality venue apart.

Why We Love Direct View LED

We covered some of the benefits of direct view LEDs in restaurants and bars in this post.

These systems offer wide viewing angles for use in any setting – whether that’s the ceiling of a restaurant or above the bar. They are perfect for high-visibility spaces where you want to “wow” guests, or to set the mood with a captivating backdrop.

They are affordable, energy efficient to reduce overall electric costs in your venue, and long-lasting. Dara AV is known for AV systems that stand the test of time. (Just look at our portfolio, where you can see new projects along with decades-old projects that are still going strong.) Micro LEDs is the next evolution in indoor video design and they are going to be around for years. Now is the time to upgrade your old screens.

How Can Dara AV Help You?

We’re confident you’re going to start to see more New York Tri-State area hotel restaurants, banquet halls and event venues turning to direct view LEDs to contribute to the unforgettable dining experiences guests expect today.

Whether you’re updating old LEDs, doing a complete venue retrofit, or planning to break ground on New York or New Jersey’s next, new hottest wedding or party destination, Dara AV's top team of NYC audio visual integrators is here to help.