travelers are watching and their in-room preferences : approximately 68 % watch live TV in the hotel room , 84 % say they ’ d choose a hotel based on it offering easy access to local , live , and on-demand TV and music , and 74 % would pay more for these features .”
Contactless convenience , privacy and personalization are at the core of guest experience . Travelers now look for solutions to transform their rooms into a smart hub using mobile technology .
“ We ’ ve all gotten used to the convenience-centered solutions implemented during the pandemic . We don ’ t want to wait in a crowded lobby , fumbling with luggage – today ’ s guests will expect to have a mobile key , their favorite channel on the TV and the lighting and climate set to their preferences , all before they even enter the hotel ,” says Robert Grosz , executive vice president and chief commercial officer , World Cinema . “ Hoteliers need to ensure they ’ re providing
HAVING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY IN PLACE ALSO ENABLES PROPERTIES TO QUICKLY ADAPT TO NEW TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS TO MEET THE EVER-EVOLVING NEEDS OF GUESTS . STAYING AHEAD OF THE TRENDS ALLOWS HOTELS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE INDUSTRY WHILE ALSO INCREASING GUEST SATISFACTION AND LOYALTY .
– HARSH PATEL
personalized experiences for guests during their stays . The Internet of Things ( IoT ) will also continue to be a big player in the hospitality industry .”
Besides empowering guests to control their environment , IoT also enables hotels to utilize occupancy sensors , leak detention and monitor air flow to help with sustainability initiatives . “ These innovations as well as casting , voice control and hyper automation can be added incrementally at any time to properties , without redundant costs ,” Grosz adds .
BASELINE , LUXURY REQUIREMENTS People now consume more content for longer periods than ever . Ensuring quality , reliable and highspeed WiFi has become a priority for hoteliers . Today , guests use an increased amount of internet bandwidth for video chatting and conducting video meetings , using cloud-based apps , playing games and streaming content . According to DIRECTV ’ s research , 84 % of consumers use in-room Wi-Fi often or always and 89 % of consumers said room Wi-Fi was too weak to stream .
“ This all means that quality in-room entertainment and fast , reliable Wi-Fi are even more important for today ’ s guests who have shifted their habits and are spending more time in their rooms while entertainment opportunities outside the hotel are still recovering . Reliable guest Wi-Fi is non-negotiable ,” says Kara Heermans , senior vice president of user experience and product management , SONIFI .
Besides providing HD , updated , interactive in-room TVs , providing a secure and reliable internet connection , is also crucial for hoteliers . Secure , strong and property-wide internet connection is essential for hoteliers looking to upgrade their tech stack and ensure repeat bookings . While internet has become a basic amenity expected by guests , irregular and slow connection can become a cause of major dissatisfaction .
Beyond the baseline expectations , guests also seek luxury options that provide a better-than-home experience . “ Things like on-demand movies , on-demand fitness , and contactless concierge experiences are very popular . Because guests are spending more time in their rooms — due to safety concerns or using the room as a remote office — these surprise-and-delight TV features are in demand more than ever ,” Heermans says .
Since a lot of health clubs and gyms were closed during the pandemic , there is a growing
May 2022 hotelsmag . com 81