ReseaRch fRom hBo in 2014 shows that more than 9 out of 10 guests prefer using the guestroom TV to watch a TV show , and 94 % of hotel guests indicated they would prefer to watch a movie on their hotel TV rather their personal device .
Technology : EntErtainmEnt
through your own technology , so if you ’ re a Showtime hotel and you don ’ t pay for HBO , guests can still see ' Game of Thrones .'”
That said , not everyone is convinced that in-room cable TV is completely going the way of the dinosaur . Despite the rapidly increasing influx of travelers with smart devices that can access streaming media , sources indicated that services like HBO are still in demand by customers on guestroom televisions .
“ Every day , we are seeing our guests arrive with more entertainment accessible from their laptops , mobile phones and tablets ,” says Dana Shefsky , director of digital product innovation at Hilton Worldwide . “ However , research from HBO in 2014 shows that more than nine out of 10 guests prefer using the guestroom TV to watch a TV show , and 94 % of hotel guests indicated they would prefer to watch a movie on their hotel TV rather their personal device . Because of this data , we broadened our relationship with HBO , designating HBO as our preferred premium movie channel at US hotel and resort brands .”
Marriott launched a service called Marriott Mobile Request , which builds upon the mobile checkin / check-out features already included in the company ’ s branded app .
The need to stream Other companies are investing heavily in new technologies that allow guests to stream content from their mobile devices onto the in-room TV . This functionality has been a major stumbling block for the industry to date — largely due to the intricacies of account authentication and permission management — but it appears headway is being made . Marriott representatives told HOTELS that the company now has a solution to the problem , dubbed the Marriott Guestroom Entertainment Platform .
“ We went with a set-back box solution , to make it agnostic to current television hardware , so any hotel can adopt this particular platform without the necessity of having to buy a new TV or a smart TV ,” explains Scott Hansen , director of guest technology and global operations at Marriott International . “ You can use just a standard monitor , which allows us to lower our costs on TV hardware , and you just put this box on the back . I liken it to a hospitality-grade Apple TV . It ’ s a very similar functionality and interface .”
Hansen added that an obstacle to offering these types of services was the complications arising from the need to wipe one guest ’ s streaming credentials , such as Netflix login information , from the system after checking out . He says Marriott has found an effective solution to this demand as well , through an exclusive partnership the company recently formed with Netflix . “ We ’ ve integrated the set-back box with our property management system , which sends signals upon check-in and check-out ,” Hansen explains . “ If you ’ re to check-in to a hotel room today , and you ’ re staying for five days , and you log-in to Netflix on that first day , your credentials will be maintained for the duration of your stay . Upon check-out , they ’ ll be wiped and the next guest that comes in will be able to log-in . Netflix was initially reluctant to engage with hospitality , obviously they have a lot of moving parts in their operation , but they finally saw the light and decided to partner with Marriott , and we ’ re very happy .”
Other companies are working to customize similar functionality . Since all travelers are not created equal — age , nationality and personal preference all help determine one ’ s
ReseaRch fRom hBo in 2014 shows that more than 9 out of 10 guests prefer using the guestroom TV to watch a TV show , and 94 % of hotel guests indicated they would prefer to watch a movie on their hotel TV rather their personal device .
- Dana ShefSky , hilton WorlDWiDe
entertainment needs — companies like Hard Rock Hotels are exploring the means to ensure each guest is presented with the in-room interface they desire .
“ We have a partner we can ’ t unveil yet , but we ’ re finalizing the interface with them , and we ’ re going to ask you what type of interface you like at the very beginning ,” says Andrea Melotti , Hard Rock ’ s vice
60 HOTELS November 2015 www . hotelsmag . com