PERSPECTIVE
Game On
THE U. S. IS GEARING UP FOR MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS. HOW THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IS READY TO PLAY.
Contributed by JACOB BENNER, SR. DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY, LG ELECTRONICS USA
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he hospitality industry is undergoing a seismic shift in technology, with features like digital signage and display becoming increasingly integral to delivering exceptional guest experiences. Consumer preferences are increasingly centered around personalized, meaningful and value-driven stays, prompting hoteliers to lean into entertainment and infotainment-led experiential offerings.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges from inflation to shifting consumer confidence, hospitality companies must work harder to attract guests and diversify revenue streams for sustainable growth. Building resilient models is key to thriving in today’ s dynamic travel market.
By integrating entertainment and gaming, food and beverage and retail, hospitality brands can elevate guest experiences and meet the needs of techsavvy, content-hungry travelers. Technology leveraged to fulfill these requirements includes OLED 4K UHD Smart TVs, digital- and touch-capable signage, customizable DVLED displays, displays optimized for digital artwork in lobbies and even robot assistants, with AI playing a role.
REVENUE BOOST Sports and entertainment have long been powerful drivers of hotel occupancy and pricing, and their influence continues to grow. According to data from AHLA’ s
2025 State of the Industry Report, sports tourism was valued at $ 564.7B in 2023 and is projected to reach $ 1.33T. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin in June 2026 and is expected to generate $ 5 billion across North America; meanwhile, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles could generate $ 11 billion and require 40,000 hotel rooms, offering California’ s hospitality sector a major opportunity and windfall.
These major sporting events and musical phenomena, like Taylor Swift’ s Eras Tour, are reshaping travel patterns, providing new ways for cities to engage with visitors and offering exciting opportunities for hoteliers to boost revenue streams further, with technology front and center.
34 hotelsmag. com Sept / Oct 2025