The 2023 guide to guestroom entertainment technologies

By Sarah Davison, Industry Reporter

As technology advances and the media landscape evolves at lightning speed, free-to-air television and DVDs are no longer the only choices when selecting something to watch.

Smart devices, smart features, integrated communication technologies, and Ultra HD all increase guests’ viewing expectations. Streaming services, online rental platforms, and even social media are where modern-day guests might find their content. With so many choices now available, guests demand more from their guestroom entertainment experience, so is it time to reconsider your accommodation's entertainment offering?

Q& A time!

Two industry experts in the field offered AccomNews their perspective on the latest developments in guestroom entertainment space.

This is how they see it…

Q&A with HoneyBadger/ Simplifi Director

Heinrich Saayman

We have literally 'cut the cord' and now stream what we love to watch, or watch catch-up TV for the shows we missed. Cord cutting is the new normal for today’s business and leisure travellers.

What are the current trends you have seen?

They tend to stream everything they want to consume.

What is the current state of guestroom entertainment in hospitality and how have expectations changed?

Now that leisure travel is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, hotels have to offer streaming services that give their guests a wide range of options. This includes signing up for additional subscriptions for more streaming services than prior to COVID-19. No longer is watching all those replays of episodes a hindrance.

Guests want to securely consume their own content on the big screen in the guestroom. They will also consume other free content that is available where the hotel may be paying subscription fees. If this content is not available or up to their new expectation level, they simply take out their mobile or tablet and connect to STAYCAST™ powered by Google Chromecast and continue watching their shows. Do you think trends change depending on the type or age of the guest?

The playing field is levelling out and the gap between generational consumers is decreasing. We all now use the same platforms; we just stream different content.

The older generations used to consume a lot of traditional TV. The younger generation may not even switch on a TV to watch traditional channels.

Remember the hard drive with movies or the DVD player that you lugged along? No more, they are assigned to the history books of technology. Grey nomads, business travellers, and families now all travel with their content on their devices and the satellite dish has been replaced by a 4G or 5G modem for internet access.

We stream and use OTT (Over The Top) apps like Netflix, Stan, Disney+, Amazon, ABC, and SBS to deliver our content. There are now over 2500 apps streaming anything you wish to consume, including radio from anywhere in the world.

What do you recommend operators should consider if they want to upgrade their guest entertainment offerings?

What is the Return On Investment? How many guests pay for movies during their stay?

What does the guest use at home? Does your hotel need to pay hefty fees for content that your guests may not consume? Just because a service is available does not mean the guest is watching it at home.

It’s a hard choice to make as every person is different and no longer can the hotel operator assume that he knows what his guest will watch.

The pivotal point on casting solutions has already passed and every hotel should be providing a stable, certified casting solution that allows the guest to connect securely without providing any personal details.

Guests will love it and increased guest satisfaction is guaranteed whilst they simply entertain themselves.

What entertainment solutions do you think operators should prioritise?

Casting is top of the guest request list these days. You don’t need 100s of channels or fancy clubs to join. Keep it simple and provide the platform for guests that allows them to choose their own content whilst in the room, to enhance their stay.

What if they have a small budget?

That is where 'casting is king'.

The investment is relatively low, and the hotel does not pay any expensive ongoing monthly content fees. The ROI is fantastic. Hotels that have installed casting are already seeing payback in less than 12 months, some even as quickly as six to eight months

Who decided what guests watched? Was it your traditional media provider? Data analysis is the key to the knowledge of how guests consume content. Casting to the TV in the guestroom wins hands down, where available, and it is not just a nose in front, it is miles clear of the pack.

How can operators provide guests with the perfect luxury guestroom entertainment solution?

Great question! Yes, it is true, there are a lot of add-ons to provide for the luxury market.

Casting solutions can now provide the hotel with movies at no cost to the operator and include dining options, mobile compendiums, and much more.

The first step is to determine if the luxury guest consumes content differently from other guests - the normal traveller.

Do you have any tips for small accommodations or holiday parks when purchasing or replacing entertainment solutions?

The number one item on the list is to have a strong and stable wifi network enabling your casting solution.

How has the rise of casting/ streaming impacted the entertainment landscape?

From an entertainment industry perspective, it has been a revolution. As content consumption demand has grown, the makers of the content have expanded and are now supported by revenue streams that did not exist just five years ago.

This allows apps like Netflix or Apple to make their own content with blockbuster series being released only on these apps. And the consumers love it and are willing to pay. They can take all the content they love with them travelling anywhere in the world.

From the guest's perspective it has finally freed them from poor available content in the guestroom where the hotel decided what they wanted to consume.

It makes sense, the guest can choose their own pillow and bed firmness, so why not their own content on the TV?

Are there any security issues to be aware of when guests are streaming their own content?

All solutions are not created equal. By sacrificing price over quality there are always shortcuts.

Is your vendor-approved? Security is a key element of the system and is updated frequently. When a security update is available it is installed immediately when released by the vendor. If there is no supporting vendor this does not happen. It’s like travel insurance, you can buy the cheap package or even the free package to ease your conscience, but when you need it… is it good enough? Guest security is the most important factor in the system, and you cannot guarantee integrity with a free maintenance solution. What does the future hold for hospitality TVs?

It is such a fast-changing landscape that it is hard to put it on a set route. People are dynamic, they have an insatiable thirst for content consumption and how to view it. We live in a world of constant change. I see TVs (particularly hotel models) evolving to new levels in the coming years. P06