| Hotel guests are accessing entertainment in new ways – they’re streaming their own media, playing their own games and are always connected to personal devices. It can be tough for hoteliers to keep up. But the hotel industry has an opportunity to connect with tech-savvy travelers, providing them with a smart, in-room entertainment experience, together with interactive features that can generate operational efficiencies and new revenue opportunities.A new Hotel Management survey commissioned by Samsung Business reveals that when it comes to hotel TVs, many hotels are failing to provide the in-room entertainment experience that guests expect. Out of a sample size of 200 hoteliers, more than one in five had not replaced guest room TVs in six years or more. More than a quarter still had rooms featuring Cathode Ray TVs or flat panel models that don’t support HD content.
The reasons are clear and perhaps unsurprising; about 70 percent of survey respondents said their budget limits the technological innovations they’re able to provide. But this lack of investment creates a less-than-stellar impression for guests who have better televisions at home. Guests expect to be wowed in their rooms, not to step back in time. The survey discovered that 66 percent of respondents recognize that making hotel TV upgrades will help increase guest satisfaction and attract new customers. For one in three hoteliers, the last complete upgrade of TVs on their properties was nearly five years ago. Hoteliers do have plans for future upgrades. When asked about the features they hope to provide on in-room TVs within three years, access to streaming video applications ranked high in responses at 53 percent, up from just 12 percent today. Similarly, mobile device integration was a priority, with 43 percent of respondents planning to implement within three years, compared with just 8 percent who support these capabilities today. And with consumers rapidly shifting to 4K ultra-high definition, 36 percent of hoteliers also indicated they would make the resolution upgrade within three years. Hotel Guest Room TV Features in 2015 and Beyond from Samsung Business USA So how can hotels keep pace with the growing expectations of the digital traveler? The solution may be unveiled at this year’s Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC), where new innovations for the hospitality market will debut to industry peers and experts, and smart in-room entertainment trends will likely dominate this year’s conversation on the evolution of hotel technology. Among this year’s lineup are Samsung Smart Hospitality TVs featuring LYNK™ SINC 3.0, which provide hoteliers a next-generation guest room technology solution including a customizable and interactive user interface, smart apps and widgets, mobile device content mirroring with AllShareTM Cast. In the meantime, hotels can affordably transform their in-room experience through Samsung’s Hospitality TV Buyback Program. Want to learn more about Samsung’s hospitality TV solutions? Visit us at HITEC booth 451 or visit our hospitality page. |
