Hotel Internet Services Publishes New Research Report Analyzing Latest Trends in Guestroom Entertainment and Virtual Assistant Technology

Entitled "Giving Guests the Keys to Unlock Hotel Entertainment," the white paper reveals that evolving consumer preferences regarding personalized entertainment and virtual assistant technology are causing a mirror effect within the hospitality industry, with skyrocketing home adoption rates leading more and more to expect similar services to be made available during their hotel stay. With casting for example, more than 86 percent of 2020 survey guests noted their preference to be able to cast personal subscriptions such as Netflix versus viewing more traditional TV options, a 5 percent increase since 2018. Particularly significant was the finding that 50 percent of guests now state that a hotel's ability to offer casting functionality can influence their booking decision.  As hotels begin to reopen, the ability to offer personalized entertainment services should therefore be a leading investment decision to consider in order to attract guest reservations and not leave potential business up to a 50-50 chance.

With guests seeking overall enhanced convenience and service personalization from their hotel stay experience, the HIS white paper further revisits how demands for a comprehensive solution capable of allowing guests to order amenities or locate hotel information without leaving the guestroom have only increased. For example, those seeking the ability to order in-room dining via the guestroom television have increased by eight percent since 2018, and now represent an overall 50 percent of guests. Such abilities will now only become even more sought after with guests seeking to maintain safe social distances from staff and other guests.   

 "The hospitality industry is experiencing one of the most uncertain times in its history so it is vital that hoteliers understand what services they need to offer so that they can cater to the latest preferences, expectations and concerns," said Gary Patrick, CEO of Hotel Internet Services. "By using up-to-date survey feedback, our white paper serves as a valuable guide to recognizing that for guests, the ability to tailor their in-room experience is not only a long term trend but is more important than ever given the increasing desire to self-isolate and reduce potential contact with germs. Technologies such as modern in-room entertainment and virtual assistant technology will therefore increasingly become even more desired by guests as they seek to mirror the conveniences they now commonly have at home while seeking to experience a safer hotel environment."  

While virtual assistants are already becoming a more frequent fixture within guestrooms around the world, the HIS white paper also demonstrates that similar to casting, the growing presence of voice-activated technology within daily consumer life is also leading to an increasing demand for hotels to make the technology more widely available. For example, 60 percent of surveyed guests indicated that they would likely use a virtual assistant device if given the option. Another 68 percent noted that they would use voice technology to control in-room thermostats, lighting and televisions. With concerns over the risk of coming into contact with germs via shared surfaces, such statistics will likely continue to increase as individuals place a greater focus on safeguarding their health when visiting public locations.

To download a copy of HIS' latest white paper on guestroom entertainment and voice control technology, please click here.