by Jena Tesse Fox
Hotel Internet Services has released the full results of its latest survey analyzing how in-room entertainment and technology expectations have continued to increase and how such trends mirror the growing prevalence and reliance on newer technologies in daily consumer life.
Developed with the responses from more than 700 guests and 200 hoteliers, HIS’ 2020 survey findings suggest that guests are seeking advanced in-room services and amenities such as content casting and voice-activated functionality.
Notably, travelers now expect to connect their personal devices to a hotel’s Wi-Fi service. While 45 percent of guest respondents indicated that they travel with at least two devices, more than a quarter disclosed that they now travel with three, and almost 10 percent stated that they bring at least four. These findings—combined with guests seeking to remain in guestrooms due to COVID-19 risks while attempting to keep themselves occupied—will undoubtedly place a strain on existing hotel networks, with many likely needing to update their Wi-FI abilities in order to maintain a satisfactory experience.
Entertainment
Just as significant is the survey’s findings over what guests—now familiar with the multiple advantages of connectivity—now look for from their in-room stay experience. With the mass adoption of streaming services and at-home casting technology by consumers, travelers increasingly want to cast personal content from devices to guestroom televisions, with 67 percent of 2020 respondents seeking the feature.
More importantly, half of guest respondents now indicate that the availability of wireless casting could affect their booking decision, while only 26 percent of hotelier respondents reported being currently able to offer the functionality. HIS emphasized the need for hoteliers to adopt comprehensive in-room entertainment services that are compatible with the ever-expanding range of third-party applications in order to offer a high-quality and personalized guest experience.