Despite perceived security concerns about voice platforms like Alexa, 68% of hotel guests want voice controlled technology in their hotel rooms according to a new survey. 66.7% want to be able to “cast” their personal content from a device to the in-room TV.
Hotel Internet Services, a company who provides internet, in room wi-fi, and entertainment services for the hotel industry, recently released the results of a hotel survey investigating the changing entertainment and technology needs of hotel guests. The results are interesting and reflect the changing wants of customers who now interact with technology an entertainment far differently in their home and work lives than they might in a hotel room. Hotels need to catch up if they want to differentiate themselves in the market.
66.7% Want to “Cast” their shows to the in-room TV
The report highlights the findings of a different survey (from Hotel360) that notes that less than 1% of Guests Use In Room Streaming Services, and further notes that of the people they queried only 40% expressed any sort of interest in using in-room streaming services.
Instead, guests want to “cast” their entertainment to the in-room TV from their personal device (e.g. smart phone or tablet) with 66.7% percent of those surveyed seeking to do this – a 10% increase from the last survey. In fact, the HIS report notes that in-room casting has overtaken internet service itself as the most requested customer amenity.
Moreover, 50% of those surveyed suggested that if they knew the hotel room did or did not supporting casting, they said it would affect their decision to stay at the property.
These findings are not surprising given the well established cord cutting trends sweeping the consumer marketplace and the widespread access to affordable smart devices and high speed internet.
HIS concludes their findings by noting that a hotel room experience should mimic guests home experiences which already leverage these technologies more and more with each passing year. HIS suggests that hotels must improve their in-room platforms to support these changing trends in order to stay competitive in the marketplace.
68% want Alexa in the room with them
According to the survey, 68% of guests want voice activated technology in their hotel rooms despite known and perceived security risks with such platforms like Alexa.
Indeed, contactless options to change lighting, temperature settings, request guest services, and more are highly desirable to hotel guests seeking to minimize the number of things they touch in a room while mirroring the life many have at home with such devices.
The HIS survey highlighted the largest opportunity for hotels who reported that 92% of hotels do not currently use voice technology in their rooms.
HIS further posits that in the future in-room voice technology like Alexa could be the primary way guests interact with the property.
Final thoughts
The HIS survey highlights a fascinating, but not surprising, change in hotel guest sentiment. After all, given the broad sweeping changes in the personal entertainment and smart home markets, these trends make sense. Furthermore, when taking guest fears regarding hygiene, cleanliness and overall safety – namely in response to COVID-19 – such amenities an platforms are likely to become as necessary as comfortable hotel beds and pillows.
Download the full report and whitepaper here
2 comments
So people want to be spied on? No thank you. Those things should be banned.
The numbers are frankly so absolutely unbelievable that the entire survey becomes worthless. So 2/3 of people want to have a system that tracks every thing they do? In a hotel room? And that includes the 50+ crowd who almost certainly would be highly skewed against having Alexa or similar things to begin with. I’m not buying it.