When guests settle into their pajamas and plop down in bed, what types of entertainment do they crave most? In its 2016 In-Room Entertainment Preferences Study, ADB, a software, systems and managed services provider, worked alongside an independent research firm to form a more complete understanding of the wants and needs of both hoteliers and guests.
The study found that, in general, in-room entertainment is of high-value to guests, but it does not hold so much value that it becomes a main factor when choosing a hotel. Additionally, guests who stay in upscale and luxury range hotels expect a superior in-room entertainment experience. Millennial guests, in particular, want to be able to choose their own content in order to make their entertainment experience more personalized. Of all demographics, millennials care most about in-room entertainment options.
The hotel executives who participated in the study widely perceived that guests wanted an at-home experience for in-room entertainment. The study found that this perception is only partially true, as guests expect their in-room entertainment experience to be just as good or better than what they experience at home. Additionally, the survey also revealed that hotel executives put higher values of importance on individual aspects of in-room entertainment, such as interactive program guides, than guests do.
While the study shows there is some disconnect between what hoteliers perceive guests want and what they actually want, ADB concluded that the most important in-room entertainment services to consumers include broadcast TV, interactive program guides, hotel and area information, free video on demand, group messaging, and the ability to pause live television.
