A brief overview of the latest offerings from top content providers in the lodging industry:
COMCAST
News: Comcast has expanded its fiber network significantly in the past year, bringing its full portfolio of Ethernet services to places including the Central Eastside of Portland, Ore., the Denver Metro Area, and New London County, Conn.
Television: HD video service including popular cable networks for in-room entertainment; Public and Private View packages for common spaces, private meetings, and conference areas; equipment that minimizes upfront and maintenance costs
Internet: Downloads up to 100Mbps, uploads up to 10Mbps; two circuits packages available, preventing guest use from affecting office use
DIRECTV
News: In November 2014, DIRECTV and Guest-tek announced a strategic relationship that aims to deliver more advanced technology, expanded programming selection, and cost savings to hotels throughout the United States.
Television: Three base TV packages offering regular and HD channels; DIRECTV Residential Experience offers guests a full residential channel lineup with the ability to pause, rewind, and record programs like they would at home
Internet: DIRECTV does not offer commercial internet services
VERIZON
News: Verizon Enterprise Solutions announced in December 2014 that Marriott International Inc. signed a multiyear agreement to deploy Verizon Hospitality Communications Express, a unified hospitality solution. Marriott was the first hotel brand to sign on for this solution.
Television: A wide variety of services are available depending on the details of the transaction, giving hoteliers the ability to customize their in-room entertainment
Internet: A wide variety of services are available depending on the details of the transaction, giving hoteliers the ability to customize their internet connection
DISH
News: In April of this year, Motel 6 made a deal with the DISH network to put the smartbox video platform in more than 500 of its properties.
Television: The smartbox video platform offers low-cost HD and SD for multiple televisions; more than 40 possible smartbox system configurations allow for custom solutions, such as HD for guestrooms and SD for treadmill televisions
Internet: Smartbox has an integrated wireless modem so that guests can connect devices to Wi-Fi
Photo credit: TV remote via Bigstock.
