But only if you choose the right televisions for your needs.

If you don’t, it can cause headaches for your staff, cost you more money, and become a guest dissatisfier.

Having guided thousands of hotels on TV decisions, SONIFI’s Senior Director of Sales Engineering Todd Frankenhoff has 6 tips for helping you choose the right TVs for your guest rooms.

1. Figure out your goals before buying.

What do you want guests to experience when they turn on the TV in their rooms?

“This is more than looking for the best picture quality,” Frankenhoff says. “You want the best content behind the picture, and the most user-friendly experience for guests.”

What features will be needed to provide that?

Are there digital touchpoints you want to incorporate onto TVs for guests, like promoting your amenities, offering contactless communication, enabling mobile transactions, or highlighting on-prem specials and services?

How long do you want the equipment to last?

Are you planning on adding services or integrations in that time that your TVs would need to accommodate?

Are there brand standards you have to meet? Make sure you’ll be able to be in brand compliance when it comes to things like the size of the TV, the customizations required, and the types of entertainment available.

“When it comes to both short-term and long-term goals, these factors will affect the type of TV you need to purchase,” says Frankenhoff. “If you don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish, you’re going to buy the wrong thing.”

2. Go commercial—and don’t choose based solely on price.

No matter what brand, size, or capabilities you need, “commercial-grade TVs are the way to go,” Frankenhoff says, “because consumer-grade TVs just won’t work the way you need them to in hospitality. Especially when it comes to this, the cheaper you go, the more you’ll find that you’re getting what you pay for.”

Consumer sets require a channel scan to identify channels available on the cable plant, and to create the channel lineup, which has to be completed one room at a time. And maintained and reset one room at a time if issues come up.

Most commercial TVs, on the other hand, can be configured and upgraded remotely, easily fixing bugs, updating firmware, and adding new features.

When it comes to serviceability, parts are usually available for commercial TVs for a few years after the sets go out of warranty, which is typically not the case for consumer TVs.

Consumer-grade TVs also don’t have enterprise settings to prevent hacking and security risks for your guests and your property.

“The extra time and effort for manual daily processes, plus the devastating effects of possible security breaches, with consumer sets make them a bad option for hotels,” Frankenhoff says. “Commercial sets are specifically made for these types of environments and will end up saving you in the long run.”

3. Configure settings for the best experience.

Commercial TVs can be controlled by third-party devices like system integrator boxes or terminals.

“This means you can configure all the TVs in your hotel from a central location,” Frankenhoff says. “And defining the settings for features on your commercial TVs lets you provide a consistent experience from room to room and guest to guest.”

Configurations you can set up with commercial TVs in your guest rooms could include:

• Turning on to a designated channel, volume & input
• Displaying to a default picture setting & aspect ratio
• Restricting settings like maximum volume & brightness controls
• Creating, modifying & distributing channel lineups remotely
• Resetting user accessible settings (closed captioning, parental controls, etc.) at turn on, at a specific time of day, or at room checkout

“Once you configure settings the way you want them to appear,” Frankenhoff says, “most commercial sets allow you to remotely clone the settings onto other TVs throughout your property, simplifying the placement of new sets and the replacement of sets in existing rooms.”

4. Think about what else will be connected.

Depending on the features you want in guest rooms, the televisions you choose will need to have specific capabilities, or at least compatibilities.

“We often see hotels choose the wrong TVs for the setups they need, and then they have to buy extra equipment to make things work the way they want,” Frankenhoff says.

To avoid additional costs, first consider things like:

• Does the TV work with the interactive system or cable setup you already have installed?
• Does the TV need to accommodate a set-top box (STB) or set-back box (SBB)?
• Does the TV’s native controls for power, volume, and other settings sync with the same remote used for the STB/SBB?
• Does the TV require an external IR receiver?
• Does the TV include embedded apps for streaming, or do you need an external device like STAYCAST?
• Does the TV have a connectivity panel to provide enough input ports for guests to plug in gaming systems or other personal devices without unplugging your interactive and entertainment equipment?

Luxury Hoteliers Magazine feature article

By Kara Heermans, SONIFI Senior Vice President of User Experience and Product Management

 

Guests who book at luxury properties are craving a unique experience.

They want indulgence, or serenity, or excitement, or novelty. They expect to be pampered and cared for every moment of their stay.

The more touchpoints you offer guests throughout their stay, the stronger that feeling of being looked after, and the more opportunities you have to make a positive lasting impression.

Your services and amenities are specifically designed to evoke that tailor-made feeling for guests.

But is your guest technology carrying through on that same promise?

This isn’t to say technology can replace the human connection and feeling of being cared for that your staff provides guests.

Technology can complement it, though, giving guests options in how they interact with you, creating highly personalized interactions, and providing ways for you to elevate experiences that make you stand out.

Given the prevalence of technology in every aspect of daily life for your guests, it’s crucial for your luxury hotel to consider how you can extend—and improve—your digital hospitality touchpoints.

Some hoteliers make the mistake of assuming a TV is a just a TV, or basic Wi-Fi is good enough—except you’d never say the same when choosing your linens, fixtures, or finishes when you’re trying to create the most luxurious experience.

Today’s guests expect the same attention to detail in digital aspects of their stay, because guest technology has a rare role of both being an amenity and offering an experience at your property.

Take Wi-Fi as an example.

Your Wi-Fi network can be configured to automatically connect returning guests or loyalty members. A custom splash screen for new Wi-Fi logins can be another way you can personalize something you know is important to your guests.

Behind the scenes, prioritize your network to be fast, seamless, and reliable for your guests and your staff.

Having a great Wi-Fi network is foundational to making sure all your front- and back-of-house systems to work smoothly—while also being the top amenity guests expect.

They may not have a lasting memory if the Wi-Fi works as well as you promise it does…but they’ll certainly remember if it doesn’t.

Digital hospitality is about giving the right experience for the guest at the right time.

Think of how you can enhance digital hospitality with the technology in your guest rooms.

With an interactive platform that integrates with your PMS system, you can have the in-room TV be an extension of the ambience you want to set for the guest.

An interactive system can automatically turn on the TV at check-in and be set to greet the guest with a personal message, imagery, and music, becoming part of the elevated experience as your guests enter the room.

The basic expectation is that the TV will have things for guests to watch in their downtime in the room. Like every touchpoint at your property, you can still go above expectations and provide the best of the best entertainment.

The right casting solution can give guests easy access to stream content from thousands of apps on the TV, while also keeping their personal data private and secure.

Look into your guest demographics and channel data to create a custom TV channel lineup.

And for even more in-room entertainment, you can offer on-demand content like still-in-theaters movies, in-room fitness and wellness videos, and libraries of favorite films.

When you’re thinking of the kind of extraordinary experience you want to extend into a guest’s room, the TV can be used for so much more than entertainment.

As the biggest screen in the room, it’s the perfect place for you to showcase your property using your luxury brand’s voice and marketing.

Custom videos and other features throughout the user experience give you opportunities to spotlight on-site amenities, call out exclusive specials, or promote activities that generate revenue for your property.

The experience can be taken further with an integration to your guest information system.

Promotions can be personalized to guests based on their loyalty status or past actions—think complimentary drinks at your restaurant, offers to schedule spa services, and videos of golf tips for your course.

As they interact with the system, the promotions they select can then be fed back to your guest information system, growing your guest profile. It becomes this ongoing feedback loop, with guest usage behavior driving more customized experiences and engagement.

A better understanding of your guest helps you better tailor their guest journey throughout their stay now, and in the future—leading to more satisfaction and loyalty.

Using the TV or a texting program for guest messaging is a great way to reduce workload on your staff and give you one more way to communicate with your guests. Messages can be automated to:

• Check in with guests during their stay
• Show them how (and why) to download your mobile app
• Highlight the benefits of joining your loyalty program

You can also use the TV to make it easy for guests to do the things they want to do. Displaying QR codes quickly gets menus, reservations, maps, and booking sites onto guests’ phones, where they’re used to accessing them.

When it’s time for guests to check out, make it seamless and stress-free. Use automations in your interactive system and mobile app to let guests get a digital folio and request a late checkout. Message them about shuttle and luggage storage services you have. Give a mobile order discount for one last coffee on their way out.

One-to-one personal interaction is still paramount at luxury properties, but with a tech-savvy consumer base, it’s critical to make your digital touchpoints convenient, easy, and diverse. Give guests several ways to connect with you, take advantage of your amenities, and explore everything you have to offer.

Like every interaction with your staff, the technology at your property can be something that impresses or disappoints, and that becomes synonymous with your brand reputation.

So when considering all the ways your property extends uniquely luxurious hospitality to guests, don’t underestimate the impact of digital hospitality.

 

Read the article at Luxury Hoteliers Magazine

Today’s guests want more than just cable stations and some pay-per-view movies from their guestroom televisions. They want the capability to stream their favorite shows and movies via their smartphones. Nobody wants to watch the latest episode of the hot HBO series or the new arrivals on Netflix on the small screen of their iPhone or Android device, while the 40-in. TV in their room stands idle.

STAYCAST by SONIFI Solutions, powered by Google Chromecast, allows guests to cast content from more than 2,000 apps—including major platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu, as well as just about any category of interest like games, sports, kids programming, international programming, wellness and fitness, among others. Launched in April 2016, the platform has been deployed in more than 300,000 rooms globally.

“STAYCAST was the first enterprise-grade casting solution on the market for hospitality when it launched in 2016,” said Ahmad Ouri, CEO, SONIFI. “Our forward-thinking engineering team, ongoing UX enhancements and around-the-clock support has made STAYCAST the go-to streaming solution for hoteliers to deliver best-in-class offerings that meet guests’ changing expectations and viewing habits.”

He continued, “For hoteliers, STAYCAST is an affordable solution in terms of both CapEx and OpEx with reliable service, 24/7 support and reporting for insights into their guests’ behaviors. It is compatible with both Android and iOS, with a flexible wired or wireless configuration on most TVs. For guests, it is safe, simple, and secure. SONIFI has continually refined the solution to make it easier to cast, evolving from a separate app, to online pairing, to automatic WiFi pairing with their mobile device and the in-room TV. It is the same user experience for streaming content in the home and the hotel—guests are already familiar with its functionality, and they don’t need to enter any personal login credentials.”

He also pointed out that guests can connect multiple devices, cast to any or all of the TVs in their room, still use their phone for other functions while casting, watch their content on their schedule and immediately cast from new apps without the need for hoteliers to license new apps or regularly run any software updates. And once they check out, their devices are automatically disconnected from STAYCAST.

“Behind the scenes, SONIFI also provides proactive monitoring of the system and signal strength, remote maintenance and guest use reporting,” said Ouri. “We also test early versions of new software updates to ensure updates do not disrupt the guest
experience.”

According to the CEO, 1,400 sites around the world currently have STAYCAST deployed, in all chain scales, from economy to luxury, independents to global brands. Clients include Hyatt, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Hard Rock, Four Seasons, Kimpton and Loews.

The ongoing pandemic has brought more clients to the fold since guests have been confined to their rooms for longer periods of time.

“They’re looking for entertainment, distraction, in-room wellness and familiar comforts of home,” said Ouri. “[Guests] have been casting for more than double the amount of time compared to pre-pandemic data. What they’re casting is diversifying, too; guests have cast content from more than 1,800 unique apps since STAYCAST launched.”

Ouri, who has been the company’s CEO since 2015, has learned a lot about guest-facing technology during his time at SONIFI.

He said that, first and foremost, for guest-facing technology to positively impact the guest experience, it has to be secure, familiar, reliable and compatible with both iOS and Android, and that digital hospitality has become a trend in the industry.

“Much like the health industry has adopted the idea of digital health, we need to consider how digital technology is not just part of the hospitality transaction, but also the service delivery,” he said. “There’s an opportunity for us as an industry to adopt the idea of digital hospitality at every touchpoint in the guest journey. When you think about pre-stay activities, most are primarily digital now, with research and booking occurring online or via mobile.”

However, he pointed out “on-premises activities are much less digital in nature. Hotels traditionally rely on the front desk, operator line or a concierge to handle guest interactions. Many of these routine interactions can be handled via digital interfaces, be they on-screen, voice or behind the scenes. Digital options are becoming more and more commonplace in all aspects of our lives—think air travel, transportation, grocery shopping and food ordering. Guests expect the same advancements during their hotel stay with technology that’s safe, secure and simple. Much of this had been considered experimental nice-to-haves pre-pandemic and had generally seen low adoption. But this is the opportunity for the industry to evaluate the full continuum of digital hospitality as a mainstay way of doing business well beyond COVID-19 recovery.”

SONIFI’s partnership with Google has expanded to include Google Assistant services for hospitality via the Google Nest Hub and its partnership with Volara. “SONIFI is an approved system integrator,” noted Ouri, “meaning we are one of two companies that can sell, install and support hospitality clients who elect to offer the Google Nest Hub at their hotels.”

He added, “What’s interesting about the Google voice product is the touchscreen, which enables responses to voice requests to be delivered in voice and visual form. This is particularly helpful when using interpreter mode for guests who speak different languages, and for requests like directions or menus that are more suited to a visual display. Guests can also forward answers to their phones to take it with them.”

Privacy is top of mind for guests when using internet-enabled devices, and Ouri said that the Google Nest Hub for Hospitality has no camera, does not store audio or link to a guest account, and clears activity at checkout.

As the CEO pointed out, SONIFI has much more in store for the hospitality industry. “Our new SORA iTV platform not only offers the best-quality entertainment, it also delivers a responsive, intuitive and streamlined market-leading user experience,” said Ouri. “PMS integrations create revenue-generating opportunities for hoteliers, and enhance the guest experience with features they want most.”

Other in-the-works projects include a variety of smart room integrations from Telkonet and others, in-room fitness content from Three Sages and real-time location technology from TraknProtect.

“Above all, though, SONIFI is working to help hoteliers balance what technology they want to implement at their property, and what’s physically and financially feasible for them right now,” said Ouri. “Our mission at SONIFI is to simplify technology for our customers, and seamless integrations are a key part of that.”

Read the full article on Hotel Business.

By Ahmad Ouri, CEO of SONIFI Solutions

There’s a palpable energy in our industry to regain what we lost during the pandemic, and to thrive in the coming years.

While we’re in this moment of recovery, we have an opportunity to evolve the fundamental business model of hospitality.

In the past 20 years, major events that have impacted the world have also impacted the hospitality industry, resulting in us redefining what’s normal. After 9/11, we completely changed our mindset around travel safety and security. The 2008 recession caused us to think differently about the impact of macroeconomic factors to hotel revenue management. And 2020 introduced a new challenge of a public health crisis and its unique impact to our relationship with physical contact.

Technology trends that were slowly unfolding before the pandemic have been fast-tracked, giving a green light to fully adopt changes our industry was headed toward anyway. We are primed to reinvent what a hospitality experience looks like, transforming from one that is purely physical in nature to one that blends digital and physical in harmony.

I believe digital hospitality can — perhaps even must — be part of our hospitality operating system going forward.

The right opportunity for digital hospitality

When we look at other sectors like airlines and banking — and more recently healthcare, business, entertainment and food — the digital experience is a predominant part of the consumer journey. In many of these verticals, digital technologies are no longer just part of a transaction, but are the actual mechanisms to deliver the service.

We use mobile apps for travel bookings and bank transactions. We get check-ups at home with telehealth. We attend virtual presentations, make video calls and host online meetings. We stream the exact content we want any time we want. We place online orders for local takeout and grocery deliveries.

What were occasional convenience options have now become a daily way of life.

When it comes to the hospitality industry, it’s a real estate-based business. The core asset has been and always will be about the geographic location, the physical building, the guest room interior. When guests arrive at a hotel, technology has been an amenity among many others — the food and beverage venues, the toiletries and lush linens, the pool and fitness center.

Hospitality is still very uneven in terms of meeting the technology expectations of the modern consumer.

While all hotels offer guest internet access, many properties don’t offer adequate Wi-Fi coverage and bandwidth, or have not upgraded their systems in years.

A few major flags have invested in rich mobile app experiences around bookings and loyalty programs, but are still lacking in on-site mobile services. And there are thousands of hotels that don’t offer mobile capabilities at all.

This is not a criticism, but an opportunity to upgrade the hospitality operations model to one that incorporates digital technologies more consistently, robustly and seamlessly.

This opportunity surpasses the use cases beyond pandemic recovery. We can go further by augmenting the experience for travelers, while also streamlining operations for hotels.

Instead of an ancillary feature, technology can become the vehicle of delivering services and a principal mode of interaction throughout a guest’s stay.

With digital hospitality, we can deliver a more efficient, convenient, personalized and modern experience to the guests we’re all eager to welcome back.

The guest experience of digital hospitality

In the past year of near isolation, we’ve grown accustomed to working online, accessing our entertainment on demand, and ordering doorstep food delivery.

These digital experiences have become a staple of our everyday lives. And they’re sure to be expected by guests anywhere they stay going forward.

The digitization of service is not new to travelers — we’re used to it in every aspect of air travel and transportation. Digital hospitality is an extension of that experience, giving travelers the convenience and autonomy to choose when and how and where they interact.

Much has been said about “touchless” transactions and capabilities. But temperature sensors and facial recognition cameras sound more like an episode of Black Mirror than hospitality. There are other, more graceful, touchless experiences to consider that offer guests the choices and options they’re looking for most.

Communication

Basic messaging technology has advanced to a point where interactions with chatbots no longer feel robotic.

You can use your app, email and text to communicate with guests before, during and after their stay. Give them immediate confirmations and status updates. Set up AI chats for frequently asked questions, like how to connect to your Wi-Fi network.

Check in on their needs and experiences, even conduct micro-surveys, so your staff has the chance for timely service recovery.

Check-in

Starbucks has shown us that ordering ahead and picking up on the go increases transaction volume — and customer satisfaction.

Advanced check-in via text or app can similarly limit contact and queueing, even without digital key upgrades.

All the guest needs to do on arrival is pick up their key cards, without the extraneous overhead of manual keyboard entry at the front desk.

Wayfinding

In public areas, digital wayfinding and other smart signs can reduce physical contact without compromising convenience or efficacy.

Incorporating real-time location services, or creating a QR code to an online map of your property, can help orient and navigate guests through their stay.

Reassurance

For a while, guests will look for reassurance about their safety, wanting to know about the cleanliness of their room and public areas, the HVAC air quality and circulation, and contactless services available.

You can broadcast these messages on the in-room TVs, your app and digital signage throughout your property.

Offer reserved access to your fitness room, pool, spa, business center or table seating. Provide the latest information about the safety protocols in place at your hotel, and in your community.

Convenience

Whether through your in-room TV platform or your mobile app, you can give guests easy access to digital hotel directories, guest request features, scannable QR menus and account reviews.

Use these platforms to also integrate your smart room controls for room temperature, lights, window shades and mobile TV remote.

Highlight digital concierge services guests can access via voice controls, AI text chats, video calls, or requests through your app or TV platform.

Entertainment

Evaluate your in-room entertainment to assess if it matches or exceeds guests’ at-home programming and streaming experiences.

Consider the importance of offering robust streaming solutions for OTT content, and enhancing the quality and diversity of your on-demand videos and TV programming.

Wellness

Balancing our mental, emotional and physical well-being has become a major focus in the wake of challenges brought on by the pandemic. As such, integrating wellness technology as an in-room offering could be a differentiator for your property.

Based on the type of traveler you most frequently have, this could be as advanced as installing Mirror or Peloton equipment in select guest rooms.

Or it could be as simple as adding a library of wellness videos to the in-room TV, including on-demand cardio workouts, guided meditations, resistance training, yoga practices and more.

Food delivery

For hotels with on-premises food and beverage services, give guests a way to order and pay via mobile or on-screen with POS integrations on your TV platform.

Incorporating food delivery securely and seamlessly into the hospitality environment can be a differentiator without carrying the burden of full F&B services.

We’re already seeing positive innovations of ghost kitchens in the lodging space emerge. Partner with local restaurants or delivery services in your community to offer great deals and service experiences to guests on site. Use your app, QR codes or TV menus to direct guests to preferred ordering and delivery options.

Transportation

Travelers have previously relied on the concierge, local taxi companies, hotel shuttles and valets for transportation needs. Now we’re used to the ease of Uber and Lyft, and the privacy and control of self-parking.

Use your app or in-room TV to provide guests information about your property’s transportation, promote companies you have a relationship with, and make contactless requests for prompt valet services.

Business

Options like mobile check-in, digital keys and voice controls are more appealing to frequent business travelers than casual vacationers, and may be worth considering for properties with high volumes of this segment of travelers.

Creating a productive space to attract “bleisure”-seeking guests could drive a new use case category for hospitality. Here, verifiable secure connections on your Wi-Fi network will be key for travelers needing VPN access and video conferencing.

For those seeking an alternative office, offering daytime-only reservations can provide high-quality service with a comfortable work-from-home feel.

Events

For conference and group services, the digital experience is now essential. It’s expected that many events will become hybrid, with both in-person and virtual attendance options.

To create flexible offerings, have easy connections to livestream and video conferencing platforms both in your event spaces and in your guest rooms.

Why now is the time to shift our business model

Digital hospitality is not a product choice at different points in the guest journey. It’s a business model. Those flags, boutiques and resorts that choose to reimagine the delivery of digital hospitality will have a sustainable advantage over those that don’t.

Digital hospitality goes beyond reacting to a crisis situation and instead making changes that are right for travelers and good for business — some that have been a long time coming, and that we now have the incentive and opportunity to embrace.

Our data shows that guest usage of technology over the past year has increased, up 10% for video on demand and 200% for streaming content, accompanied by significant increase in bandwidth consumption per guest, and the use of contactless features like mobile TV controls, digital directories and in-room guest requests.

The good news is that much of the technology for digital hospitality is already enterprise grade and ready to support an industry transformation.

Systems have been time-tested. Smartphones and text messaging are ubiquitous. Digital signs are hardened and affordable.

Online and on-screen guest services have been around since the 1990s, and mobile controls and features have been around almost as long. Casting has been in the hospitality market since 2015, as have voice assistants and robots for cleaning and delivery services.

IoT has evolved and been greatly refined in the past couple years, with innovations coming into new and exciting spaces for hospitality.

The technology is here for digital hospitality. But to make it all work, the first step is to get the basics right. Regardless of your chain scale or location, a strong and reliable internet network is table stakes.

There are more connected devices — both guests’ and hardware — than many current Wi-Fi networks can handle supporting.

Outdated PMS cannot work seamlessly with modern technologies. Being able to integrate guest experiences seamlessly is critical; otherwise, you end up with cracks in the guest journey, and finger pointing between vendors.

Picking the right partners and platforms will lay the groundwork for your long-term success.

Connections that matter

Connected technology is here and needs to be part of a hotel’s go-forward strategy.

Remember that when you implement new technology, it must co-exist in a technology ecosystem of sorts with your current technology.

It’s important to have integration and roadmap discussions in addition to stand-alone product demos so you can make wise choices that will allow you to evolve and expand your offerings.

Look for platforms and providers that integrate well. There’s a spirit of collaboration happening with technology in the industry. Good partners accomplish better faster.

A company well-versed in connected technology should also be able to provide system data so you can be confident everything is working before a guest walks in the room. They should also provide guest usage data, so you can see how much your technology investment is being used and make informed decisions on future additions.

Choosing vendors with a cooperative attitude that look at the holistic picture and keep your needs in mind makes a big difference.

Let’s not forget that your staff is eager to get back to work…but not busywork.

Consider how often you’re putting valuable human resources toward repetitive tasks that can easily be aided, or even better served, by technology. How much efficiency is wasted while guests are queueing at the front desk. Or how much customer satisfaction is lost with long wait times for resolving a guest request.

The essence of hospitality is the feeling of being taken care of. The goal is not to replace people, but to create opportunities for efficiencies and guest satisfaction.

By optimizing your front-of-house and back-of-house systems, you can make sure technology is working for your staff, not the other way around.

A digital hospitality operating model gives your staff more time to focus on what technology can’t yet do — to notice the tired traveler, to assist a family with an extra hand, to make a new city feel more welcoming. To get out of the cycle of busywork and return to the spirit of true hospitality: Providing thoughtful care.

High hopes and big possibilities

We know technology cycles more rapidly than buildings. Software, cloud technology, artificial intelligence and mobile devices are advancing at an alarmingly fast rate, while the same building infrastructure may be in place for many years.

But we can’t allow technology to get stale and be an afterthought in the delivery of hospitality. We have to work together to weave technology into the fundamental operating system of hospitality.

These digital transformations to operating models could not only help differentiate a hotel from a competitor, but also upgrade the category definition of the hospitality experience altogether.

Anxiety of recent months is shifting to enthusiasm for possibilities on the horizon. We have the tools, the motivation and, now hopefully, the confidence to take the next big step forward.

I look forward to working with my colleagues and partners to enabling this exciting new future.

And I look forward, as a traveler, to experiencing it with you.

Read more about digital hospitality here.

They open the door, toss down their luggage and flip on the TV. What will guests see? Will it encourage the thought that this is the right property for them? Or will it cause them to wince and wonder about where they’ve chosen to bed down for the night? In-room entertainment options are an essential part of the guest experience and it goes beyond offering a few channels and an Internet connection.

As Dave Berger, CEO of Volara explains, guest expectations continue to change. “In the 1980s they were satisfied by a color TV and HBO,” he says. “Today, they’re seeking an on-command experience — similar to that which they enjoy at home — where a voice assistant enables access to YouTube and Netflix without lifting a finger.”

Volara has brought Google for Hospitality to Canada recently, in partnership with Google Nest and Google Assistant. Guests can use voice control to engage with their room and hotel staff and never worry about touching the phone or remote control.

Nick Clessauras, senior vice-president of sales with SONIFI Solutions notes that interactive television solutions allow multiple benefits: guests have more control over their options; hotels can reduce touch points in the room by replacing content from binders and info sheets; and properties save time and money by eliminating updates and printing of that information.

“Interactive television is more popular today than ever considering that hotels are dealing with this pandemic,” he says. He adds that the company’s STAYCAST has been popular in hotels because it allows guests to bring their streaming platforms with them on their devices and stream them to the TV. Additionally, SORA the newest interactive platform, anticipates a guest’s preferences based on behavior. If a guest scrolled to find HGTV a few times, that channel would be a one-click access point in the future.

“It adapts to users’ behavior offering a more personalized experience,” he says. “A guest started watching a movie, but didn’t finish, SORA can elevate that selection to the forefront.”

As technology progresses, in-room entertainment options do as well. Guests will continue to want the experiences they have come to expect at home — or something better — when they visit a property. It’s essential that hotels offer options that can be guest-controlled that improve their experience.

. . .

If you want to learn more insights about in-room entertainment, you can find this article by Ronda Payne featured on:

Western Hotelier Magazine

Eastern Hotelier Magazine

[Feb. 26, 2020] HoneyBadger Technologies is an innovative digital integration company that specialises in offering the hospitality industry in-room entertainment, guest internet facilities, and streaming solutions. They are an Australian company with over 16 years of experience and currently powering rooms and TVs across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Fiji and Samoa.

The ever-increasing expectation of hotel guests and in particular MilleXZials for a personalized experience necessitates all levels of hotels to have a broader range of technology available.

Because a digital integration system can be complex, it’s important to choose a system that uses state-of-the-art technology and is upgradeable. This will extend the lifespan of the solution. Our system servers are 99.9% stable and offers cloud back-ups, which means your guests will be able to make full use of our technologies all the time.

HoneyBadger Technologies offers you a flexible solution that can be customised to meet your needs. We guarantee to bring you a new digital experience that enables you to add new levels of information and entertainment for your guests. Our interactive guest compendiums are easy to navigate and will only add value to your guests’ experiences and therefore your business.

As part of our suite of products HoneyBadger Technologies delivers premium streaming TV solutions to the hospitality market. SONIFI’s STAYCAST powered by Google Chromecast delivers guests the ability to stream over 2,000 apps to their hotel TV – “Just like at home”. Our iTV and IPTV solutions ensures a memorable guest experience.

Enhance your guests experience with an in-room digital concierge experience that is designed with sophistication and luxury and is completely customised to your needs. We also offer full room integrations such as room control and voice commands through our integration partners.

Our technologies are able to deliver your choice of TV channels and content from multiple sources over existing COAX, Fibre, Structured Cabling and Wi-Fi networks. This flexibility and various hybrid options ensures a cost effective and more sustainable network utilisation. This in turn provides you and your guests with the freedom to access digital entertainment anywhere and anytime on your network. No matter what style or size of hotel.

Every hospitality business is unique and HoneyBadger Technologies provide you with the opportunity to fully customise your management system to your needs. From customising your welcome message that is viewed within each guest room, to a digital compendium and in-house advertisements, you have the opportunity to truly show off your business and communicate your brand to your guests.

Read the full story on AccomNews.

[January 7, 2020] At CES earlier this year, Google announced a variety of new home-focused features, for a little help at home with Google Assistant.

Google also announced that its “interpreter mode for business” is coming to a bunch of airports, hotels, and tourist attractions, letting people converse more easily across the language barrier in 29 languages.

Interpreter mode already exists; it’s on Android phones and Nest devices. The trick here is working with systems integrators Volara and Sonifi to get the devices properly set up, configured, and supported in a business environment.

Working with those firms, Google is putting Nest Hubs in JFK Airport’s Terminal 4, Caesar’s and Best Western hotels, and HSBC banks, for instance. Terminal 4, Google points out, is a particularly prime location for an interpreter system: it’s home to flights from 29 international airlines from AeroMexico to Xiamen Air, as well as a large library of Delta transatlantic flights. More than 21 million passengers use it per year, Google said.

Other businesses can now work through Volara and SONIFI to get the system up and running. SONIFI is probably better known under its former name LodgeNet: it’s responsible for the vast majority of hotel TV pay-per-view systems in the US, which means it’s in a prime position to plant devices on hotel front desks.

Read more on PC Mag.

^{Google and Google Nest Hub are trademarks of Google LLC.}

LOS ANGELES  (Nov. 11, 2019) – SONIFI Solutions, Inc. announced today the HITEC Dubai technology showcase being presented through its partnership with RPS Technologies.

At booth #B03, live demonstrations of SONIFI’s interactive TV solutions include STAY Interactive and SORA platforms. In addition, the industry-leading casting solution STAYCAST® powered by Google Chromecast and Voice Assistant will also be on display. This product portfolio enables RPS Technologies to deliver enterprise technology to a wide variety of properties and chain scales to the region.

Located in Dubai, RPS Technologies has a strong presence in the Middle East and Africa. The company is an experienced turn-key solution provider for hospitality and healthcare focusing on complete IPTV, headends, digital signage and audio/visual solutions.

Flagship properties that have enhanced their guest engagement technology with RPS include the Grand Hyatt Dubai, Hyatt Regency Dubai, Park Hyatt Dubai, Millennium Palace Barsha Heights and the recently opened Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre.

“This year’s HITEC Dubai technology showcase is the most robust we have had in many years,” stated Ramon Arevalo, Head of Business Development for RPS Technologies. “Through our key relationships in the area, RPS is well positioned to deliver technology solutions and support this region requires and expects.”

“RPS is a great partner for SONIFI and has been instrumental in expanding our global reach,” stated Matt Sandvold, VP International Market Development for SONIFI Solutions. “Their thoughtful approach, technology expertise and local support is second to none. We are excited to continue building upon our relationship and working together on future deployments.”

For more information on all products and services, visit booth #B03 at HITEC Dubai.

View press release on PR Newswire.

[July 18, 2019] SONIFI Solutions has partnered with TraknProtect to offer the company’s real-time location technology to hotels, including employee safety devices, inventory and room tray tracking as well as vendor and service contractor monitoring. In addition, TraknProtect will leverage SONIFI’s nationwide service platform to deploy its technology solution.

Electronic safety devices are in demand as the hotel industry steps up efforts to protect workers. In response to requests from unions and local ordinances, a number of hotel companies have committed to personal security measures for staff—a core use of TraknProtect’s technology is employee safety.

TraknProtect’s solutions use Bluetooth beacon technology and a software platform that tracks the location of employee badges, wearable safety devices or tagged items in real time. SONIFI’s extensive knowledge of hotel in-room technology, operations and infrastructure allows the two companies to deliver this technology reliably with minimal service disruption.

“It’s always our goal to connect clients with technology that makes it easier for their businesses to succeed,” Roy Kosuge, SONIFI’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “We’re excited to team up with TraknProtect to offer hoteliers the needed solutions for elevating staff safety as well as improvements to hotel efficiency and guest satisfaction.”

Read the full story here.

[July 3, 2019] SONIFI Solutions’ has partnered with TraknProtect to offer real-time location technology to hotels. Hotel Business looked into the enhanced operations and guest satisfaction benefits of this recent industry partnership. This alliance, along with other technology collaborations in the hospitality industry, is promoting innovation and efficiency.

Employee safety devices, inventory and room tray tracking, and vendor and service contractor monitoring are all apart of the real-time location technology that SONIFI Solutions & TraknProtect are offering hotels.

In addition, TraknProtect will leverage SONIFI’s nationwide service platform to deploy its technology solution. TraknProtect’s solutions utilize Bluetooth beacon technology and a software platform that tracks the location of employee badges, wearable safety devices or tagged items in real time.

Read the full article here.

LOS ANGELES (June 17, 2019) — SONIFI Solutions Inc., announced a partnership with TraknProtect to offer the company’s real-time location technology to hotels including employee safety devices, inventory and room tray tracking as well as vendor and service contractor monitoring. In addition, TraknProtect will leverage SONIFI’s nationwide service platform to deploy its technology solution. The partnership supports SONIFI’s mission to simplify technology and service for the smarter enterprise.

Electronic safety devices are in demand as the hotel industry steps up efforts to protect workers. In response to requests from unions and local ordinances, lodging giants including Marriott and Hilton, have committed to personal security measures for staff – a core use of TraknProtects’ technology is employee safety.

TraknProtect’s solutions utilize Bluetooth beacon technology and a software platform that tracks the location of employee badges, wearable safety devices or tagged items in real time. SONIFI’s extensive knowledge of hotel in-room technology, operations and infrastructure, allows the two companies to deliver this technology reliably with minimal service disruption.

The versatility of location tracking technology provides many benefits. Employees feel safe knowing the press of a button instantly alerts security personnel and notifies nearby staff. Plus, hotels operate more efficiently. Staff can easily find items such as cribs, carts, or even a food tray recently placed in the hallway. Guests enjoy receiving requested items quickly and walking through clean, uncluttered spaces. Hotels are only beginning to find ways to leverage tracking technology.

“It’s always our goal to connect clients with technology that makes it easier for their businesses to succeed,” said Roy Kosuge, Chief Commercial Officer for SONIFI. “We’re excited to team up with TraknProtect to offer hoteliers the needed solutions for elevating staff safety as well as improvements to hotel efficiency and guest satisfaction.”

“Like SONIFI, we use simple technology to solve problems at scale”, said Parminder Batra, CEO & Co- Founder of TraknProtect. “We are excited to work with them to allow hotels to integrate the power of real-time location data into their safety & operations systems.”

For more information on all products and services including new backlit remotes, visit SONIFI’s booth 1608 and TraknProtect’s booth 3017 at HITEC Minneapolis.

View press release on PR Newswire.

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SONIFI’s partnership with TraknProtect has also been featured on:

• Hospitality Technology