Need to know why every hotel brand is building its own streaming platform?
Let’s cut to the chase.
Guests want Netflix. YouTube. Hulu. They want all of their favourite streaming services instead of scrolling through endless cable channels.
In hotels.
Because if they can’t get those apps on the hotel TV…
They’re booking somewhere else.
And hotels without amazing guest experiences lose bookings every day to the ones that do.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why Streaming is more important than ever before for Hotels
- How Custom Platforms are a Hidden Revenue Machine
- IPTV = Future of In-Room Hotel Entertainment
- What Leading Hotels Are Doing to Deliver Unmatched Experiences
- Payments Are the #1 Issue No One Tells You About
Why Streaming Services Are EVERYTHING For Hotels (Right Now)
Here are some stats:
With streaming services becoming more and more popular every year, a recent study from Hospitality Technology found that 70% of hotel guests say access to streaming services influence their decision to book one hotel over another.
Now here’s why that stat should worry every hotel…
The average person is paying for 3-4 streaming subscriptions at home.
Walk into their hotel room.
Plug them into their dated TV with basic cable. Without their favourite apps.
Expect them not to notice.
When guests can easily book a hotel across the street because they offer nitpicky things like WiFi or decent streaming services, the in-room experience becomes even more important.
If hotel guests can’t watch their favourite shows, movies, or live sports events they used to back home… they’re going to leave a negative review. Simple as that.
Hotels have found a solution though.
Many hotels are starting to build custom IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) based platforms that allow guests to access all of their favourite streaming apps, cast content from their phones to the hotel TV, and enjoy a completely customisable experience.
…but implementing your own IPTV streaming platform isn’t without its challenges. Running a successful IPTV hospitality business requires expensive infrastructure and complicated content licensing agreements. Oh, and don’t forget about finding a payment processor that accepts IPTV businesses with an instant approval merchant account that won’t shut you down for being in a “high-risk” category.
Everything is explained below.
How Custom Streaming Platforms Are Hotels’ Hidden Revenue Stream
Did you know hotels can charge their guests for premium content through their custom platforms?
Hosting their own streaming service allows hotels to upsell pay-per-view events, premium movie content, and live sports packages.
And there’s a lot more money to be made.
Hotels can use guest viewing data to curate the entire in-room experience based on preference.
Even better, hotels save thousands of dollars a month by cutting cable tv costs.
Want to know the crazy stat that proves hotels should care about their streaming platform?
Oracle released a hospitality survey which found that 45% of travellers say on-demand hotel entertainment that connects to their personal streaming services is the #1 thing they must have during their stay.
That’s right. Nearly HALF of hotel guests say streaming services are a deciding factor when booking hotels.
If a hotel can provide that experience through their own branded platform, they upsell guests on premium content while building brand loyalty.
IPTV Is Taking Over The Hotel Industry
Short for Internet Protocol Television. IPTV allows hotels to deliver digital content through internet streaming instead of traditional satellite or cable broadcasts.
Why does this matter?
IPTV allows hotels to create a fully custom streaming experience.
Brands can tailor the interface to match their look-and-feel, bundle services like hotel menus and room service ordering, and deliver content in multiple languages to international travellers.
The global video-on-demand hospitality market size is expected to expand at a whopping 9.72% compound annual growth rate through 2034.
Even smaller hotels are jumping on board.
While major hotel brands like Marriott and Hilton are integrating complex IPTV platforms into their rooms, smaller independent hotels and resorts can easily get started by partnering with IPTV technology providers.
IPTV providers take care of all things streaming while hoteliers focus on creating the best guest experience possible.
Hotels That Get Streaming “Right” Are Rocking It
Hotels are going beyond just “having” a streaming platform…
And it shows.
Forward-thinking hotels are leveraging IPTV streaming services along with other in-room tech to build a fully connected ecosystem for guests.
Voice-controlled technology, personalised greetings, smart rooms that adjust to guest preferences; hotels are going all-out to impress.
Hotel brands who are crushing it with their in-room experiences have a few things in common:
Guests can cast content from their phones to hotel TVs effortlessly.
Forget login. Forget trouble. Simple.
Recommendation engines work behind the scenes to understand guest preferences and suggest content personally curated to them.
Hotel guests use the TV as a platform to order room service, book spa services, and even checkout.
Once a guest checks out, all of their data and streaming logins are automatically deleted for them.
Yes. Hotels are taking their TVs seriously. And guests are noticing.
Hotels with high satisfaction scores recognise the power of a connected in-room experience.
The Problem Most Hotels Don’t Talk About: Payments
Here’s where things get messy for hotels…
Processing payments for IPTV content isn’t easy.
Why?
Streaming and IPTV are usually considered “high-risk” by payment gateways. That means hoteliers risk getting their merchant accounts shut down by payment providers for falling into a “high-risk” industry.
But hold up, there’s more.
Unless hotels offer some type of payment option for either premium content, upgrades, or pay-per-view events… their custom platform doesn’t even serve as a revenue stream.
This is the exact problem that catches most hotels off guard.
Booking payments for IPTV streaming services is critical to success. And most hotels don’t know where to start.
Unless they work with payment providers that specialise in IPTV.
Partnering with a payment provider with experience in high-risk industries makes all the difference. And 2Accept specialises in high-risk.
Let’s Recap…
Ok. So streaming services are huge. Every hotel needs to have some sort of streaming platform these days.
- Hotels can upsell premium content through their platforms.
- IPTV technology allows hotels to create a fully custom streaming experience.
- The best hotels incorporate streaming into the entire guest experience.
- Payment and merchant account setup is KEY for monetisation.
If hotels want to future-proof their business and stand out from the competition…
Streaming services are where it’s at.
The real question is…
Are you going to lead the pack with a custom platform, or fall behind everyone else?