Tapping into technology

The co-founder & CEO, screen-casting tech firm Nevaya, says the possibilities for in-room entertainment are endless in Dubai.

Dubai’s reputation as a global leader in luxury implies that you would expect the in-room technology in its hotels to be exceptional. And this is true, at least in part. Nearly all of the hotel rooms in Dubai have smart hotel TVs because most hotels get their live TV from providers who use fibre, rather than satellite. This has been the case for a number of years and the only way you can access the channels in this native IPTV multicast format is by having a smart TV or set-top box.

The hotels have made the investment in these TVs and in the infrastructure which includes structured data cabling, of which only a small amount of its potential is used. They are left sitting there, delivering dry mastic options, when they could be doing so much more. They are offering yesterday’s TV, with tomorrow’s technology.

The great news is that this infrastructure makes them compatible with a huge number of options, which could turn them from a passive box in the corner of the room to something which can help hotels to build a relationship with their guests, help them drive ancillary revenue, and to create an extensive, memorable in-room experience.

These hotels have already made all the hardware investments that they will need. It’s ready to go, just flick on a switch and the guest what they really want: their own content. The pandemic has changed guests’ definitions of luxury and their expectations of basic standards in hotels. Experience is now the priority, customers expect access to the entertainment they want, when they want.

The days of in-room entertainment being dictated by the hotel itself are long gone – guests know what they like, and they like it as seamless as possible.

Guests should be able to cast their favourite apps to the in-room TV before they even arrive in their room. No more dongle to deal with when you’re unpacking, using the cloud means that connectivity is robust, making the in-room experience truly relaxing. For Dubai, a market where hotels compete to be the best – and where the environment is such that the air-conditioned room is often a more appealing place to be than anywhere else – simple casting should be standard.

Hotels in the emirate are printed to ant to achieve the best, not just with their immediate competition, but around the world. They have been charged with being the next source of income after oil, with the hope that travel and truism will help to bolster the economy in the coming years.

So far, the effort has been successful. A KMPG study last year reported that Duabi’s hospitality industry made a strong post-pandemic rebound, registering the highest-rated hotel occupancy rate in 15 years, with the Emirate’s tourism sector contributing US$29.4bn to the economy in 2022.

Sidharth Mehta, partner & head of real estate, KPMG Lower Gulf, said “Dubai’s hospitality industry has witnessed remarkable growth – driven by the Government’s forward-thinking vision to address the needs of all hospitality stakeholder. Furthermore, the UAE is investing around US$32bn to acquire 48,000 more hotel rooms to bring it to a total of 200,000. These developments place the UAW in an enviable position to navigate travel and hospitality demands in 2023, equally driving ecumenic growth by creating employment opportunities”

The operators surveyed by KPG indicated that digitalisation and sustainability remained priority areas, and 67 percent said the uptake of technology had significantly transformed their business over the last 3 years. With that in mind, why let such valuable real estate in your hotel room go to waste? The luxury sector prides itself on commanding the kind of loyalty that drives repeat visits, and the word of mouth that builds a hotel’s reputation. It’s time to plug in the potential.

As featured in the February edition of Hotelier Middle East.

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