Stay in your lane


Stay in your lane
Nevaya CEO James Richmond discusses the value of specialisation in a sector where one size does not fit all.
Technology has become a frightening area for hotels, who have been burned in the past by tech which promises ahead of its time and which hotels have found hard to implement across a team which tends towards high turnover. Many hotels are looking for simple solutions which will cover everything they need and they can plug in and forget about.
And, while I can see the temptation, we – and our clients – have found that doing one thing really well has helped us and them deliver exceptional guest experiences, driving valuable long-term loyalty as well as ancillary revenues.
Specialising means that we’re able to pile all of our resources into one thing. This is not to say that our team couldn’t branch out – they’re incredibly talented – but what specialisation really manifests is that every single member of our team is focused on just hotel TV. At the end of the day, a broad spectrum dilutes your ability to do a great job and lead one particular market.
That might sound a bit ridiculous until you realise that there are 25 million TVs out there that could run your content. And there are any number of companies out there that have many different tricks in their box; be it TVs or captive WiFi portals or phones or tablets, kiosks, pre check and post check in. But all those different tricks mean none of them are well practiced. If you’re doing everything, you can’t do everything as well as if you did one thing incredibly well.
The hotel tech stack is enormous, but by focusing in on just hotel TV and, obsessively, the streaming component of that, means that we’re better than anyone else. To be the best is a good thing and we have found that being able to deliver content seamlessly – both the guests’ and that created by the hotel to communicate with the guest – is a niche we’re thrilled to occupy. On-demand television has changed the way that guests interact with the in-room TV; rather than it being an unused block of plastic on the desk, it is now a portal through which guests can access what they watch at home and maybe order room service too, adding to the stay experience and building loyalty.
Increasingly, you become recognised for doing that one thing and it becomes a virtuous circle where you find it easier to come to people’s attention and easier for them to trust you.
Key to our success within the stack is our ability to work well with others and we have a completely open API which allows other systems to seamlessly integrate with us. Integrations are incredibly important. We recently passed the demanding Mews certification process, making seamless cloud casting available to 620,000 rooms worldwide.
Our overall vision is very much around anything that we can do digitally to improve the in-stay experience. But right here, right now, the TV is a hugely untapped screen in every room. We see that as the most impactful way to influence the guest experience.
We’re able to turn the TV on so that every guest walks in and sees big screen digital engagement. Then over 30% of guests now stream their content to the TV during their stay, on average for three times and a total of 210 minutes. So it’s a material part of their awake experience in the room.
At the heart of Nevaya is innovation. When you have a niche, you can go deeper and deeper into the it and explore, whereas if you’re looking at the wider tech stack, that focus becomes diluted. And why would you want to offer a product that’s sort of OK in a lot of areas, when you can go to work every day and create something great?
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nevaya. + Forest Holidays


How do you deliver the very best guest experience for a frictionless stay?
As a nature-focused hospitality brand committed to creating a relaxing, effortless guest journey that complements the holiday experience, Forest Holidays needed to ensure its technology could support that mission. With the business preparing for a fully streamed, hardware-light future, it became clear that it’s digital guest experience required a unified, scalable and reliably managed solution.
Challenges like:
– A consistent digital experience
– Technology that aligned with ‘Forest Feeling’
– A reliable, cloud-first foundation
In short, Forest Holidays needed a trusted, strategic partner able to deliver a seamless, modern and revenue-enhancing guest experience without compromising the natural, forest-focused experience of their brand. And that’s why they came to Nevaya.
We were incredibly proud to be chosen by the Forrest Holidays team to deliver a comprehensive, cloud-based tech stack with an API-first approach.
The Solution:
Nevaya’s cloud-first architecture ensures maximum uptime and delivers the seamless experience essential for maintaining Forest Holidays’ service standards. The platform also unlocks new commercial opportunities through up-selling, curated content, and personalised journeys, all while keeping the experience effortless for guests.
Solution in action:
From personalised content to dynamic upsell journeys, Nevaya’s platform is already delivering meaningful results. Guest engagement is strong, with thousands of streaming interactions each month, and the positive feedback reinforces that the experience feels natural, simple and aligned with the tranquillity of a forest escape.
See exactly what the Forest Holiday team thought about working with Nevaya and how we solved their guest entertainment and experience problems.
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.



Nevaya certified by Google for Google Cast on Samsung


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Google Cast has approved Nevaya’s hotel TV platform with Google for Google Cast on the latest Samsung hospitality TVs, making seamless casting available to more hotel guests around the world.
The certification marks the growing demand for casting from guests, who increasingly view it as an essential element of their stay. Earlier this year Nevaya announced a partnership with Apple to offer AirPlay in hotels, making in the first cloud hotel TV platform to announce availability to all hotels globally.
James Richmond, Nevaya CEO, said: “Offering casting drives guest satisfaction and loyalty, but hotels can be reluctant to embrace it, concerned about supporting additional technology and losing equipment along the way.
“Samsung’s built-in technology removes these worries and means that we can work with hotels on what really matters – delivering outstanding, memorable service.
Piotr Lipiec, Senior BDM Hospitality TV Europe, Samsung, said: “Nevaya is a great team to work with; their commitment to ensuring that casting works every time, however challenging the environment, reassures us that they are a partner we can grow with.”
Richmond added: “At Nevaya we pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of innovation and this certification will allow us to help hotels to both enhance the guest stay and drive ancillary revenues.”
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.



How In-Room TVs Are Becoming the Next Loyalty Channel


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Nevaya was featured in Hospitality Technology last week.
Here’s what James Richmond said:
Our sector defines itself by being hospitable. We may be more complicated than other real estate classes, but that’s because we seek to create those memorable events which make it into the end-of-year letter to those far-flung relatives. We are embedded in people’s lives in a way that self storage just can’t achieve.
This is in contrast to the sector’s evolving funding model. We are small, but we have the potential to be highly profitable. To misquote A Midsummer Night’s Dream, though we be little, we are fierce. Done well, that complicated hotel stack can deliver returns far above self storage, even without the positive influence of Oasis in town.
This is attracting investors from outside the sector into our tiny niche, investors who are eager to enjoy the inflation-hedging potential of a hotel in their portfolio but don’t want to have to put the mints on the pillows themselves. The global operators have, in growing numbers, been seeking to attract these owners, moving away from ownership themselves and focusing on operations, or just franchising. Success is now measured in terms of pipeline growth.
In-Room TVs: The Underrated Channel for Guest Engagement
But as the brands get further away, their need to stay close to the guest increases. To prove their worth to owners and investors, the brands need bulging loyalty programmes illustrating their ability to put heads in beds without the need for the OTAs. And to keep guests loyal – or at least frequent – they need to be loved and supported and offered free lattes and upgrades.
There is more and more awareness from hotels, and particularly the brands, that there is a massive digital signage board in the room, which can follow up the human in reception, or sometimes replace them entirely.
It’s the persistent message during the guest day. With WiFi, the guest might see the captive portal on their phone for a split second, but the TV has an excuse to constantly remind them of the brand, and allow loyalty promotion and upsell with tracking and sign ups and promotional videos on the big screen playing at opportune moments during the stay.
Keeping Guests Connected Throughout Their Stay
The brands want to be able to control the messaging to their guests within the room without any worry about the owners getting involved, and the TV pushes the message through directly to their loyalty base. It encourages rebooking, sign up, shows the points balance on the screen along with special reward status reminders, all of them directly to the eyeballs of the guest.
Yes, the guest wants to use the TV to either watch TV or to stream their content on the big screen, not on their tiny, little phone. The hotel or the brand wants the guests to be happy. So that aligns quite well. But even more than that, they want you to spend more money, to be more loyal, to always stay at that brand rather than their competitor.
The opportunity to reinforce that messaging and reinforce that relationship is important, for the guest as well. Even if you are loyal to a brand, then it’s almost easy to forget where you’re staying once you’ve walked in through the front door. The TV can provide a persistent and continual reminder: the colours, the logo, the feeling. All of that can be tightly controlled across the flag and can be fully customised, as well as being able to link the control through to the app.
The in-room TV now gives brands the opportunity to be in the room with the guest, even if they’re nowhere near the hotel.
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.



Nevaya awarded Mews certification


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Nevaya has passed the Mews certification process, making seamless cloud casting available to 620,000 rooms worldwide, and empowering hotels to deliver a truly personalised guest experience.
Mews is the latest in a growing number of apps Nevaya is integrated with, increasing a flexibility driven by its cloud-first strategy.
Mews is used by over 12,500 properties, encompassing 620,000 rooms worldwide, with brands including Choice Hotels International and Design Hotels. Official certification by Mews brings Nevaya to the attention of hoteliers around the world.
Thomas White, Nevaya product manager, Nevaya, said: “This direct integration with Mews cuts out the middleman and enables clients to access Nevaya seamlessly.
“Mews and Nevaya share the belief that technology should drive exceptional guest experience, leading to valuable lifetime loyalty. Certifying with Mews helps us to deliver this around the world.”
The certification follows Nevaya’s partnership with Apple to offer AirPlay for hotels, which launched at Sea Containers London. Nevaya is the first cloud hotel TV platform to announce availability to all hotels globally, paving the way for mass adoption alongside Apple’s stringent certification process.
White added: “At Nevaya we pride ourselves in being at the forefront of innovation, reinforced by our dedicated team who have delivered a robust product capable of passing the rigorous certification processes demanded by Mews and Apple.
“Our decision to focus on the cloud ensures that, not only is our product available anywhere immediately, but can also be supported remotely 24/7. Casting should be as simple to install as it is to use.”
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.



Fairland hails ‘elegant’ Nevaya solution


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Fairland has provided IT network solutions to prestigious hotels in London, Europe and the US for more than 20 years. The company prides itself in having a specialist, in-depth knowledge of the hospitality sector and its needs.
The group has delivered transformative IT solutions to overhaul operations and drive profitability and exceptional guest experience.
Fairland chose Nevaya because the solution is fully cloud based and gives users the ability to cast from any device without the need for set-top boxes or dongles.
Daniel Woodhouse, CTO, Fairland, said: “Nevaya stands out for their elegant solution, which doesn’t rely upon physical hardware for casting, utilising the inbuilt features of the TV.
“The universal client device compatibility enables guests to stream any content they want to, without needing to login to any application on the TV.
“In a hospitality environment, device compatibility is essential for maximising the guest experience, providing a home-from-home experience, which Nevaya excels at.
“The highly-customisable branded interface tailored to each customer’s brand standards provides the ability to adapt and change the content as desired.
“The solution offers compatibility with a wide range of TV platforms, with rapid deployment minimising the impact on the hotel when migrating systems, as well as simple TV onboarding and fantastic support.”
James Richmond, co-founder & CEO, Nevaya, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Fairland, whose belief in innovation and guest experience aligns perfectly with ours.
“We believe that the in-room TV has the potential to be more than entertainment, that it can be a starting point for building a valuable relationship between guests and a hotel, leading to greater customer satisfaction and increased revenue.”
Woodhouse concluded: “Our clients have responded exceptionally well to the new cloud-based IPTV platform by Nevaya. Feedback highlights included: improved reliability, ease of use, and enhanced guest experiences.
“Many clients have praised the integration and flexibility the platform offers, resulting in increased satisfaction and stronger engagement across properties.
“Nevaya is a best of breed solution, a truly seamless experience.”
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.



Nevaya and Filmbankmedia partner to bring Hollywood blockbusters to hotel rooms


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Nevaya has entered into a partnership with Filmbankmedia, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Pictures, and NT Digital Partners, and a market leader in non-theatrical content licensing.
Filmbankmedia acts as a premier content aggregator, representing the world’s most prestigious libraries, including Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, A24, as well as leading international and independent studios. This collaboration enables Nevaya to deliver a true Hollywood-grade VOD experience, offering new film releases just weeks after their cinema debut, alongside blockbuster franchises, timeless classics, and award-winning TV series.
The strength of the content will position Nevaya’s platform as a luxury in-roomentertainment amenity — enhancing the guest experience, driving loyalty and retention, and positively influencing booking decisions.
Under the terms of the agreement, hotels will have the flexibility to offer the platform either as a complimentary premium amenity — enhancing perceived room value — or to make brand-new movie releases available on a pay-per-view basis, creating an opportunity to drive additional ancillary revenue per room. Guests can enjoy content as part of their room stay or choose to rent new release titles. In addition, hotels will have the opportunity to align their brand with Hollywood’s biggest cultural moments, from blockbuster releases like Sinners and Lilo & Stitch to major award contenders such as Anora, through seamless integration into pre-arrival communications and the in-room user experience.
James Richmond, co-founder & CEO, Nevaya, said: “Our reputation has been built around innovation and working with hotels so that they can provide guests with a better stay, with better content. We are excited to be partnering with Filmbankmedia and helping hotels to stand out from the competition.”
Majella Griffin, CEO, Filmbankmedia, added: “We have an incredible roster of films, from Oscar winners to cult classics, old and new, offering something for every traveller. Our agreement with Nevaya will give hotels a powerful point of differentiation with the consumer. Blockbuster films continue to capture the imagination of the public, and the chance to relax with the latest movie, fresh from the theatre, is a wonderful way to give guests a memorable experience.”
Richmond added: “Our user interface can be tailored to a hotel’s requirements, so that marketing teams can own and enhance a brand. It is not just a piece of technology; it is a marketing tool. And as a true cloud solution, it is a simple and cost-effective method of generating both loyalty and ancillary revenue with every stay.
“When the TV is just part of the IT budget, it can be harder to convince owners of its worth. But when it helps to tell the hotel’s story, it comes under the auspices of marketing. When it can generate revenue, it can pay for itself — which is a storyline everyone can enjoy.”
Nevaya’s interface seamlessly promotes additional services and amenities alongside premium content, allowing guests to order room service during a movie, or book a relaxing massage after an intense thriller.
Nevaya works with brands including Accor, IHG, CitizenM, and Bob W.
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.



Nevaya and White Mirror redefine sleep in hotels with sensory technology and music psychology


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Nevaya, the leading cloud-based platform for in-room guest experience, is partnering with sensory innovation studio White Mirror to revolutionise hotel sleep environments through the power of music psychology, functional soundscapes, and immersive visual design.
As the hospitality industry increasingly prioritises wellbeing, this collaboration brings science-inspired sensory design into the heart of the guestroom — making restful, restorative sleep not just a service, but a signature experience.
Together, Nevaya and White Mirror are co-developing a new generation of “Sensory Sleep Scripts” – seamless integrations of functional soundscapes and calming visuals available directly through Nevaya’s smart hotel interface. This experience supports stress reduction and improved sleep hygiene — key pillars of modern wellness.
“We’re not just playing music in rooms,” says Ramy Elnagar, co-founder of White Mirror. “We’re applying music psychology, neuroscience, and environmental cues to help the nervous system unwind. Every tone and transition is intentional.”
The soundscapes draw on research from sleep neuroscience, including tempo modulation, rhythmic entrainment, and noise masking — techniques proven to influence brain states and promote deeper rest. Paired with minimalist visual sequences, these immersive scenes foster the ideal conditions for recovery and regeneration.
Key Features:
- Science-inspired Sleep Soundtracks tailored for downregulation
- Circadian-supporting visual palettes and transitions
- In-room personalisation through Nevaya’s intuitive interface
- Data-lite cloud integration with no additional hardware
This collaboration positions both brands at the intersection of hospitality technology and sensory wellbeing, setting a new standard for guest care in hotels. White Mirror brings decades of experience in designing sensory environments for brands like The Maybourne Group, Jaguar Land Rover, and Equinox Hotels — now made scalable through Nevaya’s tech infrastructure.
James Richmond, co-founder, CEO, Nevaya, said: “I believe that in-room televisions are an under-utilised resource to help hotels to build valuable relationships with their guests.
“By working with the team at White Mirror, we hope to deliver the one true goal for all hotels and their guests: a good night’s sleep. Hotels will be able to enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done, as well as the benefits of a lifetime of loyalty from a grateful guest.”
Tom Middleton, sensory designer and sleep coach at White Mirror, adds:
“We treat sleep as a sensory ritual that begins the moment you enter the room, with sound, light, and rhythm working together to gently guide the body toward rest. In an age where quality sleep is a proven performance enhancer, yet elusive for many due to stress and the first-night effect, our approach helps guests truly switch off, reset, and recover.”
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Nevaya launches Apple AirPlay in hotels - now live at Sea Containers London


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Nevaya has partnered with Apple to offer AirPlay in hotels, with Sea Containers London now live and available to guests.
Nevaya is paving the way for broader adoption globally, in line with Apple’s stringent certification process.
Guests at the luxury property can now stream their own content easily and securely from their iPhone or iPad to the LG hotel TV.
Streaming is achieved by scanning the unique TV QR code, ensuring a secure and private connection for guests to watch their content on the big screen during their stay – all without sharing their credentials. When guests check out, their link to the TV is automatically erased.
Guests need only pair once during their stay and can stream crystal-clear content from Apple TV+, Apple Music, and numerous other streaming apps. They can also watch personal photos and videos, practice a presentation, play fun games on Apple Arcade or get a workout in with Apple Fitness+ all on the big screen, and from the comfort of their room.
James Richmond, CEO, Nevaya, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Apple at Sea Containers to offer better experiences which drive true loyalty.
“This will be a game changer for those guests who are part of the Apple community and are used to the brand promise of unparalleled privacy, with ease and simplicity that means streaming content to the TV just works.
“We expect to see high demand for Apple AirPlay in hotels, particularly in the luxury sector, which has a high percentage of Apple users. The robust simplicity of the product will ensure that TV streaming becomes as ubiquitous as WiFi in hotels.”
Gavin Allison, global head of IT at Lore Group, which manages Sea Containers, said: “At Sea Containers, we pride ourselves in providing an exceptional backdrop for memorable stays which exceed expectations.
“This means not only sophisticated design, elevated dining, and award-winning bars, but a high-end in-room experience. With Nevaya and Apple AirPlay in hotels, we can ensure that every element of the stay is the best there is.”
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.



Nevaya embeds with Leonardo


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Nevaya and Leonardo Hotels UK have announced the launch of built in Google Cast at a number of the company’s properties.
The technology, which enables personal content casting to the TV without the need for additional hardware, marks an evolution in Nevaya’s offering since its move into casting in 2016.
Nevaya is the first company in the UK and Europe to go live with Google Cast and the first to be officially certified by Google, with the group ready to deploy anywhere in the world.
The solution includes Google Cast software embedded in the latest generation of LG smart hotel TVs, reducing the installation time and improving operational efficiencies, with any issues able to be addressed remotely.
Google Cast works from both Android and iOS devices, providing a seamless viewing experience agnostic of the guests’ hardware.
James Richmond, CEO, Nevaya, said: “We are excited to be able to work with Leonardo Hotels and roll out built-in Google Cast, increasing the simplicity of use and accessibility of casting for guests.
“Using an embedded product means that we can ensure great casting every time, improving the experience in the hotel room and helping to create loyal customers.”
Shane Doyle, group information technology manager, Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland, added: “Our guests are eager to enjoy their content as they travel and our partnership with Nevaya helps us to roll out casting for our guests in the UK, regardless of the devices they bring to the room.
“Nevaya guarantees a high level of privacy and security, so guests can be reassured that their content remains personal to them, allowing them to relax and enjoy a true home-from-home experience.”
André Lopes, European business development manager, said: “At LG our mission is to add value to the lives of our customers through innovation, no matter where they are using our products. By working with Nevaya, we ensure that we are staying at the forefront of innovation as well as delivering the content and experience that guests want, while helping hotels build loyal relationships with every stay.”
The initial rollout will include Leonardo Hotels’ Master Collections brand; a group of premium serviced apartments in key urban destinations around the world. Leonardo has more than 50,000 hotel rooms across 21 countries.
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Book a free consultation with one of our team to learn about the Nevaya platform and how it could enhance your guest experience.









