Three key amenities that help hotels keep an edge over home-sharing options

As the 2024 travel season progresses, hotels with superior technology infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and easy access to content can win over travelers who may be considering short-term rental options, in homes or similar properties rented from their respective owners. Hotels with good foundational connectivity and guest-facing technology provide travelers with the at-home experience they’re accustomed to. Further, in many cases they offer hospitality solutions such as custom hotel TV, voice and network solutions that deliver exceptional guest experiences.

In the ongoing competition for market share in the hospitality space, hotels should prioritize and promote these top three technology amenities to win.

1. WiFi connectivity is king: At the most basic level, WiFi is the number one amenity travelers seek, and has been for some time. Whereas the vast majority of hotels offer some level of WiFi, the availability of this feature in home-sharing settings can be spotty, at times. Free WiFi is the technology that most guests demand and 91% of hotels offer that amenity. The industry has made a large investment in hotel internet services connectivity, and 78% of hoteliers expect to increase tech spending over the next three years. Conversely, industry observers are still warning about possible risks involved in using WiFi supplied in home-sharing situations. 
   
   According to Hospitality Technology, “Hotel guests continue to rank Wi-Fi as their number-one technology need. This is critical given guests’ reliance on the Internet for so much of what they do — gathering information, communicating with others, transacting business, working remotely, seeking entertainment, etc.” 
   
   At times finding the WiFi network name, or being provided the right network credentials from private hosts is troubling, or fraught with peril. Further, it is difficult to ascertain whether a home-sharing situation can enable multiple device usage supported by good infrastructure – like if a property has a strong enough WiFi network to support the device demands of a family of four. At a reputable property with hotel WiFi, guests can safely assume their digital needs will be met. 
   
   Good hotel-grade connectivity allows guests to move around the property (pool, gym, lounge, and so on) while enjoying their favorite apps or simply communicating with friends and families. Hoteliers agree that these ongoing investments will continue to be critical, as 81% believe it’s very likely that hospitality solutions technology will become even more important for successful hotel businesses in the next five years.
   
2. Personalized guest experiences are increasingly easy to access: Providing innovative technology with greater opportunities for personalization is a key differentiator for hotels. Entertainment is only the beginning of what in-room TV can provide hospitality organizations. A service like Moviebeam can also enhance communication, provide contactless services and promote your brand. One way to do that includes customizing a welcome page that greets guests by name as they enter their hotel room. Or, for example, if a guest has previously booked spa treatments, you can send a customized spa offer via Moviebeam. 
   
   Leading hotels can offer technology-based entertainment options that include over 200 channels of live TV programming, provide your guests with free movies on demand, streaming applications and the ability to cast their personal content to the in-room TV. Meanwhile, some home-sharing TVs have minimal apps or channels to choose from. Further, at hotels, there is a certain level of privacy regarding the content consumed in an individual room or while on the property. 
   
   One study showed that guests are eager to use technology for guest services, such as using their mobile devices for check-in (66%), controlling amenities (62%), unlocking room doors (61%), and requesting services (51%).  Additionally, the same study showed that 75% of travelers indicate that they are willing to pay an additional amount equal to 1 to 5% of the room rate if their technology demands are met. 
   
   With the integration of voice assistants and voice-activated devices in hotels and resorts, guests can now effortlessly control various aspects of their stay through simple vocal commands. From adjusting settings like temperature and lighting, to requesting services like housekeeping or arranging transportation, this technology offers convenience and efficiency not likely to be found in home-sharing situations.
3. Security: Hoteliers dedicate significant resources to data security: According to a Hospitality Technology study, 81% of respondents say they are likely to stay loyal to a hotel that it can trust with their personal data. And hotels are well aware of the ongoing need to safeguard consumer data and protect guest privacy. According to that same publication,  “54% of travel/hospitality organizations said they have increased their cyber budget over the past year. Of those organizations, 80% have increased their cyber budget from 4% to 20%, and 83% of travel/hospitality organizations have dedicated between 4% and 20% of their total IT budget to cybersecurity.” 
   
   Most modern hotels have modern WiFi networks, with hotel WiFi security run by professionals who work diligently on ensuring their networks are safe from hackers; leading hotels often rely on managed networks, provided, maintained and continually updated by trusted technology partners. These services provide hospitality partners of all sizes with a powerful platform including security and routing, local network switching, network management, and purpose-built WiFi for both guests and staff — all in one end-to-end managed solution. Few, if any, home-sharing settings can match this level of cybersecurity. 
   
   In the realm of physical security and prompt emergency response, cloud-based cameras offer hotels a modern way to provide an extra level of monitoring of threats at a hotel; unfortunately, in many home-sharing situations, cameras are only used to monitor guest movements and/or behavior. 

How Spectrum Enterprise can help

Many hotel operators are finding that working with a single-source provider for hospitality solutions can have a positive impact on the bottom line. Spectrum Enterprise can help you drive guest service scores and continue to help you win market share over home-sharing options with technology solutions purpose-built for seasonal, small or large hospitality businesses.

For more than 20 years we’ve designed, implemented and managed hotel TV, voice and network solutions that deliver exceptional guest experiences. See why the top 25 hotel brands in the US rely on Spectrum Enterprise for technology solutions.