Hotel TV could be an interesting revenue model

No longer a necessary evil

High-quality content on hotel room TV, you can hardly do without it these days. One company specialising in such TV hospitality solutions is ClubDisplay from Lisse, Zuid-Holland. "With LG Pro:Centric, it is possible to make hotel TV an interesting revenue model," say owners Jacques Brinkman and Barry Verheul.

When it comes to hospitality TV solutions, there are plenty of providers, Brinkman and Verheul know. "But most of our competing colleagues think from the point of view of technology. Because we both have a background in the graphics and advertising world, we think mainly from content and marketing. That's where our strength lies and what makes ClubDisplay unique. After all, high-quality content, tailored to the guest, has a clear added value."

Advanced management platform LG Pro:Centric

The entrepreneurial duo, who founded ClubDisplay some eight years ago, are convinced: the hotel room television screen offers hotels plenty of opportunities to improve the guest experience. "Unfortunately, many hoteliers still see hotel TV as a necessary evil. But with our advanced management platform LG Pro:Centric, you can turn it into an interesting revenue model," says Brinkman. "For instance, hotel TV makes it possible to offer a stage to local entrepreneurs, such as restaurants and bicycle rental companies. The TV in the hotel room lends itself ideally to creating links, for example via a QR code, to local entrepreneurs who add value to the hotel experience. As a result, hotel guests discover the area and it offers commercial opportunities with which the investment can be recouped faster."

Encouraging repeat visits

ClubDisplay's clientele includes businesses of all kinds and from small to large; from a small-scale boutique hotel to large five-star hotels. "More and more of our customers are realising that hotel TV is an ideal tool to highlight their company's identity," the owners say. "Guests who book a room at a booking site often do not even know which hotel they are staying in. That's a shame, because as a hotel, it's important to show who you are! This is perfectly possible with our management platform LG Pro:Centric, as it allows you to express the hotel's unique look and feel on the hotel TV. This management platform allows every guest to receive personalised information on their hotel TV about, for example, reservations, check-out times and current offers. To encourage repeat visits, we always advise our customers to show what it looks like in the region in the summer on the TV screen."

Streaming with privacy

Research shows that hotel guests nowadays find it very important to be able to stream a series from, for example, Netflix or HBO in the hotel room, just like at home. "Until recently, streaming in hotel rooms was quite sensitive in connection with privacy legislation," says Verheul. "However, our so-called OtrumCast system offers a solution for this. Because thanks to this Chromecast solution, guests can safely stream their own content in their hotel rooms. When checking out, all the guest's login details are automatically erased. In addition, OtrumCast fits perfectly with the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend where guests bring their own laptop, tablet or smartphone and link to the hotel TV to stream. Another practical advantage of this Chromecast solution is that the guest can stream and at the same time use their mobile device for other applications, such as apps or internet browsing. Finally, it is ideal that with OtrumCast you always stay connected to the guest network, wherever you are in the hotel."