Netflix and Streaming Video Are Replacing Hotel Pay-Per-View Entertainment

It might be crazy to think of this — especially at a time when some of us still agonize over the super-slow speed with which it takes to download a simple PDF in some hotel rooms — but we're calling it: In just a few years' time, it's highly likely that the Internet of Things (IoT) will be coming to a hotel room near you. What does that mean, exactly? It means that the only "smart" product in your hotel room won't be limited to your phone anymore. It means that your TV, the temperature, the lighting, the curtains, will all be connected via the Internet, and controlled by the guest. Robert Cole, the founder of RockCheetah, a hotel marketing strategy and travel technology consulting firm, envisions a future where guests won't even have to log in to access Wi-Fi. "You can walk into a hotel and be on your mobile device, and whether you have a reservation or not, you can automatically log into the high-speed guest network," he said. "If you have a reservation, the hotel recognizes you're there and accessing the Wi-Fi or using Bluetooth smart beacons. You should be able to go up to your room and use your phone to get in and as soon as you enter, your Netflix will show up. Everything should happen seamlessly. Your apps and services will help you with your journey." We're not there just yet, and there are still some obvious challenges for the IoT to work itself out, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. But there could be a day in the not-so-distant future when voice-activated rooms, like the ones being piloted by Aloft, will become the norm. And even more likely? That we'll all be able to watch the latest season of Netflix's House of Cards or Amazon's Transparent from our hotel rooms. Here's where we currently stand when it comes to in-room technology and entertainment. Casting Call More hotels are enabling guests to be able to watch streaming channels like Netflix and Hulu from their hotel room TVs, and exploring casting technology solutions to be able to do so. In June 2015, Marriott became the first hotel chain to allow its guests to watch Netflix from their hotel room televisions. Working with hospitality technology provider Enseo (which has a partnership with Netflix), Marriott was able to allow guests to sign into their own Netflix accounts on their in-room TVs and watch their favorite shows, in addition to accessing other services such as Hulu and Pandora. Marriott expects to have 1,000 contracts for this signed by the end