Over the past couple of years, with the pandemic and enforced lockdowns keeping people at home, there has been a shift towards households improving their home entertainment. People have now become accustomed to large HD or 4K screens, surround sound and multiple streaming subscriptions.

As such, when people stay at a hotel, they expect to be able to access the same high standard of entertainment they can get at home. And getting the in-room entertainment right can open up new markets, encourage guests to keep coming back and set a hotel apart from its competitors.

On demand libraries in the past have been an additional source of revenue for hotels but often guests are unwilling to pay for extras like this, especially if they feel they’ve already paid a premium for the room itself.

Casting devices are the cheapest option, but they don’t have the widest appeal. There is still a reluctance and/or lack of knowledge on how to cast/stream with a large portion of the population. So, to just provide guests the ability to access their own streaming service isn’t accommodating many older guests who prefer to watch live TV. Instead, guests have the expectation that quality linear content should be provided alongside free-to-view on-demand TV shows and movies, and the ability to cast their own apps.

This is where a product like the Foxtel Business iQ comes into its own. It offers over 90 live channels of premium entertainment but also provides guests the option to watch free-to-view content on-demand as well as the choice to cast their own streaming services. Having these choices ensures that the preferences of all guests are catered for.

“The Business iQ… is a one stop shop. The compendium, on-demand movies, guest information and the TV channels are all together, and our guests can use the casting as well if they want,” said Vincent Bellerose, Franchisee, Quest Portland.

In addition to being an all-in-one entertainment solution, the Foxtel Business iQ acts as an information hub that can help guests get the most out of their stay and enable hoteliers to promote their facilities and services. Guests can access their hotel bill, view digital concierge information as well as interact with hotel services such as restaurants and spa facilities all via the screen.

“By loading artwork, including a QR code via the hotel information tabs, we can now almost link any information between the entertainment system and our guests. From links to our website, to video content to our social media channels,” said Peter Tudehope, General Manager, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney.

The guest messaging feature enables the hotelier to send a message directly to an individual’s screen or a group of guests, ensuring they never miss out on happy hour at the lobby bar or the latest offer at the spa. The platform also allows the addition of the hotel’s own content such as welcome videos or external content channels.

The unique benefit of the Business iQ is that it’s constantly evolving, whether that’s the content available on the platform or the technology that is remotely updated. Content is refreshed each month with approximately 5,000 new TV programmes and movies, and technology updates are released throughout the year. With the Business iQ, Foxtel can evolve the product based on technology trends as well as changes in media consumption and user behaviour, providing a truly futureproof all-round solution for hoteliers.