Streaming apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify, etc., have become the staple of in-room entertainment. If a guest arrives at your hotel jet-lagged, they just want to jump into bed, relax and put a film on. This can be made more difficult by having to sit close to a laptop, tablet or small mobile device, all whilst you have a large TV idly standing by.
Why not give these guests the experience they deserve?
Allow them to pick the film they want to watch on their mobile device and cast this to the large screen. With this said, simply buying a Chromecast for the room and plugging it in will not do…
What are the risks?
Firstly, apps, such as Netflix, are not yet legal in the commercial environment due to licensing issues and the risk of guests’ personal information being accessed by others. For example, if a guest has logged into an app on the TV and that data has not been cleared on checkout, their personal information can be accessed by the next guest. From there, any unlawful or fraudulent actions taken with this data on the hotel premises is traced back to the hotel and not the specific guest that has committed the crime.
Therefore, using a domestic TV into a commercial environment, exposes your hotel to great risk of data breach.
Netflix has limited number of licensing agreements with hotel chains, such as the Marriott. However, acquiring such agreement for smaller hotels can take great amount of time and resource.
Netflix have also recently been working with Philips, a leading commercial TV manufacturer, to integrate the Netflix app on the latest Philips MediaSuite commercial TVs. However, this may raise a range of data privacy issues raised with having the app on the TV. Therefore, the best way to offer your guests the ability to enjoy Netflix in their room is screen sharing.
With screen sharing, any log in data or guest information is stored on their personal device and the content is simply sent to the TV via the casting command. The TV itself does not store any data apart from the link sent by the casting app to display the content.
Having said that, simply plugging in a Chromecast to your hotel TV does not make the guest safe. If a Chromecast is not integrated to a commercial screen sharing solution, it will be using the local network and will be visible by all other rooms in range.
For instance, imagine that a guest from room 101 tries to connect to their room’s Chromecast. If the hotel is not using a secure screen sharing solution, as each room would be on the same network, they can connect to other rooms within range too, and cast any content they want on that room’s TV.
What can you do?
When it comes to selecting the right solution for your establishment, there are a few different options to consider. You can opt in for a simple, entry level solution offering casting with a simple instructions page, or go for a more comprehensive solution allowing you to check device status, usage statistics and monitor streaming behaviors. With SCRIPTCAST, your guests can wirelessly stream Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, and more apps directly on the TV with 3 easy steps.
These different packages will allow you to choose from a simple, system integrated casting solution up to a full-blown solution with custom analytics. These analytics can be a key tool for figuring out guests’ habits and giving you a good idea of which guests like to spend the majority of their time watching Netflix in their room.
Starter Set
Simple, cost effective casting solution, ideal for small and budget hotels.
TV System Integration
Apple & Android Support
No Mobile App Required
Guest Data Security
Custom Instructions Page
Casting Media & Apps
X
X
X
Premium Set
Advanced screen casting solution with monitoring capabilities.
TV System Integration
Apple & Android Support
No Mobile App Required
Guest Data Security
Custom Instructions Page
Casting Media & Apps
Works Independently
Monitoring & Analytics
X
Ultimate Set
All-In-One sharing devices, capable of both casting and screen mirroring.
TV System Integration
Apple & Android Support
No Mobile App Required
Guest Data Security
Custom Instructions Page
Casting Media & Apps
X
X
Screen Mirroring
Casting is a real buzz-word in the industry at the moment, with an expected CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 16.4% in the next 5 years, according to Mordor Intelligence we will see more of a demand from guests to have access to the same services and viewing habits they would have at home.
In fact, in-room streaming services are used more often and for longer periods of time than other similar services. Statistics show that casting is used on average by 40% of hotel rooms, whereas only about 1% of guests use pay-per-view video on demand.
Furthermore, typing in your credentials directly on the TV using a remote control is much harder than simply using your phone to cast whatever content you like.
When guests are inevitably going to spend time in their room, they would want to relax and feel at home enjoying whatever streaming service they want and not be paying extra for Video On Demand options or try to find something worthwhile on Terrestrial channels.
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subscribers
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Make the right choice...
When you look at installing a commercial grade screen sharing solution, you need to make sure that you are choosing the right one for your hotel. If you have a limited budget or you do not necessarily care about usage analytics, you may not need the full server-based system that provides you with in-depth monitoring & statistics. A simple, easy-to-use casting service integrated to your TV system would be the ideal solution.
However, if you want to take a step further, more advanced screen sharing solutions can allow for both casting and mirroring, and are compatible with most devices. This solution is ideal for hotels that want to offer a bit more than the basic casting feature, but without the cost & hardware needed for a premium solution. The cost uplift is minimal and you can offer guests to not only cast Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, etc., but also check their emails, show photos, PDFs, presentations and more on the big screen.
Lastly, if you are a large hotel chain or you want to know more about your guests in-room habits, the usage statistics could be a good way to get information on what apps guests use and how long for. This solution is IHG approved and is ideal for hotels looking to take full control over the guest experience. You can check the devices’ status and perform troubleshooting remotely, see which apps they have casted, and, if you choose to add the mirroring functionality, you can see how long they have spent mirroring their device to the TV.
All in all, whether you are looking for a simple casting solution or want to go all the way in, the possibilities are endless.