Hilton Is Bringing Connected Room Guests Even More Entertainment Options with iHeartRadio
When it comes to investing in new technology solutions for a hotel, it's important that the specific needs and desires of guests are factored into any decisions that are made. Service butlers and VR and AR experiences may seem exciting and sure to deliver the "wow factor" — but are they what guests really want? Of course, the basics must be covered in the first instance, such as ensuring fast and reliable Wi-Fi for every guest. But, beyond that, differentiation must be found by thinking creatively — yet practically — about how a hotel may use technology to enhance the guest experience.
Innovation in technology can indeed unlock myriad opportunities in hospitality. It can propel brands into a zone where they're making things happen first, rather than catching up with what's new or next. Hilton is certainly one company that's leading the way with technology innovation, and it's doing so by focusing on what guests really want from a hotel experience.
The Hilton Connected Room
Specifically, Hilton is working towards the connected hotel room. It's a complex process for a hospitality company with 16 separate brands across 109 countries and more than 5,000 properties. Slowly, Hilton is continuing to enhance its Connected Room offering, adding more and more services that guests can enjoy during their stay.
The latest addition is an integration with iHeartRadio that allows guests to stream live radio stations, podcasts, and thousands of music playlists directly from their TVs through Hilton's Connected Room guest technology platform. Hilton first introduced its Connected Room in late 2017, enabling guests to control their room's thermostat, lighting, blinds, television, and other amenities using their smartphone or the TV remote.
Now, with iHeartRadio, guests who stay in a Hilton Connected Room can play exclusive audio content and have instant access to thousands of live radio stations from across the country. They can also access customized music stations based on their favorite artists and podcasts across all categories, including travel, business, sports, entertainment, comedy, and more. Travelers simply use either their Hilton Honors app or the in-room remote to access the content from their TV.
"We heard our guests loud and clear when they said they wanted the ability to stream music in their guestrooms, so we're excited to bring this to life in collaboration with iHeartRadio," said Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer for Hilton, Noelle Eder. "This addition to Connected Room is just another way we're making travelers feel at home by giving them access to their favorite content and enjoying custom, curated playlists for any occasion or mood."
Premium Entertainment on Demand
To make the experience as friction-free and enjoyable as possible, iHeartRadio is completely free for Hilton guests and no sign-up is required. All guests need to do is open the app on their TV and hit play.
(Image source: newsroom.hilton.com)
The partnership with iHeartRadio is the latest in a string of deals made over the past couple of years that have brought enhanced IoT and entertainment experiences to the Hilton Connected Room. The first was with Showtime back in 2018, marking a first-of-kind collaboration between a premium entertainment provider and a major hotel company. Hilton Connected Room guests receive complimentary access to the Showtime service completely on demand — no subscription required.
Last year, Hilton also teamed up with Netflix, allowing guests to stream their favorite series, movies and other content in their rooms. Guests can use the Hilton Honors app or the in-room remote to sign in to their Netflix account and start streaming. Hilton also recently formed a partnership with Honeywell to give guests hands-free control of the thermostats in Connected Rooms.
Final Thoughts
Hilton, of course, isn't the only hotel company experimenting with the smart room concept. Marriott, for instance, has created a guestroom prototype lab that allows the brand to explore IoT concepts that have the potential to elevate the guest experience, and AccorHotels debuted a smart room concept in 2018, designed to improve guestroom accessibility.
One thing's for sure — to ensure a competitive advantage in the hospitality industry, technology must be at the forefront. And this is where Hilton is squarely focused as it continues its journey to enhance its Connected Room concept and bring it to more hotels. So far, Hilton has more than 3,500 Connected Rooms across 15 hotels and plans to roll out the technology to the majority of its nearly 5,900 properties over the coming years.
We are excited to join forces with Hilton, a leader in the hospitality industry, to provide a superior music experience for travelers," said Michele Laven, President of Strategic Partnerships for iHeartMedia. "We look forward to helping enhance the guest's stay by giving them the companionship of our live radio stations as well as quick and easy access to iHeartRadio's massive catalog of music playlists, podcasts and more."
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