An arousing debate: Marriott removes porn from new hotel channel lineup

by McLean Robbins on

As our friends over at AOL Travel reported earlier today, Marriott has announced plans to remove adult content from all in-room video content in new hotels, completely phasing out on-demand porn across the chain by the year 2013.

Although Marriott’s official statement claims that the rationale is to “keep adult content out of the reach of children and unavailable to any adult who chooses not to view it,” the choice may be me more revenue-driven.

A recent USA Today piece claims that as more guests bring their own personal entertainment devices, overall revenue from in-room movie channels is declining. However, an anonymous hotel professional claims that as much as 80 to 90% of in-room content is of the adult variety.

Tsk, tsk. This move was initiated back in 1999 by Omni, when the chain removed all of its adult offerings from the in-room line up. But is it really necessary for hotels to decide what viewers can (or can’t) watch in the privacy of their own? The discussion over at at FlyerTalk seems to be that streaming movie channels has wiped out the need for on-demand content of any sort, particularly that of an adult nature. After all, who wants a charge on their bill when they can watch more discreetly from the comfort of their laptop or iPad?

What are your thoughts?

[Image via Jackace]

Study says: hotel guests want high-tech amenities

by Scott Carmichael on

Times are changing for hotels – for years, hotels were judged for the quality of their toiletries, or how many stars their restaurant managed to score, but hotel guests are increasingly paying attention to the high tech features at the hotel.

Reuters surveyed over 6300 people and asked them how they pick a hotel, and which features mean the most to them.

A whopping 47% of those interviewed said that they’ll only pick a hotel if it offers the technology they need.

What this means to the hospitality world is that hotels can no longer afford to only offer WiFi in the lobby, or dare charge $29.99 a day for wired Internet access (you’d be surprised how many hotels still do this).

Hotels that have not yet made the investment in up to date equipment will have to start playing catch up real soon, because the survey proves what I’ve known for years – being able to get online at your hotel is more important than the industry thinks.

And yes – there are still a lot of hotels out there that do not offer any kind of high tech amenities, and it isn’t in the expensive hotels where these services are lacking, surprisingly its mainly in the higher end chains.

You can check into a $69 Holiday Inn and find perfect speedy free WiFi access, then check into a $199 Marriot the next day and have to pay $14.95 for slow wired access.

The cheap hotels paid attention to the needs of their customers while the upscale properties assumed people who’d be willing to pay for their rooms wouldn’t mind an extra $100 a week just to get online.

As the economy changes, more and more people will prefer a low price room with free tech, over an expensive hotel with chique toiletries and paid Internet access.

(via: Switched)