Why ultra high-def TVs are coming to guestrooms

Television manufacturers can use feedback from hotels and build that into their manufacturing pipeline or introduce an innovation into the field, before any real demand. “We can educate and prepare the market for what’s to come,” said Fred Crespo, director of technology and business development for hospitality TV for Samsung Business.

This is where ultra-high definition televisions are coming into play in guestrooms. The Consumer Electronics Association said UHD are used for displays that have an aspect ratio of 16:9 and at least one digital input capable of carrying and presenting native video at a minimum resolution of 3840×2160 pixels.

UHD TVs are the ultimate experience, said Richard Lewis, senior vice president at LG. There is increasingly broader adoption of content in UHD, with more mainstream media involved in that process, such as ESPN and others.
 

There is a fundamental content shift for UHD right now. High-definition took years and UHD will change in a matter of months, Crespo said. “UHD gives the hotel the opportunity to bring the TVs up to date and even exceed what a guest has in his own living room,” he said. “UHD has innovation in the guestroom that the guest wouldn’t have in their home. Hotels have lost that position and this is an opportunity to recapture that.

Hoteliers should consider the tiers of products, features and price points when purchasing new televisions. “If you don’t need it, don’t buy it,” Lewis said. “It’s a five-to-seven-year investment so hoteliers should really consider their needs now and in the future.”